6.5: Song Cues
- Page ID
- 258500
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Recognizing Intervals
There are many different methods for learning to recognize intervals by ear. The only detail that seems to be consistently agreed upon is that interval recognition helps increase our musical ability and the strength of our ear.
A few methods of recognizing intervals will be covered here, but this is by no means exhaustive. Likely, you will develop your own ways of hearing the intervals and it might end up being a mix of methods. If one isn't working for you, try a different one.
Song Cues
Using song cues to recognize intervals has been a standard method for quite a while. As with any method, there are pros and cons.
- Pro: it gives us something familiar to which we can relate the notes.
- Pro: when listening to intervals on their own for a test, we can focus on those two pitches and more easily recall the song we associate with that interval.
- Pro: when writing out a melody with a jump, some of the song cues can be helpful if we are able to sing back those notes and pinpoint it.
- Con: it gives us extra information to learn and associate with each interval.
- Con: there might be some songs on the lists of common songs that you've never heard!
- Con: when we are listening to a piece of music with multiple things going on, it is hard to actually hear a song cue.
A Basic Start
| Interval | Ascending | Descending |
|---|---|---|
| m2 | Jaws | O Little Town of Bethlehem |
| M2 |
Do-Re Frère Jacques |
Mary Had a Little Lamb Three Blind Mice |
| m3 |
Do-Me Greensleeves |
Star Spangled Banner |
| M3 |
Do-Mi When the Saints Go Marching In |
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot Beethoven's 5th Symphony |
| P4 |
Here Comes the Bride Amazing Grace |
Shave and a Haircut Do-Sol I've Been Workin' on the Railroad |
| TT |
Maria (West Side Story) The Simpson's Theme |
|
| P5 |
Twinkle, Twinkle Star Wars Theme |
Bring a Torch Jeanette Isabella |
| m6 |
Love Story (1970s version) No Time to Die The Entertainer |
Love Story (descending) |
| M6 |
My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean NBC |
Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen |
| m7 | There's a Place for Us (West Side Story) | American in Paris |
| M7 |
Bali Hai Don't Know Why (Norah Jones) |
|
| P8 | Somewhere Over the Rainbow |
Continuing with this Method
If you like this method, or seem to be having a hard time with a particular interval, it would be an excellent use of your time to listen to the music with which you are familiar and choose your own song cues. Make your own list. Put those songs in a Spotify playlist and listen to them often.
There are many videos on YouTube that share this method if you are interested in hearing some of these songs.