Intervals

Transcribe any of the following melodies by listening to the intervals. Assign a starting note to the melody (e.g. C) and then map out each of the following notes in the series. When you’re ready, go to your instrument to test your answer:

Half-steps

Remember, there’s only 2 places within the key that a half-step occurs, so if you hear this smallest interval, then you can narrow your melody’s location down to these 2 places:

If transcribing in C major scale – a half-step can only be between 3 – 4 (E – F) – or – 7 – 1 (B – C).

If transcribing in C minor scale – a half-step can only be between 2 – 3 (D – Eb) – or – 5 – 6 (G – Ab).

Spot the half-steps in the following melodies:

Pentatonic

Most melodies are based around the pentatonic notes in the scale, and a large part of playing by ear is learning to spot this distinctive 5 note pattern (by its intervals).

The following melodies are pentatonic. Transcribe these within either C major scale (where the pentatonic notes are 1 2 3 5 6 – C D E G A) – or C minor scale (where the pentatonic notes are 1 3 4 5 7 – C Eb F G Bb)– depending if the music sounds major or minor to you.