Hello,

I am currently trying to get a lot better at learning songs by ear. I kniw a good method of learning intervals is to remember moments in songs you like that use those intervals, and i was wondering what good examples of those are in prince songs. I already use the beginning of 1999 as a reference for major 6th (i was ⬆️dreamin)

Thanks

Gothnoodles said:

It's funny you mention this because I'm working on my interval recall too. Currently I'm working on getting stronger on catching them in sequence (eg descending min7 followed by a descending min6).

I haven't really used any Prince tracks for this but will have to think about that.

Do you have any favorite tracks? I could maybe see what I can catch in those since they're already memorable for you?

When I did ear training at conservatory long time ago, we used jazz standards for this. Major 6 equals Take the A train, etc... But who knows jazz standards nowadays?
Interesting idea though to use Prince songs for this! Isn't the opening for Condition of the Heart a spelled out major 7 chord in root position?

O yes, and Nothing compares 2 u opens with a perfect fourth (it's >> been)!

Just a quick thought however (without checking) but I somehow feel that the melodies of Prince often start with repeated notes in unisono. Or ascending scales tones in seconds... Am I right in this?

Nice... Let's go crazy starts (after initial unison) a minor second!! (Lets go >> crazy)

BTW, at OP, if you really want to internalize these intervals, get your instrument, try to play random Prince songs, and identify the intervals yourself. That's a better way then depending on others to do so. This is not critique, but a heartfelt advice... It's all about YOUR ears and brain!

This is what I meant with ascending scales tones: do > re > mi (first 3 notes of major scale), as found in:

Pur > ple > Rain (chorus of PR)
Could > you > be (the most beautiful girl in the world)

A-me > rica : descending perfect fourth!

(And the repeat of A-me > rica is a descending perfect fifth)
[Edited 11/9/23 1:39am]

Love > come > quick (from Thieves in the Temple):
A spelled out minor triad in root position

These are all great! Thank you guys so much

Oh its just one person lmao, thank you!

Thanks for your reply! Please post here if you find any good examples of intervals in Prince melodies! Let's see if we can find examples for all 12 intervals!

jazzz said:

Oh my God haha I didn't remember that. Gonna be hard to not hear that every time I hear a descending P4 now thanks haha (seriously - thanks haha)

26ten said:

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You're welcome 🤩
[Edited 11/9/23 18:43pm]

4 the Tears in Your Eyes

Get Blue

Pheremone

[Edited 11/9/23 20:21pm]

I used to play the ocarina but recently switched to the nose flute

Here's another one...

In Paisley Park, Prince uses the 1235 (do re mi sol) motive, in the the opening There > is > a > park.

This motive ensures strong and memorable melodies, and can be found for example in Grieg's Morgenstimmung, Ellington's In a Sentimental Mood, and in the improvisations of John Coltrane.