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Instructor
Yannick Lambrecht
Workshop
Beginner
Intermediate
01:45:35

Have you ever listened to a song and wondered what chords were being played? Learning to hear chords starts with triads, the simple three-note chords at the heart of most music. In this workshop, you’ll learn to tell major triads from minor triads by ear, then follow how chords change throughout a song. It’s one of the most valuable skills you can build as a musician, and anyone can learn it with the right approach.

You’ll practice with familiar songs, starting with simple ones like “When the Saints Go Marching In” and “Happy Birthday,” where you’ll listen for the moments the chords shift. These songs use the three most common chords in a key, which makes them a great place to start. Then you’ll take on more challenging examples, like the folk song “Shenandoah,” which uses a wider variety of chords.

Most importantly, you’ll learn a practical process for ear training that you can use with any song. You’ll learn to listen to the lowest note of each chord to follow the harmony, and to play chords one note at a time so you can hear each sound clearly instead of one big block of sound. By the end, you’ll have the tools and confidence to keep developing your ear on your own.

For software ear trainers, we recommend the following: Keyboard Relative Pitch, Note Relative Pitch, Intervals, Scales, Chords

Course Objectives
  • Hear the difference between major and minor triads
  • Identify major and minor chords in a variety of chord progressions
  • Follow the primary chords (I, IV and V) in songs like "When the Saints Go Marching In" and "Happy Birthday"
  • Recognize more advanced harmonies in folk songs like "Shenandoah"
  • Use a step-by-step ear training process, including listening to the bass note and arpeggiating chords
Learning Focus
  • Analysis
  • Ear Training
  • Exercises
  • Practice Tips

Featured Reviews

View PWJ member reviews of this course!

Excellent!!
Made me aware of how important is to start on the basics. Now I'm singing away as I practice!!
Amazing!
I found the course to be exceptionally well presented, which made the learning experience not only informative but also engaging. Yannick's enthusiasm was infectious, making it not just educational but genuinely enjoyable. Throughout the course, I had several 'aha' moments that expanded my understanding significantly. I've applied some of the concepts I learned, which added a practical dimension to my learning journey. Overall, it was an enriching experience that left me eagerly looking forward to more ear training courses!!!
Simple secrets of ear traing
Loved Yannick’s instruction. The examples to work from were excellent. Would be nice to have a few more examples that we can work on our own. Thank you J&Y!
Amazing course!
Very helpful techniques, skills, and ear training. I enjoyed the course, it was very interesting. I got a lots of knowledge. Thank you professor Yannick Lambrecht for your patience and explanation. I had a lot of fun.
Builds a strong foundation for ear training
If you can't do the simple stuff, you won't be able to do the complicated stuff. This course walks you through the very basics of chord recognition. Playing "Happy Birthday" by ear in every key is a surprisingly good workout. I'm looking forward to building on this course in the future.

Course Lessons

Featured Reviews

View PWJ member reviews of this course!

Excellent!!
Made me aware of how important is to start on the basics. Now I'm singing away as I practice!!
Amazing!
I found the course to be exceptionally well presented, which made the learning experience not only informative but also engaging. Yannick's enthusiasm was infectious, making it not just educational but genuinely enjoyable. Throughout the course, I had several 'aha' moments that expanded my understanding significantly. I've applied some of the concepts I learned, which added a practical dimension to my learning journey. Overall, it was an enriching experience that left me eagerly looking forward to more ear training courses!!!
Simple secrets of ear traing
Loved Yannick’s instruction. The examples to work from were excellent. Would be nice to have a few more examples that we can work on our own. Thank you J&Y!
Amazing course!
Very helpful techniques, skills, and ear training. I enjoyed the course, it was very interesting. I got a lots of knowledge. Thank you professor Yannick Lambrecht for your patience and explanation. I had a lot of fun.
Builds a strong foundation for ear training
If you can't do the simple stuff, you won't be able to do the complicated stuff. This course walks you through the very basics of chord recognition. Playing "Happy Birthday" by ear in every key is a surprisingly good workout. I'm looking forward to building on this course in the future.
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Train your ear the easy way by connecting musical sounds to songs you already know, like "Amazing Grace." This playful, ear-opening workshop helps you hear music more clearly, one small step at a time.

Learn how to quickly & easily transpose a lead sheet. Using the Number Chart method, we'll analyze a melody and chords, "convert" them to numbers, and apply the numbers to a new key.

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