ear

[jimmy smith]

what are some good techs. for ear traing something i could do just with my guitar without bying some course:confused:

[animalchin]

i wonder the same thing besides transcribing.

[Perfect4th]

Start with simple songs. Play along with the recording to first find the basic chord changes. How I do that is play two note power chords on the sixth and fifth string and / or fifth and fourth and "by ear" match the basic changes. When you find it you will know it. Alot of times it might be easier to follow the bass line.

Once you find the basic changes, expand the chords to see if they are major or minor or seventh's, etc. With the basic chords you then can tell what key the song is in and work out any riffs or solos.

I have the most trouble with the solo's. My skills are growing though.

Peace!

[raptor_5618]

I mostly do the same as those prior replies. Use power cords to find the basic cords and more importantly the key the song is in. Then I try to work out the cords. If you get the key right you will be a long way towards being able to work out any solos too. Then I go check the tabs to see how accurate I was. With practice you get much better at it. I still have trouble with odd tunings, and some songs where it seems they might change the key in the middle of the song. OH and try playing the tabs version with the song to see if they actually got it right. A lot of tabs have many errors so do not assume they got it right. I even looked at a clapton tab for layla which was way off from the actual music sheet I got for the song way back when.

One other method I had heard about but so far have not tried is to record yourself playing different cords or note or progressions and then try to match them. you would identify what you were playing on the recording so that you know you have identified it correctly. Oh I just read something else too that said that you should sing out the notes as you play them so that it adds another connection in your brain between what you play and the sound it should have. Makes sense to me but again I have not tested its value. But my understanding of learing is that the more senses you use the stronger memory you will have of something.

[Perfect4th]

Originally posted by raptor_5618
I just read something else too that said that you should sing out the notes as you play them so that it adds another connection in your brain between what you play and the sound it should have. Makes sense to me

That is a good practice too! Alot of times I can sing the melody and it is sometimes easier to find the chords. But when it is a "metal" tune, singing is kind of out of the question! For me anyway... :)

Peace!