4.19 Recognizing melody

The exercise Recognizing melody is a preparatory exercise for Chapter 4.20 Melodic deviation.

The purpose of this exercise is to learn to hear the difference between two differently notated melodies. The difference between these two melodies concerns only one note.

Exercise recognizing melody

Ear Training exercise 4a: recognizing melody. The played melody is notated twice. Choose the right melody.

Example question

The next melody is being played:

Which melody do you hear?

Choise 1:

Choise 2:

Practical steps

The melody is being played in the B flat major scale. The difference between the first and second melody is the second beat in the second bar:

1. In the first melody, a Bb is being played, the tonic. The tonic is also being played in the first and last bar (remember).
2. In the second melody, a D is being played, the third. In the second measure, the skip from F to D (fifth - third) is notated.

Sing the two notated melodies to train your inner hearing abilties. Then play the melody and pay particular attention to the tonic in the last measure (try to remember how this note sounds). Decide whether the note on the second beat of the second bar is the same as:

1. the tonic B flat in the last bar (choise 1) or
2. the third D (choise 2).

Answer: choice 2.