Help & FAQ

How do I start using Tonic Sense?

You can start right away. Pick a method (Solfege, Numeric, or Keyboard) from the menu, choose a lesson, and begin. No sign-in required to practice.

If you want to track your progress, sign in with your Google or Apple account. Any exercises you've already done will be loaded into your dashboard automatically -- they were saved in your browser.

What is melodic dictation?

Melodic dictation is hearing a melody and identifying the notes. You listen to a short phrase, then indicate what you heard -- using solfege syllables, numbers, or piano keys. It's how you train your ear to recognize what's happening in music.

What's the difference between Solfege, Numeric, and Keyboard methods?

Three ways to practice the same skill. Solfege uses syllables (Do, Re, Mi) -- good for singers and communicating with other musicians. Numeric uses scale degree numbers (1, 2, 3) -- useful if you think in chord progressions or analyze music theory. Keyboard has you play the notes on a visual piano in any of the 12 major keys -- this connects your ear directly to your hands and builds the ability to transpose.

Most people benefit from practicing all three at different times.

Which method should I start with?

Whatever feels most natural to your background. Singers often prefer solfege. Instrumentalists who think about chord theory often prefer numbers. Piano players often prefer the keyboard method. Try the basic overview lessons to sample all three.

What does "Movable Do" mean?

Tonic Sense uses Movable Do for solfege. This means Do is always the tonic (the "home note") of whatever key you're in. In C major, Do is C. In G major, Do is G. The syllables describe the note's role in the scale, not a fixed pitch.

What is relative pitch?

Relative pitch is the ability to identify a note by hearing its relationship to another note. You hear that a melody moves from the 5th degree up to the tonic, or from Do to Mi -- without needing to know the actual letter names of the notes. This is different from perfect pitch, which is recognizing a note's exact frequency in isolation.

Relative pitch is what lets musicians play by ear, transpose to different keys, and understand what's happening in a piece of music. It can be developed through practice. That's what Tonic Sense is for.

How do lessons work?

Each lesson contains between 2 and 30 short melodies. Click the Play button to hear a melody, then click your answer -- syllables, numbers, or piano keys. The notes you click appear at the top of the screen. You'll see immediately whether you're right or wrong. Use the circle arrows to clear and try again if you mess up.

After you get the last note correct, click the Next arrow to move to the next melody.

What are the orange highlighted notes?

The first note of each melody will always be one of the orange highlighted notes. If you hear what sounds like Mi but there are two Mi's showing, it's the orange one. This helps you figure out where the melody sits in the scale.

How do Keyboard exercises work?

Same as the others, but before you click Play, you select which of the 12 major keys you want to practice in. The tonic notes are bordered in blue so you know where "home" is. You answer by clicking the piano keys.

On a desktop you'll see both the scale degree buttons (for reference) and the piano keyboard. On a phone you only see the keyboard.

How do I track my progress?

Sign in and visit the My Learning page. You'll see your completed lessons, practice streak, and which lessons you might want to repeat. Progress you made before signing in will appear there too.

Can I use this on mobile?

Yes. Tonic Sense works on phones and tablets. Headphones are recommended for the best audio experience.

What are the Scale and Arpeggio links for?

During an exercise, you can click Scale or Arpeggio to hear the major scale or tonic chord in the current key. This helps you establish the tonic in your ear when you're having trouble placing the melody.

Will there be dark mode?

Yes. Dark mode support is planned for sometime this year.

Can I use MIDI input for the keyboard exercises?

MIDI input is not currently supported. Feature requests are being tracked, and this may be reconsidered in the future based on demand.

What does beta mean?

Tonic Sense is still being developed. Lessons are being added and adjusted. There are some unresolved audio issues. Bugs happen. But it's stable enough to use for practice, and feedback from beta users helps make it better.

Is it free during beta?

Yes. All lessons are available to everyone during the beta period.

How do I report bugs or make suggestions?

Use the Feedback link in the menu. Feedback is anonymous -- it's just a form.

How is my data protected?

See the Privacy Policy for details on how information is collected, used, and protected.

Can I export my data?

Yes. Visit your Profile page and click "Export My Data" to download a copy of your information.

How do I delete my account?

You can request account deletion from your Profile page. This permanently removes all your data.