The Five Tones
Mandarin has five different tones. Most Mandarin programs focus on naming these tones but this can actually be detrimental to the learning of the language. It often causes us to overthink the sounds in a way that inhibits the natural flow.
It's not important to know what the names of the tones are, you gotta feel them. It's like learning a musical instrument. You don't have to know the name of the notes to make beautiful music with them. You have to develop an appreciation of the nuances and relationships.
So instead of naming the tones, we are going to focus on listening to their nuances and mimicking them.
Instructions
Listen closely to the tracks below a few times and practice mimicking the pitch, duration and movement of each sound EXACTLY. The more time and focus you put into perceiving and mimicking the nuances of these sounds, the faster you will develop your sensitivity to them.
Normal Speed
Reduced Speed
Remember - you will not fully appreciate these sounds your first time. It actually takes at least a few weeks of intense exposure to really master these sounds, so it's important to remain patient.