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Posted by: David Wallimann Jan 15 2009, 04:06 PM

A lot of you have asked me about how to improve their ability to improve their hearing skills.
I don't have perfect pitch and don't really have the need for it in my personal every day life as a musician, but relative pitch is a must and I use it every day.

Relative pitch has to do with intervals and recognizing them right away.

I decided to start a thread to discuss interval recognition. Basically the idea is to list all the basic intervals here and underneath each one of them write some well known songs that start with that interval. For example, Happy Birthday starts with a Major 2nd. If you can sing that tune in pitch, then that means that you can sing a Major 2nd from any given note. Just sing the first two notes of that song and there is your Major 2nd.

That's where you guys come into, just copy and paste the following post in your answer to this thread and complete it with any songs that start with that interval. Each interval can have more that one song associated with it.

So here is the chart with a few suggestions. Let's all collaborate on this!

minor
Jaws theme, Fur Elise, Green Hornet, Flight of Bumblebee, Ode to Joy

Major
Ascending
Happy Birthday, You really got me riff, London bridge is falling down
Descending
I shoot the Sheriff, Sunshine of your love




minor
Day is done Lullaby, Smoke on the water, Greensleeves

Major
When the saints go marching in



perfect
Godfather theme, Here comes the bride

augmented
One day I'll fly away, the Simpsons theme




perfect
Starwars Lead, 2001:Space Odysee, Moon river



minor
Ascending
Fortunate Son by Creedence Clearwater Revival
Descending
Love story theme

Major
Traviata, Soul Man




minor
She's leaving home: (Wednesday morning), at -five (o' clock), Star Trek theme

Major
second part of the Superman theme

Posted by: OrganisedConfusion Jan 15 2009, 04:07 PM

What about an octave interval also? Isn't the Star Wars theme that. Or am I wrong? I can never remember.

Posted by: enforcer Jan 15 2009, 04:29 PM

starwars theme is a perfect 5th I guess

Posted by: Slammer Jan 15 2009, 04:30 PM

Hey David,
These are some of the ones I know. There are alot more I believe, like Minor 3rd is also for "Greensleeves" etc.
I'll be interested to see what you guys can come up with.

BTW I added in the Octave Interval, Because it's one of my faves Think Purple Haze by Hendrix.

Posted by: enforcer Jan 15 2009, 06:00 PM

1 semi tone => minor 2nd: Jaws theme, ode to joy
2 semi tones=> major 2nd: Happy birthday, London bridge is falling down
3 semi tones=> minor 3rd: Day is done Lullaby
4 semi tones=> major 3rd: When the saints go marching in
5 semi tones=> perfect 4th: Godfather theme
6 semi tones=> diminished 5th: One day I'll fly away (first two)
7 semi tones=> perfect 5th: Starwars Lead
8 semi tones=> minor 6th: Love story theme (first two in reverse)
9 semi tones=> major6th: La Traviata - Drinking Song theme,
10 semi tones=> minor7th: She's leaving home: (Wednesday morning) at -five (o' clock),Hush Little Baby Lullaby

11 semi tones=> major 7th: major 7th: the second part of the Superman theme it goes root and then major 7th
12 semi tones=> Octave: Entry arpeggio from Dream Theater - Home (first two)


edit:Minor 7th and major 7th are from Ramiro Delforte

Posted by: Ramiro Delforte Jan 15 2009, 06:22 PM

Enforcer the theme of the Traviata that you are quoting is not a minor 7th but a major 6th

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcKdnkGBSgA

So I complete the two that are left

10 semi tones=> minor7th: She's leaving home: (Wednesday morning) at -five (o' clock)
11 semi tones=> major 7th: the second part of the Superman theme it goes root and then major 7th

Posted by: enforcer Jan 15 2009, 06:34 PM

Ok Ramiro I corrected them and added 10 and 11 semitones...

Posted by: David Wallimann Jan 15 2009, 08:07 PM

Cool guys!!!

Posted by: enforcer Jan 15 2009, 08:12 PM

No it was a perfect idea, I never thought to remember intervals like that

Posted by: Pedja Simovic Jan 15 2009, 08:24 PM

Unison : Happy birthday, Hey Joe (very beginning) etc
Minor 2nd : Fur Elise , Jaws, Green Hornet, Flight of Bumblebee etc
Major 2nd : Happy birthday, You really got me, Major and Minor scales up, Mixolydian or Dorian/Phrygian/Aeolian modes coming down , also I shoot the Sheriff and Sunshine of your love !

Posted by: David Wallimann Jan 16 2009, 01:42 PM

I updated the opening post adding your great input.

Thanks so much, this is hopefully going to be useful!
It sure is to me!

If you have any new ones, for clarity of reading please copy the latest updated chart and copy the chart with your additions. As of this post, the latest chart is in the opening thread. Thanks for all your hard work!