How to train your ear to recognize chords

1. How do you recognize chords by ear?
2. How can I train my ear to recognize notes?
3. How can I improve my hearing at chord changes?

How do you recognize chords by ear?

There are 3 steps to recognizing any chord:

1. Identify which note is the root note of the chord.
2. Recognize the scale degree of the root note.
3. Identify the quality of the chord.

How can I train my ear to recognize notes?

Pitch ear training: Train your ear to recognize notes by playing the same note over and over while singing or humming it, and associating the sound with its name in your mind. The more clearly you can hear a note in your head, the better you'll become at identifying pitches.

How can I improve my hearing at chord changes?

Practice singing and humming melodies to songs you already know while strumming chords. Instead of trying to strum all four beats, strum half-time, only on beats one and three. Let the melody guide you to when the chords change. Melodies usually consist of chord tones so they often guide you to when the chord changes.