Ear Training

Tools for developing your ear alongside the score: chord recognition, interval training, and a chromatic guitar tuner.

Chord Ear Training

A quiz that plays a chord from the current score and asks you to identify it. Ties ear training directly to the music you're learning. Open the Chord Ear tab in the Tools panel.

How It Works
  1. Riffwork extracts all unique chords from the score
  2. One chord is played - you hear it, you don't see the name
  3. Four answer choices appear - pick the correct chord name
  4. Immediate feedback: correct = green, wrong = shows the right answer
  5. Score (correct / total) tracked at the top of the panel

Chords are played via AlphaSynth (the same audio engine that plays back the score) for a realistic guitar sound.

Chord Chart Flashcard Mode

An alternate ear training path: enable flashcard mode in the Chord Chart (hover to reveal chord names). Play back the song and try to name each chord before it reaches that bar, then hover to check. Works well alongside Chord Ear as a more contextual drill.

Interval Trainer

Trains interval recognition (the distance between two notes). Covers all 11 intervals from minor 2nd to major 7th. Open the Interval Ear tab in the Tools panel.

How It Works
  1. Two notes are played in sequence
  2. Name the interval - 4 choices presented
  3. Correct: score increments, next interval plays. Wrong: the answer is shown before advancing.
  4. Session score (X / Y) tracked in the panel header

Notes are generated via Web Audio oscillators at concert pitch. The root note is randomized each round to prevent pattern-matching on the pitch alone.

IntervalExample (from C)Character
Minor 2ndC → C#Dissonant, tense
Major 2ndC → DStepwise, neutral
Minor 3rdC → EbDark, minor feel
Major 3rdC → EBright, major feel
Perfect 4thC → FOpen, stable
TritoneC → F#Unstable, edgy
Perfect 5thC → GHollow, strong
Minor 6thC → AbMelancholic
Major 6thC → ASweet, open
Minor 7thC → BbBluesy, dominant
Major 7thC → BBright, tense

Guitar Tuner

A chromatic tuner that listens to your microphone and displays the nearest note + cents deviation. Open the Tuner tab in the Tools panel.

How to Use
  1. Open the Tuner tab - browser will request microphone permission
  2. Pluck a string on your guitar
  3. The detected note appears large in the center, with a cents needle showing sharp (+) or flat (−)
  4. Tune until the needle is centered and the note matches the string you're targeting

The tuner uses AudioContext + autocorrelation pitch detection - same algorithm as most hardware chromatic tuners. Works best in a quiet environment.

Standard String Reference
StringNoteFrequency
6 (low E)E282.4 Hz
5 (A)A2110.0 Hz
4 (D)D3146.8 Hz
3 (G)G3196.0 Hz
2 (B)B3246.9 Hz
1 (high E)E4329.6 Hz
The tuner reads whatever your mic hears - tune in a quiet space or use a direct cable if you have an audio interface. Acoustic guitars with strong overtones can occasionally confuse the pitch detector on the low strings.
Alternate Tunings

Riffwork's tuner is chromatic - it identifies any note, so it works for any tuning. Open the Quick Tuning Presets popup (♭≡ button in the player bar) to see target notes for 12 common alternate tunings.

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