Back To School Let's Learn Together Thread!!!

Thingus995 · #1 08-16-2009, 01:35 PM

Hey guys!! I dont know about any of you, but I am in desperate need of practice/help with my ear, and being able to play by ear... I usually get lazy and revert to tab, but I think, if we get a couple people in here, we can all motivate, and encourage each other... I am an absolute beginner when it comes to learning by ear, so if your in the same boat, dont let that scare you off!!!

I was thinking we could compile a list of 30 or so songs (beginner friendly?) that range from simple to moderate difficulty, and we can work on learning a song a day by ear through September????? What do you guys think?? Who wants to do this with me?????

bigblondeafro87 · #2 08-16-2009, 08:11 PM

My Old School - Steely Dan

it'll take a little while to memorize all of it, but its a blast once you do.

Thingus995 · #3 08-17-2009, 02:51 PM

Right on!!! Ill definitely have to check it out...

Does anyone want to commit to this with me?????

jsllim · #4 08-17-2009, 03:21 PM

I'm down! I'm a beginner as well and would love to learn by ear! I think its a great idea to have an accomplice with me!!

bassman4d521 · #5 08-17-2009, 03:24 PM

Sounds like a fun exercise - count me in.

wetzelman1 · #6 08-17-2009, 03:42 PM

as terrible as it sounds, throw on some pop punk. I was in middle/highschool during that wholething so I played along to that stuff all the time. The patterns are so easy to figure out that you'll defenitely have a song by the end of the 2 minutes and 30 seconds. Green Day and New Found Glory are how I learned to play by ear, as embarrasing as it is.

theory028 · #7 08-17-2009, 03:57 PM

This is a nice idea.

Learning to play by ear is a lot of fun and much more rewarding than looking up the tab. I've also found that the songs I've figured out on my own are easier to remember. It's a win-win situation if you can put the effort into it.

When I got my BX500 and Avatar SB112 and wanted to try it out I set my media player to shuffle and tried to play along with a bunch of the songs. It was a lot of fun and was good practice. Some of the songs that came up were:

10 Years - Focus
Candlebox - Far Behind
Hootie and the Blowfish - Hold My Hand
Hootie and the Blowfish - Let Her Cry
Third Eye Blind - How's It Gonna Be
The Cranberries - When Your Gone
The Mars Volta - Roulette Dares (not exactly easy but very fun to play)

Have fun with this little venture. I can't commit to doing one song a day because of my schedule but you've definitely provided some motivation to keep working on ear training whenever time permits.

---

You could try Rock N Roll McDonalds by Wesley Willis. That was one of the first songs I worked out by ear and it's pretty catchy.

beggar98 · #8 08-17-2009, 05:46 PM

I might be a little more advanced than this exercise, but a few years back I was in a similar rut of always reverting to tab to learn songs. I didn't really bust out of that rut until I wanted to learn tunes that no one had tabbed.

That said, a great way to really improve your ear is with pen and paper, by transcribing (in notation, not tab) the songs you learn. If this seems like a lot to take on at once, you can try converting tabs of songs you know into notation. Being able to visualize a staff with notes and rests on it is a lot more valuable than being able to visualize tab.

John Herzog · #9 08-17-2009, 08:13 PM

For figuring out songs, I usually try to figure out the chord progression / arrangement first and then the specific bass line. If you find the song has a lot of E flat or A flat chords in them, then the artist is probably tuned down half a step (Green Day does this a lot). There's a free piece of software out there called best practice that you can use to raise or lower the pitch of the song in half step increments so you don't half to retune your bass all of the time.

Thingus995 · #10 08-18-2009, 12:05 PM

Jsllim and bassman, glad to hear your on board!!!! I was thinking we could get a list of songs together and compare notes at the end of each day??

To the seasoned vets, thanks for the suggestions!!! We shall definitely have to take a listen and see what there is to see!!

zenman · #11 08-18-2009, 12:18 PM

You're going about it the wrong way. Learning a song a day is not a good idea in my opinion.

I started learning songs by ear long before tab was commonplace, so by the time it came along, I never really had a use for it.

Now I realize that everyone may be different in this regard, but here is how I learn a song. I listen to it. Over and over and over until I can sing or hum the bassline all the way through. Then, and only then, do I sit down with the bass and figure out how to play it. And since I already "know" the song from listening to it so much, "internalizing it" as I call it, then figuring out where to put my fingers is a pretty trivial task.

For what its worth.

McRider · #12 08-18-2009, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zenman

You're going about it the wrong way. Learning a song a day is not a good idea in my opinion.

