Passive Ear Training: A New Approach to Mastering the Modes of the Major Scale.
I’m excited to share a new ear training series I’ve developed with saxophonist Xose Miguelez. We’ve created something that I think will really help you improve your musical abilities, especially when it comes to hearing and understanding the modes of the major scale. This collection includes 156 MP3 files and PDFs, all designed to train your ear through singing exercises. The best part? It uses a “passive learning” approach, which means you can improve your skills while going about your day-to-day activities.
What’s included:
- Exercises for all modes in all 12 keys
- Melodic, linear, and intervallic exercises
- 156 MP3 files and accompanying PDFs
Why this approach works:
- It helps you recognize melodies more easily
- You’ll gain a deeper understanding of modes and major scale sounds
- Your overall musicianship will improve
The idea behind passive learning is simple: you can absorb musical concepts and train your ear without setting aside extra practice time. Just integrate these exercises into your daily routine, and you’ll start to see progress.
Types of exercises:
- Harmonic: Learn to hear chord progressions and structures that imply specific major modes
- Melodic: Improve your ability to hear melodies in your mind
- Intervallic: Get better at recognizing and hearing intervals
To help you get started, we’ve included a brief introduction that explains the concept of passive learning, how to use the materials, and tips for making this a part of your daily life. I’ve found that consistent exposure to these exercises can lead to some pretty remarkable improvements in ear training and overall musical understanding. Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been playing for years, I think you’ll find this series to be a valuable tool in your musical journey. Give it a try and let me know what you think. I’m always interested in hearing how these exercises work for different musicians.
~ Enjoy!
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Passive Ear Training: A Natural Approach to Mastering Modes.
I want to share with you a method I call “passive ear training.” It’s a lot like how we learned to speak as kids – through listening and repeating.
Here’s how it works:
- Focus on one key per month for a year
- Listen and sing along to the tracks
- Repeat until you can sing the whole exercise in tune, without the track
By doing this, you’ll develop a deep understanding of each mode of the major scale in every key. Trust me, this really works, it’s how I actually practice..
Why singing matters:
Singing in tune is proof that you’ve truly internalized the material. As you move through the series, you’ll notice a compounding effect. It’ll fundamentally change your ear and how you understand modes.
After the 12 keys:
Once you’ve gone through all 12 keys, start thinking more analytically about the modes. Consider:
- The relationship to the major scale
- How each note relates to the chord and root of the moment
You might play this on your instrument, but it’s not necessary. The goal is to understand concepts like “this is the b9” or “this is a Bb-7 chord.”
What makes this course unique:
This ear-training course is primarily an introduction to the modes of the major scale, using melody as the entry point. By singing melodic ideas that imply each mode, you’ll start to hear the nuances of each mode and its harmonic and melodic significance.
Advanced shapes:
We also include more advanced shapes derived from diatonic cycle motions (3, 6, 4, and 5). These create a more general modal sound, as they’re not always harmonically specific with chord tones on strong beats. It’s a great way to develop a broader sense of hearing after mastering the detailed sound of each mode.I’ve found this method incredibly effective in my own playing and teaching. Give it a try and see how it transforms your musical understanding. Remember, consistency is key!
~ Enjoy!
Matt Otto/Xose Miguelez
