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Tuning a chord like a choir

Root, major third, fifth and octave – each note long and straight, without vibrato. The piano gives only the first note; you tune the rest yourself, like one voice in a choir chord. The score also counts steadiness.

oooooooo
One repetition of the pattern. In the app it is transposed to your vocal range and scored note by note.

Root, major third, fifth and octave: a major chord spread out, with each note held for three beats. The piano plays only the first note, for about a second. You tune the other three yourself, the way one voice finds its place in a choir chord. The notes are long and straight on a calm “oo”. The score is half pitch accuracy and half steadiness, and the tolerance is a tight 40 cents.

How to do it

  1. Hear the cue note, take a calm breath and start “oo” exactly on it.
  2. Hold each note for three beats with a still, straight tone: no vibrato, no pushing.
  3. Move to the major third, the fifth and the octave, hearing each in your head before you sing it.
  4. Use the block heights on the roll as a map while you tune by ear.
  5. Rest, then repeat. Each repetition starts two semitones higher, then comes back down the same way.

Coach's tip: The third easily slips flat – think of it as bright. Straight but not squeezed: a calm, even airflow.

What to watch out for

The major third is the usual culprit. It slips flat, so think of it as bright and slightly high. The fifth sags next when the air runs low. Vibrato creeping in on a long note costs you on the steadiness half of the score. Keep the airflow even, but don't clamp your throat to stay straight. If every note is off by the same amount, the first note was off; listen to the cue again. Stop if you feel strain.

Who it's for

A level 2 exercise for choir and ensemble singers, and for anyone who wants to hear intervals without leaning on the piano. Use it in the main block after Major triad 1-3-5-3-1 and Interval: perfect fifth. Follow it with Straight tone without vibrato. In the daily training it comes up more often if you picked Classical & choir.

Practice this exercise

Opens the app in your browser. Free to start, no account needed. Put on headphones first.

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