Listening Practice - Hearing Without Naming

Sep 20

In our latest ear training video, we dive into a foundational exercise that will sharpen your ability to hear and reproduce three-note chords. This practice is perfect for anyone looking to strengthen their musical ear and improve their ability to identify chords by ear.


What makes this particular practice so powerful, is that you are released from the cognitive load of naming, freeing you to focus exclusively on hearing the notes in each chord and reproducing them with your voice.

The Exercise:

In this practice, you’ll listen to a series of three-note chords, each played three times:


All three notes simultaneously, twice

Each note played individually in a low, middle, high sequence.

Your task is to listen carefully, then sing or hum back each note in the sequence. This exercise is designed to help you focus on hearing and reproducing the notes clearly, without the distraction of naming the chords.

Why It Works:

This exercise is more than just a listening drill. It:


Develops Your Ear: By focusing on hearing the notes rather than naming them, you train your ear to recognize the sound of each chord.

Enhances Vocal Adjustment: Singing or humming the notes helps you adjust your vocal range and internalize the sound of different chords.

Builds a Strong Foundation: Understanding how to hear and reproduce chords is crucial for more advanced chord recognition and music theory.

Additional Tips:

For the best results:

Practice with your eyes closed to fully immerse yourself in the sound.


Don’t worry if the exercise feels challenging at first—repetition will help you improve.

Benefits of This Practice:

Sharpens Your Musical Harmonic Perception: Enhances your ability to hear into complex musical textures.

Builds Harmonic Listening Skills: Establishes a solid foundation for recognizing and understanding harmony.

Improves Concentration and Memory: Boosts your working memory and focus in musical contexts.


Ready to take your ear training to the next level? Check out the video and start practicing today!
Write your awesome label here.

Connect with us

Who we are

My mission is to help musicians of all ages and abilities create music in a way that feels natural and true to them.  This means helping them connect both with their ability to understand what they hear as well as with their creative spirit.

Featured links

Get in touch

  • 147 Bolton Street, Portland, ME 04102
  • hans@tuneindigo.com
  • 207-776-9663
Copyright © 2024
Created with