Going from listening to playing

[blackbird]

Got two more questions for you musical geniuses out there...
1. How do you figure out what key a simple melody is in if you've only heard it, not seen any sheet music or anything?
2. When you hear any song and want to play it, you can get the tab off the net. But how about the strum pattern and the rhythm? I found Shawn's 4 basic accompaniment strum patterns easy to learn because of the clarity of his explanations, but how do I figure out strum patterns to other songs I've heard?
Thanks a bunch!:)

[mjamer]

warning: there's no real theory, or musical genius in this, just thought I'd share a little, since I originally played by ear (changing now cause I want to read music and hear it in my head just as if I were reading a book or something. Especially on songs or peices I've never heard before ).

To find the key, I would find the a note on either the low E or A string going up and down the frets that sounded "right" through the entire progression. That, in general let me know what key the song was in. If you find a note that sounds right, but when the song changes chords it now sounds not-so-right, then that isn't the key. Once you have figured out the key, that's where the little theory on chord construction comes in and you can figure out what chords are in that progression based on that. If you figure out songs by ear enough, your ear will get in-tune and you'll just pick out chords.. "hey that's a G chord!", just by hearing the song on the radio, or with even more practice.. you'll be able to just hear the progression.. sounds wild, but it really does happen.

"because of the clarity of his explanations", amen to that. I read alot of websites explaining various theory (mainly scale positions, and modes). The way he explains made me feel like.. "hah! no kidding eh.. that's cool", it just made sense... I guess most forget their audience doesn't have the first clue hehe.

About strumming pattern and rythym. To me that's naturally found by hearing the song, essentially mimicing what you hear. To me, it's kinda like playing along with the song as I hear it in my head. That's even true for songs I've written.

i hope this helps a little bit, someone else probably has a more in depth, technical way of doing this hehe.

mjamer

[blackbird]

Hi MJ, thanks for your reply:D Good explanation of figuring out keys in chord progressions. Makes sense to me, though I think we might be on different wavelengths... I was wondering how one figures out the key to simple melodies (i.e. no chords strummed, just simple, single notes played). I thought this would be easy (just play it on the guitar by ear, then figure out what notes you played on the fretboard, and see which key they match), but now I'm wondering if the presence of accidentals will screw up my process? Basically what I'm trying to do is take a song I know that doesn't have a guitar accompaniment, and add one in of my own making. That means I need the key of the song so I can figure out possible chords to use. I'd tell you the name of the song, but I can't for the life of me remember what it is! :p
Thanks

[jaytee]

so sing us a little part of it...

:)

[mjamer]

blackbird, if there are no notes that stand out in the melody that seem to carry it along, that's where theory comes in. Alot of songs like for the piano are just a melody.. but usually have a bass note leading or something that would define what chords. (I'm gonna really tear up explaining this hehe) take fur elise for example, it's a melody with just notes playing... but there are notes that are played that stand out. Like you hear it start.. de de de de de da de de DA, when that last note is played it's has a feel that a chord can be there. Continuing on, you hear other distinctive spots where a chord can be laid down. Now it's just a matter of figuring out what those distinctive notes are, and what chord sounds right (since you're doing it by ear, I wont hit on theory of what chord is right hehe).

You just.. hmm.. close the world off, and listen to the melody you want to put chords too and feel/hear places where you think a chord could be without killing the melody, but making your chord progression and the melody wrap themselves up together, complementing one another... hehe. ok i don't know where i am here, but it's there.

You can supplement your knowledge and learning with theory, and this will ultimately be a whole lot easier. Learning by ear is awesome, and to me something more than technical rules. I'm not ditching theory or anything like that, I think it's wonderful and a necessity. Just find a balance between the 2, like the above chord/melody balance, a balance between the sound/feeling of music and the technical theory of the rules. That should all help to make you the best you can be.

hope i didn't confuse you with my drivel hehehe

mjamer

[JetDrive]

I knew someone who tried the same technique as you did 20 years ago and he still hasn't figured it out. All you're talking about is knowing scales. if you don't know scales it"ll take you an extra 20 years than if you start studying scales for a year or even 6 months. i studied scales for a year many hours a day and can play any riff, lead or melody on any and all of the fretboard. Anybody who says they know the fretboard without studying scales from end of the guitar to the other is kidding himself and lying to you. before i studied scales i was nowhere and going nowhere on guitar and the people i started playing with are still where they were 20 years ago trying to figure out the fretboard. it's easy to play lead when you understand how the fretboard is designed.- and from playing scales from one end of the guitar to the other not hundreds but in small thousands my advice is do the A minor blues scale from one end of the guitar to the other and only do that one until you see how it all fits together and you'll be playing lead beyond any of your friends.
If you want to see how the fretboard fits together go to my homepage www.magma.ca/~ldp77777 and you"ll understand how the fretboard is set up.
you can e-mail me if you have any questions ldp77777@magma.ca