Ear Training for Violin Players

If you’re interested in studying ear training for violin, it’s important to know two things. First, developing a great musical ear is possible for anyone, no matter their current skill level. Second, the ear training approaches most commonly adopted by musicians are unfortunately ineffective, so it’s key to choose one that uses a thoroughly tested, science-based approach.

What is ear training?

Ear training is the process of developing a set of skills by which someone can identify various musical elements – like melodies, chords, notes, etc. – solely by ear, and without using any musical instruments. Ear training for violin should start with developing elementary skills like pitch matching, and then move on to more advanced skills such as melodic recognition and chord progression recognition (among others).

Once you’ve grasped the basic concepts of ear training for violin, you’ll find yourself connecting more easily with music, whether you’re listening to it or learning it. If you’re like most people who pursue ear training for violin, you’ll quickly be able to recognize simple chord progressions and melodies, as well as other basic musical patterns. And of course, the more advanced ear training skills you achieve, the stronger your connection to music will be. If you’re using a proven ear training method, you’ll be able to experience the benefits of ear training almost immediately.

The importance of ear training for violin players

Whether or not you aspire to become an expert violinist, ear training for violin is key for anyone who wants to learn how to play their instrument efficiently. For those who wish to attain advanced violin skills, however, ear training for violin should be thought of as essential. If you don’t incorporate a trustworthy ear training method into your studies of the violin, there’s a higher chance that you’ll hit a plateau – one that you won’t be able to get past without advancing your ear training skills.

Why is this the case? The fact is that ear training doesn’t just apply to whatever instrument you’re learning; it’s fundamental to developing skills that every musician needs to have. You could be studying ear training for violin, but those ear training skills can also be applied to any other musical endeavor. You’ll be able to recognize rhythms, harmonies, melodies, chords, notes, and more by ear alone. You’ll also be able to connect more deeply with the music you’re learning, since these ear training skills help you grasp the many technical theories that are associated with what you see on the page.

The interval method

One of the most popular ear training methods, this is also one of the most ineffective for anyone who’s studying not only ear training for violin, but ear training in general. It puts a disproportionate amount of emphasis on atonal exercises, since the learner is asked to identify intervals outside an harmonic context. The important point to understand is that any note, chord, etc assumes a specific auditory sensation depending on the sorrounding harmonic context. For example, if we hear a major third that’s composed of a C and an E, it will produce one feeling if the harmonic context is the key of C major, and another feeling if the harmonic context is the key of F major. In other words, our brains naturally experience musical sensations (stability, instability, happiness, sadness, etc) thanks to the presence of a tonality or musical key, but the interval method forces students to work without a tonality. Not only does this make interval exercises unnecessarily difficult, but it also fails to equip students with the essential cognitive processes that would allow them to easily identify melodies, chords, etc. in real musical pieces.

Trial-and-error approach

This is the approach that many beginners inadvertently use, usually for lack of a more structured approach to ear training. In a nutshell, the trial-and-error approach starts with hearing a melody, chord, or note, then attempting to reproduce what was heard by playing notes at random (on your instrument) until you find the right one. The problem is that with this approach, the main ear training skill you’re learning is pitch matching – among the most elementary ear training skills. Other essential skills are ignored, making this approach to ear training for violin pretty much useless since it doesn’t allow you to develop an intuitive understanding of notes, chords, etc.

Free online ear training exercises

On the surface, it can sound like a great idea to try out some of the free ear training exercises that you can find online. However, there are several reasons why this is counterproductive. For one, they’re usually based on the interval method, which is not a good way to approach ear training. For another, they’re never tailored for your specific skill level; some exercises will fail to challenge you, while others will be impossibly difficult. Finally, these exercises don’t provide a structured approach to ear training, which is necessary if you want to make any real progress.

Effective ear training exercises for violin

An important point to bear in mind is that it’s a great idea to develop the ability to recognize notes, chords, etc. by ear alone (without any musical instruments) at first, and then tie these mental skills to your instrument.

There may not be a single set of ear training exercises that everyone can follow to find success, but it is possible to figure out the best way to train your ears for violin by looking for a proven method, that is grounded in science and works no matter your current level.

Speaking of science-based methods, here are two exercises that you may find helpful to tie your ear training skills and violin skills together.

1. Start by visualizing the way you’d play a scale on your violin (don’t play anything yet). Once you have the image in your head, play just the tonic note, then hum the ascending/descending scale to yourself. Lastly, play the scale on your violin to confirm that you hit the right notes while humming.

2. A more advanced exercise starts in the same way: by visualizing the scale as it would be played on your violin, playing just the tonic note, then humming the scale. Instead of playing the scale, though, you’ll randomly hum different notes in the scale, while attempting to play each note on the violin as you hum it. Don’t let yourself slip into the trial and error approach, though! You should strive for accuracy with this exercise, so make it your goal to hum notes exactly; playing them on your instrument simply serves to check that you’re correct.

These ear training exercises can work for budding violinists, or for learners of any other instrument. This is because ear training exercises aren’t exclusive to any particular instrument, since ear training itself emphasizes the mental aspect of developing your musicality. A good ear training method will accomplish this with a step-by-step approach, which you can learn more about below.

