Ear Training: Triads in Inversions #1

Ear Training with Spock - Major & Minor triads with Inversions.
This video contains two tests (15/16) of questions with triads being played with a piano sound. The tests are designed for BOTH beginners and advanced ears at the same time. The chords are played 3 times and then the answer is revealed. The answers are given verbally and shown in standard notation with captions.
Test #1 at 6:23 - Test #2 at 12:08
Beginning ear training students should listen for the difference between the major & minor triads and try to tell which note is the bass note. To make this first inversions test easier, the bass note is doubled down an octave (occasionally two). For the advanced students: the test begins with a C major scale and each triad shares a note in common or moves by step to the next triad, so you a required to name the chord (C major- root position, D minor in 2nd inversion, etc.).
Conception, all artwork, music, video, calligraphy and voice over by Michel Rene Plourde - May 2021.

[@davidsummerville351]

I enjoy your channel. Thanks

[@spocksmusic]

You are very welcome. I trust these help.

[@KathyFreeman]

This was totally beyond me at first so I focused on basic intervals again for a few months. Came back today and got just over 50% ( great by my standards) Thanks for your tests!!

[@spocksmusic]

You're welcome. I'm hoping to do more soon.

[@PlayitonPan]

Love the minor triad in second inversion (C-/G) …it sounds like the beginning of a dramatic cadence 🔥 (C-/G, G⁷/F, C⁵ 🤔 💭 🤷🏾‍♂️)

[@spocksmusic]

Me too. Listen to any Bach piece for organ in a minor key and you will hear that at the end of the piece and/or various sections. . . . . It is a very sombre sound all on it's own.

[@alwt1991]

great thanks! very valuable training

[@spocksmusic]

Thank you. I'm glad they're helping. (and a belated Merry Christmas).

[@minimifetti]

As a beginner to music theory, I must say, I've not seen a video explaining a musical concept so well. Thanks so much!

[@spocksmusic]

Thank you. That's what I do.

[@oldschoolgameslphouse5547]

Thanks this video gave me so much confidence

[@spocksmusic]

Cool. That's why Ido them.

[@Nako6009]

The lowered octave really helps lol. Especially with the minor chords.

[@spocksmusic]

It does. I have to do one without. That'll be harder.

[@GenericHuman54]

11:19 7:39 (just a time stamp I can reference)

[@spocksmusic]

Whatever you need to learn. :)

[@ethandomingo2919]

Go jays go!

[@spocksmusic]

I guess we'll have to wait for next year.

[@jalengladney3994]

Hey, had a question. In a diminished triad, do the 1st and 2nd inversions work the same way as you said these major/min triads do? Like you say the 1st inversion has the most “energy/tension”. Does this work similarly on diminished triads even though they have the 2 of the same interval(minor 3rd)

[@spocksmusic]

In my opinion - not really. The dim triad already has a dissonance to begin with and the inversions just seem to distribute it around the voicing.

[@jalengladney3994]

@@spocksmusic ahh gotchu. So how would you go about hearing inversions of this. I’m currently able to hear all of Major/min inversions in open voicings off of how the bass note sounds. What would you suggest I do for the diminished triads

[@spocksmusic]

@@jalengladney3994 That's a hard question. I've been listening to them for a day or so and the first thing to do is figure out if it is in closed root position or not. When it is it sounds dark and small - the outer two notes make a dim. 5th. The two inversions do not - the outer two notes makes what sound like a Major 6th and can almost be bright (at least brighter than normally dark diminished). To me: the 1st inversion sounds like part of the dim 7th and the 2nd inversion is the m7b5 chord. I guess, once you've figured out it is an inversion, then try to hear where the minor 3rd is: if it's low it's 1st inv, if it's high it's 2nd inv.

[@gbh0015]

In the second part why not just keep to triads in a particular key? That would be more useful as hearing traids foreign to a key is very advanced and not something quite so important??

[@tomriego3350]

If you want more views buy a cat because the job is perfect. Thank you

[@spocksmusic]

We had one up until a year ago but she wouldn't come into the studio. I don't think she cared for the noise. Maybe in the spring. . . . .