Chord ear training
A chord plays. Name its quality. Begin with major versus minor, then work up to diminished, augmented and the seventh chords.
Use headphones if you can. Keyboard: Space = play/next, R = replay, 1–9 = answer.
What you are listening for
Every chord quality is a recipe of stacked thirds. Hearing a chord is really hearing those thirds and the interval between the outer notes.
| Chord | Built from | Example on C | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Major | M3 + m3 | C–E–G | Bright, stable |
| Minor | m3 + M3 | C–E♭–G | Darker, stable |
| Diminished | m3 + m3 | C–E♭–G♭ | Tense, wants to move |
| Augmented | M3 + M3 | C–E–G♯ | Stretched, unresolved |
| Dominant 7th | Major + m7 | C–E–G–B♭ | Bluesy pull to resolve |
| Major 7th | Major + M7 | C–E–G–B | Soft, jazzy |
| Minor 7th | Minor + m7 | C–E♭–G–B♭ | Mellow |
| Half-diminished | Dim + m7 | C–E♭–G♭–B♭ | Wistful, unstable |
| Diminished 7th | m3 + m3 + m3 | C–E♭–G♭–B𝄫 | Dramatic, symmetrical |
Not sure what chord you are playing on your own instrument? The chord identifier names any set of notes you tap. For chords in context, move on to chord progression ear training.
Questions
How do I tell major and minor chords apart by ear?
Listen to the middle note (the 3rd). In a major chord it sits four semitones above the root and sounds bright and open; in a minor chord it sits three semitones above and sounds darker. Try the “Broken” playback so you hear each note separately, then switch back to block chords.
What does a diminished chord sound like?
Tense and compressed. A diminished triad stacks two minor 3rds, so the outer notes form a tritone. It sounds like it urgently wants to move somewhere else.
How is an augmented chord different?
An augmented triad stacks two major 3rds. It sounds unresolved but “stretched” rather than tense, a little like a dream sequence in film music.
How can I recognise seventh chords?
First decide whether the triad underneath is major, minor or diminished, then listen to the top note. A dominant 7th has a bluesy pull towards resolution; a major 7th sounds soft and jazzy because the top note sits a semitone below the octave; a minor 7th is mellow.
Which chords appear in aural exams?
Early grades usually test major versus minor. Higher grades and college entrance tests add diminished and augmented triads, and later the common sevenths. Always check your exam board’s current syllabus.