3 Most Important Ear Training Exercises to Improve Fast

Why These Exercises Work

Ear training doesn't have to take months to pay off. If you focus on the most essential sound recognition skills, you’ll notice improvement within days.

Here are the top 3 (or top 5 here):

1. Bass vs Treble Boost

Play a sound with either the lows or highs boosted — guess which one. This builds fundamental EQ awareness.

💡 Try it in MixSense’s learning path - starting with “Bass or Treble” exercises to get instant feedback.

2. Compression Timing

Compare two identical sounds — one with fast attack, one with slow. Which one sounds tighter or punchier?

This builds your sense of dynamics and transients.

3. Volume Shift Detection

Play two sounds with a 1-2 dB difference in volume. Can you tell which is louder?

This helps with gain staging and leveling, a huge part of clean mixing.

Do These Daily

Each of these can be practiced in 2–5 minute bursts. Apps like MixSense guide you through them in a gamified way so you improve without burnout.

Final Tip

Focus on awareness, not perfection. Even noticing “something changed” is a win.