Is it better to focus on intervals or chords first?

[nancyfett]

Hi everyone,

While working through ear training exercises, a common question comes up about learning order. Some methods suggest starting with interval recognition, while others emphasize chord identification early on.
In practice, both seem important, but it’s not always clear which one builds a stronger foundation in the long run.
For example:
Interval training helps with melodic understanding
Chord recognition supports harmony and progression awareness
In different courses, the balance between these two approaches varies quite a lot.
It would be interesting to hear how others approached this:
Starting with intervals first, then chords
Mixing both from the beginning
Or focusing more on harmonic context early on
Any insights or experiences would be really helpful.

Thanks!

[ilyacolton]

It would be great to hear about your experiences and preferences regarding these approaches. How did you structure your ear training? Did you find one method more beneficial than the other for your musical development?