Before we can recognise chord changes or play melodies by ear, we need to find our bearings — to feel where home is in the music.
This “home note,” which we often call Do, is the centre of gravity in any piece of music. It’s the note everything else relates to.
Most of us already know this subconsciously. When a song ends, we can sense the final note feels done. Our work here is simply to bring that natural intuition into conscious awareness — to recognise it on purpose.
Active listening comes first. Use the same curiosity you practiced earlier: notice shapes, energy, and feeling. Ask questions while you listen. This helps your ear soak up the sound world — the harmonic environment — even before you can name what’s happening.
And remember: your voice is your most direct connection to what you hear. Singing along (even imperfectly) helps you internalise the sound of the key. You can sing the melody, hum the bass, or make up notes that seem to fit — all of it trains your ear to sense the home note.
“Every garden has its soil — and every song has its home.”