Tip 39: Cross Your Arms and Guess the Interval

If you’ve got five minutes to spare, sit down at a keyboard and try this exercise:

Close your eyes and cross your arms one over the other. Play a low note (with your right hand) and play a high note with your left (keep your hand on the keys while your eyes are shut). Try to figure out what the interval is. When you play an interval like this, you will not only be playing a random interval, but the chances are that it will be a compound one (i.e. bigger than an octave).

Compound intervals are often more difficult to decipher, but if you spend a few minutes a day training like this they will get easier and easier. When you think you can name the interval, open your eyes and look at your hands. Were you close?