I started learning songs by ear long before tab was commonplace, so by the time it came along, I never really had a use for it.

Now I realize that everyone may be different in this regard, but here is how I learn a song. I listen to it. Over and over and over until I can sing or hum the bassline all the way through. Then, and only then, do I sit down with the bass and figure out how to play it. And since I already "know" the song from listening to it so much, "internalizing it" as I call it, then figuring out where to put my fingers is a pretty trivial task.

For what its worth.

I gotta agree with you on this one. There were no tabs back when I was a kid learning. Learn the song in your mind. Then figure out how to play it. After a while you will pick up tunes as they play out of your ipod (or BT3 in my case).

Fred
getting back in to playing after too many years away

rsutrick · #13 08-18-2009, 01:52 PM

I just started transcribing songs within the last couple of weeks. I would be interested in having a few people to compare notes with. Just from what I have done so far I know it's going to take me a lot longer than a day to transcribe a song. My personal goal was 1 - 2 a month.

Rudreax · #14 08-18-2009, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zenman

You're going about it the wrong way. Learning a song a day is not a good idea in my opinion.

I started learning songs by ear long before tab was commonplace, so by the time it came along, I never really had a use for it.

Now I realize that everyone may be different in this regard, but here is how I learn a song. I listen to it. Over and over and over until I can sing or hum the bassline all the way through. Then, and only then, do I sit down with the bass and figure out how to play it. And since I already "know" the song from listening to it so much, "internalizing it" as I call it, then figuring out where to put my fingers is a pretty trivial task.

For what its worth.

You're not alone with this method.

Thingus995 · #15 08-18-2009, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zenman

You're going about it the wrong way. Learning a song a day is not a good idea in my opinion.

I started learning songs by ear long before tab was commonplace, so by the time it came along, I never really had a use for it.

Now I realize that everyone may be different in this regard, but here is how I learn a song. I listen to it. Over and over and over until I can sing or hum the bassline all the way through. Then, and only then, do I sit down with the bass and figure out how to play it. And since I already "know" the song from listening to it so much, "internalizing it" as I call it, then figuring out where to put my fingers is a pretty trivial task.

For what its worth.

Is learning a song a day in this particular manner unfeasible? I think if the right collection of songs is made it could be done?? Maybe I'm being unrealistic (it happens lol)

standupbassman · #16 08-18-2009, 04:59 PM

I started to learn songs by ear by learning songs with really repetitive basslines. Think all blues by miles davis, low rider by war, green onions by brooker t and the mg's. and songs with a bass intro like for whom the bells toll by metallica, peace sells by megadeth and so what by miles davis

GlennPagano · #17 08-18-2009, 05:08 PM

I have just started to learn by ear to. I usually just learn the main riffs of songs that I like. Two of my first songs were Whole Lotta love by Led Zeppelin (think blues scale) and Midnight Rider by the Allman Brothers (Think Penatonic). I am up for this challenge. I think we should name a song we all agree on, work on it and come back once we some stuff out or need some help. Then once we master one song or main riff move onto another song.

Thingus995 · #18 08-18-2009, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlennPagano

I have just started to learn by ear to. I usually just learn the main riffs of songs that I like. Two of my first songs were Whole Lotta love by Led Zeppelin (think blues scale) and Midnight Rider by the Allman Brothers (Think Penatonic). I am up for this challenge. I think we should name a song we all agree on, work on it and come back once we some stuff out or need some help. Then once we master one song or main riff move onto another song.

I like this idea, lets get some suggestions from those counting themselves in and get a pool to vote on goin!!! A few suggestions from yours truly,

Summerbreeze by Seals and Crofts
Summersong by The Decemeberists
Hell Bent by Kenna (could be difficult)
Somewhere I Belong by Linkin Park
Open Mind by Blackfield
Catch Without Arms by Dredg
Take Me Out by Franz Ferdinand
Waiting Phase 1 by Porcupine Tree
Hatesong by Porcupine Tree
O How I Enjoy The Light by Katatonia

All these should be available on a site like imeem.com to listen to for free, if not pm me and we will figure somethin out!! lets get this rollin!!

Thingus995 · #19 08-18-2009, 07:20 PM

I would also like to add Jacqueline by Franz Ferdinand

GlennPagano · #20 08-18-2009, 10:13 PM

Well I am up for anything really of that list, don't really know them some sound like they don't have a very predominate bass sound. A couple songs I have in Mind are One way out by the Allman Brothers(very noticable and great), the druid by Sleep(distorted, fun to play not distorted and bass plays main riff) or Acid Food by Mogwai (mainly bass and sounds awesome). Now we just have to decide what one from all the songs listed.