Academy

Listening fundamentals

Set up good listening conditions, then learn to describe what you hear: pitch, timbre, place in space.

Beginner4 lessons≈ 30 min

Objectives

Set a comfortable, consistent listening level.
Tell the pitch of a sound from its timbre.
Place a sound between left and right.

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01Active listening
The listening setup and first timbre landmarks.
1. Preparing to listenHeadphones or speakers, a moderate level, a quiet place: the basis of any training.
2. TimbreTwo sounds at the same pitch can sound very different: that is timbre.
02Pitch and space
Up, down, and placing a sound in the stereo image.
1. Up or downBefore naming an interval, be sure whether the melody goes up or down.
2. Left, centre, rightPanning places a sound in the stereo image by changing the level on each side.