Tools

Drone

Pick a concert pitch and press Play. Hold a long tone against it and listen for the wobble to slow down and disappear.

Concert pitch
B♭
233.1 Hz · A = 440

Using a drone

  • When you are out of tune you hear a fast wobble, called beats. Adjust until the wobble slows down and stops.
  • Play long tones on the drone pitch, then on its fifth and third. Thirds should sit slightly lower than a tuner says.
  • Play your scale slowly over the drone. Each note will feel different against it, and that is how you learn the intervals.
  • The tuning reference (A = 440) follows the setting on the Tuner page.

Read more

Band skillsPlaying in tune: hearing "beats" and matching pitchWhat out of tune sounds like, how to tell if you are sharp or flat, and how to match pitch with your section.Ear trainingRecognizing intervals by earHow to learn intervals with reference songs, then move past them to hearing each interval directly.Ear trainingHearing the difference between major, minor, and diminished chordsWhat gives each triad its sound, and how to tell them apart in the band's own chords.