Highly Popular Melodic Shapes for Ear Training



Can you spot these common shapes in the songs below?

Melodic Shape 1.

C - D - E (two whole-steps)

'With or Without You' by U2:

'Say Something' by A Great Big World:


'Ecstasy' by ATB:


Melodic Shape 2.

A - C - D - E (minor 3rd + 2 whole-steps)

'Moving Too Fast' by Artful Dodger:

'Just A Little More Love' by David Guetta:


Melodic Shape 3.

A - C - D - Eb - E (blue note added)

'Rolling in the Deep' by Adele

'3 Minutes'- by Fedde Le Grand:


Melodic Shape 4.

C - B - G

'Boys of Summer' - Don Henley

'Don't Stand So Close to Me' - The Police


'Diary' by Alicia Keys

'Say It Right' by Nelly Furtado


More Ear Training:

Lesson 1. 'Fixed Key Learning' - Find out why I recommend you practice ear training in the same key: Watch now

Lesson 2. 'How to Transcribe a Song' - Use this 3-step process to transcribe any song by ear: Watch now


Your friend,

Julian Bradley signature