Training in the elements of music

Tests

This section of the site is about training and testing your understanding of and fluency with the elements of music. Go through the mental exercises any spare moment wherever you happen to be, and practice with these online tests whenever you have access to a computer or any other device with a web browser.

When you navigate to a test page, you'll sometimes see settings at the top. Tap/click to toggle the check mark on or off to activate or deactivate each setting.

Below the settings are statistics, which indicate your progress through the series of questions and your score. The length of a series of questions is sometimes influenced by the settings you make. A series is compiled by adding each possible question—sometimes phrased in a handful of different ways—to a list, and then the result is randomly shuffled. Answering every question in a series guarantees that you've covered every available permutation of question for the current settings.

Below the statistics is the text of the current question. And below that is the picker control in the form of a note clock or an interval clock or a panel of buttons. You use the picker control to select and submit your answer. There are several kinds of picker: general note, specific note, general interval, specific interval, and others. For a general picker, just tap/click a natural to make a selection. For a specific picker, either tap/click a natural or drag a natural onto another clock position to alter it. Depending on the settings and/or the type of test, your selection will either be auto-submitted, or you'll need to tap/click the submit button. You can't progress to the next question until you've correctly answered the current one. At the end of a question series, you'll be given your score and a color-coded appraisal, and you'll be able to either quit or go ahead with another series.

I hope you find these tests helpful. And perhaps even fun!

General intervals between general notes

This test is the foundation to mastering your general intervals. The questions are about the general interval from one general note up to, or down to, another. For example, what's the general interval from any C up to any E? The answer is a third of some kind. In the interest of brevity, the test shortens "a general C" or "a C of some kind" to just "a C". Similarly, it shortens "a general third" or "a third of some kind" to "a third". Developing fluency with general intervals is a foundation you should develop before moving on to specific intervals between specific notes.

I suggest beginning with just the "fourths and fifths" setting active, and first become fluent with all 56 variants of general note-pairs that are either a general fourth or fifth apart. There will be times when you can figure out the answer by looking at the note clock. But only do that as a last resort when you haven't yet memorized the answer and if you can't visualize the note clock or the keyboard on your own. Once you've mastered fourths and fifths, add thirds and sixths, and finally add seconds and sevenths for a total question series length of 168.

General intervals between general notes mega test

This mega 588-question test builds on the previous one, and it's a great way to be really sure that you're rock-solid on your general intervals. Just like the previous test, these questions are about the general interval from one general note up to, or down to, another. The difference is that questions are asked about each note-pair relationship in multiple semantic variants. This develops in you several perspectives from which to look at each relationship, and those skills will repay you when you encounter note-pair relationships later in various different musical contexts.

Intervals between notes

This test helps you understand and remember the specific intervals between specific notes. The questions are about the specific interval from one note up to, or down to, another. For example, what's the interval from Ab up to C? The answer is a major third.

Interval arithmetic

This test trains you in the addition and subtraction of intervals. You have the option to limit the test to perfect, major, and minor intervals or to include diminished and augmented intervals, too.

Intervals between degrees in the major scale formula

How well do you know the major scale formula? The interval from 1 up to 3 is easy, but what's the interval from 4 up to 7? That's a very important one! This test will strengthen your appreciation of the inner workings of the major scale formula.

Intervals between degrees in the natural minor scale formula

How about the natural minor scale formula? This test is a variation on the previous one.

Intervals between degrees in the harmonic minor scale formula

And this test puts you through your paces in understanding the internal structure of the harmonic minor scale formula.

Scale formulas

In this test, you are asked to pick the correct degrees, in the correct order, for four scale formulas: the major scale formula, the natural minor scale formula, the harmonic minor, and the melodic minor.

You don't need a button for scale formula degree 1, because that's added for you as the first degree of every scale formula. 1 is also assumed for you at the end of the descending phase of melodic minor. Nor do you need to end any scale formula with 1'—the degree a perfect octave above the tonic—because that's assumed, too. You do need to use 1' halfway through the melodic minor sequence, though.

Chord formulas rooted on 1

The questions in this test are about constructing triads and seventh chord formulas. For this test, you'll only need to know the chord formulas with root 1. So, for example, for the major triad formula you'll only need to know 1 3 5.

Chord formulas in the major scale formula

This test is about the triads and seventh chords that can be formed on the various scale degrees of the major scale formula.

Chord formulas in the natural minor scale formula

This test is about the triads and seventh chords that can be formed on the various scale degrees of the natural minor scale formula.

Chord formulas in the harmonic minor scale formula

This test is about the triads and seventh chords that can be formed on the various scale degrees of the harmonic minor scale formula.

Chord formulas rooted on any scale formula degree

The questions in this test are about constructing triads and seventh chord formulas whose roots are various scale formula degrees. So, for example, for the major triad formula you'll need to know not only 1 3 5 but also 2 #4 6 and several more.

Common degrees between chords in the major scale formula

Common degrees between scale formula chords.

Common degrees between chords in the natural minor scale formula

Common degrees between scale formula chords.

Common degrees between chords in the harmonic minor scale formula

Common degrees between scale formula chords.

Intervals between scale formula degrees

This test helps you understand and remember the intervals between scale formula degrees. The questions are about the interval from one scale formula degrees up to, or down to, another, and it builds on and consolidates the knowledge you've gained by using previous tests. For example, what's the interval from b6 up to 1? The answer is a major third.

Scale degrees in all the different scales

Here's a series of tests, one for each major and minor scale. The challenge is to identify a note when given its ordinal number in the scale, and to identify the ordinal number when given a note in the scale.