if a random note is played, i can predict what a half step up will sound like in my head before its played

But to do the same with whole steps i feel like i have to count it up in my head as 2 half steps to be more certain its correct, is there a way i can recognize whole steps straight up just like half steps?

 

Practice playing scales, in all keys, 24-48 minutes every day* for 180 days. Sing along after the first 24 mn (minutes 25-48).

* You can take a day off once a week if you must, but then you'll need to stretch the period to 206 days instead of 180 consecutive days.

That'll do it.

 

Drill Whole Steps in Isolation

Use an instrument or an ear training app to play a random note, then immediately
sing or hum a note a whole step up without thinking in half steps.

Then check if you were right.

Repeat this:

Play → Sing up a whole step → Check → Adjust.

Eventually, you’ll develop the feel of the space between the two notes.

 

"HaPPY - BIRTHday to you" - the first interval heard is a 2th.

 

Several methods. I have been using an app called complete ear trainer that drills you on all the intervals. It's quite difficult, and it'll take some time to see results. Especially because for me personally for example, identifying a whole step interval can be harder or easier depending on the pitch of the starting point. The brain is a pattern recognition machine, so I assume it just has to do with having a bigger database to fall back on for intervals at certain outgoing pitches.

The other method was more or less pointed out by @orbitbooster . It can be helpful to use a piece of music with a very prominent interval as an aid. Happy Birthday has a recognizable Major 2nd, the Jaws theme has a recognizable Minor 2nd. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star has an easily recognizable Perfect 5th. My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean a Major 6th. The Bridge in A-ha's Take On Me is a Major 7th. Somewhere over the Rainbow is an octave. You can do the same with descending intervals too, like the beginning of Für Elise is a Minor 2nd down. It can be difficult to match these with what you're hearing though... But they might help you develop feel for the intervals.

You could probably even ask AI to compile you a list of recognizable melodies with all these different intervals, maybe even in every available outgoing pitch lol.

 

https://tonedear.com/ear-training/intervals

This helped me a lot, have fun.
And the 2nd? To my old ears I have a feeling of a 7th, like e to d, or d to e.
Hope this helps.

 

This is interesting because generally the way I play live a lot of the time is I simply "listen" to the next interval in the song in my head and go there instead of actually learning the chord progression of the music, it's much easier and it means I can play it in any key without having to worry. I don't have perfect pitch but apparently I was born with really good relative pitch and pitch memory. It's a good thing to have...

 

The mnemonic technique (finding memorable tunes that highlight specific intervals) and ear training apps are the most solid advice you can follow right now. Later on, you can dip your toe into more robust methods, like Bruce Benward’s book, Nancy Rogers’ book, or even Leo Kraft’s.