by Pamela Rentzel

Many people think it’s a GREAT mystery or a GIFT to play an instrument by EAR!  Not so!  You can learn to play or sing by ear but just learning to listen!

So, my CHALLENGE to you in 2018, is to start a plan that will help you HEAR intervals!  It’s one of the BEST things you can do when learning to play the keyboard, sing parts or play any other instrument for a Pentecostal church service!

Let’s talk about the INTERVALS!  An Interval is the distance between notes!

In the Key of C:                                  

1. C to D – Major 2^nd – up one whole step – sounds like “at the cross, at the cross.” or “to be like Jesus” (1, 2, 3, 4..)
2. C to E – Major 3rd – “sweet hour of prayer
   ” or “just as I am”
   1. Sometimes the 1 (one) can be just an “understood” interval without using the 1 – starting on the 3^rd – “in the name of Jesus, (we have the victory).
3. C to F – Perfect 4th – “stand up, stand up for Jesus” or “Here comes the bride.”
4. C to G – Perfect 5th – “there is a fountain.”
   1. Again the 1 (one) can be “understood” without being used; example is: “I’ll fly away, oh glory, I’ll fly
      ” or “He touched me”
5. C to A – Major 6th – “my Bonnie lies over the ocean” or “I see a crimson stream of blood”
6. C to B – Major 7th – half step below octave
7. C to C – Perfect 8th – octave

How to Practice!

1. Sing each INTERVAL with your voice and play it on your instrument.
2. Listen and memorize the relationship in the SOUND distance between the two tones.
3. Feel the INTERVAL (distance) beneath your hand.
4. Test yourself to see the progress you are making! (Remember to shuffle them up so you are not just memorizing them in order!)
5. Continue to work on all the INTERVALS in other keys.

Identifying these intervals will not happen overnight!  It’s a PROCESS which requires being consistent in working on them.

Listen and become aware of melodies and INTERVALS in the music you hear on the radio, etc.

Next, work on the half-step intervals starting with the 1^st to MINOR 3^rd as this interval is vital in good musicianship.

I have found a very good app for helping you through the process. It’s called RelativePitch.  It’s a freebie with the option to upgrade.

Start NOW and see how much better your EAR becomes this year!

© 2018 Pamela Rentzel – Pentecostal Musicians