It provides training in all the relevant sub-skills

If you want to reach an advanced level of ear training for violin, you’ll need to make sure you develop all the necessary ear training sub-skills that foster an intuitive connection to music. These sub-skills include chord progression recognition skills, tonic recognition/retention skills, short-term musical memory, melodic recognition skills, and more. By working on all these sub-skills, you’ll be better able to develop formidable ear training skills over time.

It uses a step-by-step method

In order to succeed in ear training for violin, you’ll need an ear training method that follows a natural progression in difficulty level. For example, a beginner would benefit from developing pitch matching skills, but they’d be overwhelmed and frustrated if they were trying to develop chord progression recognition skills right away. By adopting a science-based, step-by-step ear training approach like the one offered by the Use Your Ear method, your learning process will mirror the process in which these skills naturally develop.

This step-by-step aspect of ear training is something that the interval method lacks, since its atonal exercises are far too complex for anyone but very advanced musicians. Unfortunately, interval exercises are often assigned to beginner or intermediate-level students too. This prevents them from making any real progress, which in turn may lead them to quit ear training altogether.

It takes a tonal approach

As mentioned above, one of the big problems with the interval method is that it uses an atonal approach. An effective ear training method, on the other hand, takes a tonal approach. If you approach ear training for violin (or any other instrument) using a tonal method, you'll be practicing exercises that help you recognize notes, chords, etc. within their harmonic contexts. This approach follows how our brain is naturally able to process musical elements (also according to multiple scientific findings).

As an example, say you’re playing in the key of C. In this key, playing a B will produce a feeling of tension, because you want to feel the resolution that will come by playing the tonic note (C). If you were playing in the key of B, however, B becomes the tonic note; it would be the note that brings resolution, rather than tension. Atonal exercises, on the other hand, fail to take how we perceive auditory sensations into account, and try to force the brain to accomplish ear training tasks using unnatural and counterproductive cognitive processes, which can’t be applied to real-world, tonal music.

• Identify the ear training skills that need extra work, and put the focus on those skills. You won’t necessarily benefit that much if you practice the ones you’ve already mastered; you’ll see much better progress if you consistently target ear training skills that still need work.

• Ear training for violin exercises should always be at a level that matches your skills. You should still be challenged to a certain extent, of course, but not to the point where you want to give up in frustration.

• Practice regularly – otherwise, you probably won’t see consistent progress with your ear training for violin.

• Make sure the ear training method you choose to adopt includes the features explained in the section above.

Relative Pitch Video Course

Our Relative Pitch Video Course includes step-by-step, science-based instruction that has already helped thousands of ear training students find success. Here’s what to expect if you join the course:

• You’ll have a path to success that’s been proven to work (unlike many other methods). If you look at testimonials from former Use Your Ear students, you’ll see multiple students mention that of all the ear training methods they used, this was the only one that actually worked. This will give you confidence that you’re on the right track.

• You’ll get step-by-step instructions which match your current skill levels, rather than having to struggle through overly advanced ear training exercises; these often make students feel that they might as well just give up before they waste even more time.

• You’ll learn to play by ear, improvise, sing in tune, etc. - intuitively and effortlessly.

• You’ll see measurable and consistent progress in your ear training, no matter what your skill level or age happens to be.

• You’ll learn how to recognize chords, notes, and other musical elements purely by ear, without having to use any instruments.

• You’ll enjoy greater confidence and better results from your relative pitch ear training by following the only science-based ear training method currently available.

Free Use Your Ear Workshop

If you aren’t ready for a full-fledged course on ear training, you can see what the Use Your Ear method is all about with our free online workshop. Here’s what you can expect:

• You’ll learn which ear training exercises and courses are going to only waste your time, and what are the ones that actually work.

• You’ll practice effective ear training exercises, get clear directions on setting up a tailored ear training practice routine, and find out the best method for recognizing chords and melodies by ear alone.

• You’ll learn about Use Your Ear’s relative pitch ear training method, which adopts a step-by-step approach to help students develop their musicality more easily and quickly (and without the use of rote interval exercises).

• You’ll be introduced to a science-based mental model, which explains techniques that virtuoso-level musicians instinctively use to play music by ear.

• You’ll receive two gifts for free, both of which will be helpful as you keep developing your newly learned relative pitch skills.

Individual online lessons

If you’re interested in finding the best way to train your ears, taking personalized online lessons would be a good choice. With ear trainer apps alone, it’s very difficult to develop an advanced level of skills. But if you pick an instructor who teaches an effective ear training method, that’s when you’re most likely to find success.

Where most ear training apps or software fall short due to a lack of personalization, individual online lessons offer tailored exercises for the duration of the instruction. Essentially, you’re becoming the apprentice of someone who’s already learned everything you want to know about being a musician. They’ll encourage progress while maintaining a pace that works for you, help you identify areas of weakness, and give you feedback as needed.

How our students learn to recognize melodies and

chords by ear in just a few months

Check out how our students go from zero to recognizing melodies and chord progressions by ear in a few months, following the Use Your Ear method.

Conclusion

There’s much to be gained from ear training for violin. When practiced effectively, ear training works regardless of your age or current level. From a free workshop, to personalized online lessons, to our complete video course, the Use Your Ear method can help you reach your ear training goals – whatever they happen to be!