The Tune Indigo Podcast

Harmonic Interval Ear Training: How to Hear Motion Where There Is None

Learn to hear harmonic intervals and understand why they're trickier to identify than melodic ones — plus a look at the science and art behind this week's practice exercises. In this episode: Cohort enrollment now open — Listening and Personal Style, a 6-week ear training cohort starting September 7th. Early-bird pricing ($300) through 8/21, regular price $350 after. 15-seat limit. tuneindigo.com This week's video tutorial (audio version): hearing harmonic intervals and the motion between voices that creates them News-lesson: why training your ear with a purpose — not just "because you should" — changes how you listen Behind the scenes: how Voice Leading: The Science Behind a Musical Art by David Huron shaped the ten listening examples in this week's tutorial Watch the video: Harmonic Interval Ear Training - How to Hear Motion Where There Is None (add YouTube link) Join the cohort: tuneindigo.com

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Offloading Melodies - Cohort Course Announcement - iii chord vs. vi chord

Two chords, three notes each, two notes in common — no wonder iii and vi get confused. This episode starts with the full audio of this week's tutorial, where a single scale degree settles the question for good. Then it's on to the news-lesson. This week: what happened when a group of Foundations students joined me for impromptu office hours (Carole King, harmonic listening, and some composition practice); news of a small real-time Holistic Ear Training course starting in September; and a look back at the final Compose With Me livestream, where "offloading melodies" turned "Interplanet Janet" into something that sounds nothing like it. Chapters are enabled — skip straight to the news-lesson if you've already watched the video. In this episode: Tutorial: telling iii from vi in major keys Office hours with Foundations students The September cohort course Offloading melodies, and building a tune from borrowed rhythm Links: Cohort Course INFO Compose With Me replay Free email Course Info Video Tutorial: iii chord vs. vi chord

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The Simplest Improv You'll Ever Play

Plus a listening guide for a Carole King classic and a 600-year-old composing habit. LINKS: Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow Shirelles 1960 Version Carole King Version Compose with Me! Livestream Tune Indigo on YouTube tuneindigo.com

Chase the Bass, Catch the Chords: Hearing "Eight Days a Week"

Can you hear what Paul McCartney's bass line is doing under "Eight Days a Week"? In this episode, we chase that bass line to uncover the chord progression driving the whole song — then take those same chords and go hunting for them in four other tunes, from bossa nova to hip-hop. You'll: Sing the root notes of McCartney's bass line against the original recording Test your ear by finding do and singing that same bass line over "Exactly Like You," "Take the A Train," "Forget You," and more Close with a fully improvised vocal line over a stripped-down version of the progression — no solfège, no chord names, just your ear and your voice Want to go deeper? The full step-by-step video on learning any song's chords by ear is linked below. Links: Original recording: Eight Days a Week Tutorial video: How to Learn a Song's Chords by Ear More at tuneindigo.com Corresponding Newsletter Issue: Chase Bass, Catch Chords