Ear Training with Familiar Tunes: Auld Lang Syne

Jan 18

Ear Training with Familiar Songs:

“Auld Lang Syne”


Are you ready to take deepen your ear training and increase your musical imagination? One of the simplest ways to improve your musical ear is by using songs you already know and love. In this article, you'll learn how the classic "Auld Lang Syne" can transform the way you recognize musical patterns and play by ear.


In this week’s video, we roll up our sleeves and use “Auld Lang Syne” as a emotional-sensory base for practicing ear training. Doing this is within the Kodàly pedagogy’s toolset for “singing known songs in solfège.” It works as well for adults as it does for kids when it comes to forming strong neural connections for musical elements.


Why “Auld Lang Syne”?

This timeless melody is more than just a New Year’s anthem. It contains several fundamental musical elements that every musician should internalize:


  1. Tonic Triad Melodies – Recognizing the I chord (do, mi, so) is crucial for understanding melody and harmony.

  2. Perfect Fourth Intervals – The iconic so-to-do leap appears throughout the song, helping you solidify this interval.

  3. Major Pentatonic Scale – The melody lives within this scale, making it a perfect framework for ear training.

  4. Half-Step Patterns – Spot the do-ti-do relationship and understand its role in the major scale.

  5. Principal Harmonies – Master the sound of I, IV, and V chords, which form the backbone of countless songs.

  6. Advanced Progressions – Get a taste of secondary dominants, like the V of vi, to elevate your harmonic awareness.


How to Practice

First, replace the lyrics of Auld Lang Syne with solfège. If you have been doing this for a while, I bet you can get it on your own.


For others, here's a breakdown of how it goes. I'm giving it to you in two ways. Once with the solfège written in parentheses after the syllable it will replace, and then again with just the solfège. It's important for you to get it right, so I want to be super clear on how it goes:


Should (so,) old (do) ac(ti)-quain(do)-tance(me) be(re) for(do)-got(re),

and(mi re) nev(do)-er(do) brought(mi) to(so) mind(la)?

Should(la) old(so) ac(mi)-quain(mi)-tance(do) be(re) for(do)-got(re),

and(mi re) auld(do la) lang(la so) syne(do)?

Chorus

For(la) auld(so mi) lang(mi do) syne(re), my(do) dear(re),

for(la) auld(so mi) lang(mi so) syne(la),

we'll(la) take(so) a(mi) cup(mi) of(do) kind(re)-ness(do) yet(re),

for(mi re) auld(do la,) lang(la, so,) syne(do).



so, do ti, to mi re do re

mi re do do mi so la

la so mi mi do re do re

mi re do la la so do

la so mi mi do re do re

la so mi mi so la

la so mi mi do re do re

mi re do la, la, so, do



Take your time learning this. You want to savor each note and kind of taste how it feels relative to the other notes AND within the key. Each note has its own distinct flavor – or "sound-feeling", and by SLOWLY singing the song in solfège, you will culture your awareness of these qualities.


As you sing through the song, pay special attention to these features:


  • The tonic triad: Listen for phrases that outline do, mi, and so.

  • The bass line: This often reveals the chord structure, helping you identify I, IV, and V progressions.

  • The pentatonic scale: Most of the melody stays within the range of do, re, and mi, making it accessible for singers at all levels.




Benefits of This Approach

By training your ear with a familiar melody, you’ll start hearing patterns in the music you already love. Instead of just identifying individual notes, you’ll recognize “chunks” of music, such as triads and intervals. This makes playing by ear, improvising, and learning new tunes significantly easier.


Next Steps

Want to dive deeper? Watch my latest video for step-by-step guidance and real-time practice opportunities. Download the free Auld Lang Syne Practice PDF to sing along right off the bat.


If you are really ready for a challenge, try singing the bass line in solfège WHILE playing the melody on your instrument. Once you've got that down, switch it and play the bass line while singing the melody in solfège. That will seriously rock your ear!

THEN: Audiate (imagine the sound) of any song you love, go through it slowly in your mind and seek these patterns. They might not be there, but then again, if they are, you'll further reinforce your awareness of these patterns!

You can also download a printable guide with sheet music and a recap of this article.GET IT HERE


Join the Conversation

Which songs have helped you improve your ear training? Let us know in the comments or reply to this newsletter! For more resources on ear training, visit tuneindigo.com


Thanks for Listening!


Yours,


Hans Indigo Spencer


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