Beyond Frustration

[Vasudeva]

So, I'm at my wits end here and I'm pleading for help. I've been watching my earlier thread about Ear training, however, I'm probably being impatient but my abysmal attempts to learn a song by ear over the past few days is killing me. Does anyone have any advice, easy songs to teach myself etc. to get me going/ release my frustration.

[nsmar4211]

Why are you trying to learn a song by ear? Just to improve your ear or do you actually need this song and can't find a transcription?

The reason I ask is, if you can't find a transcription and you're gigging on it I'd go ask for tab in the tab side I'm right there with you, learning how to play by ear!

But, if you're just trying to learn... and you're beating your head against the wall... Go find a tab of the song, two or three if possible. Check the tuning-the song you are trying to do may be in drop D or other alternate tuning. If that doesn' t solve it, peek at just the first chord/note. Use that as a reference point to hunt out the rest of the notes. If still stuck, keep peeking. So what if the first few songs you only pick out one note on your own?

When I'm trying to learn, I get the reference point i.e. first note. Then, I know that most songs are either in major or minor-so I stick my 2nd (bird) finger on the root and play the major scale over the song. If those notes work, I''ve got most of the notes to play off of. Leave your hand in position and keep pecking out the notes. If it's just not working, try the minor position (first finger on root) and play around on those notes. First thing my teacher did was teach me hand position, one finger per fret. If you don't do this now would be a good time to learn. This has helped me pick out 1/3 of songs.... if it's blues songs, or rock, knowing 1/4/5/4 progressions helps too-after you've practiced them 1 million times you'll start recognizing them by ear.

Another thing to check is that the recording you are trying to learn off of is in tune. I was ready to throw myself against a wall because I *couldn't* find ANY of the notes for one song. Usually I can just keep playing up the neck and find at least one! But nothing I did was right...... had a guitarist listen and guess what? My recording was almost perfectly a 1/4 step out of tune. No way could I learn off of that!! So it was off to find an in tune version for me . Now, what you can also do in that situation is tune your bass to whatever that recording is. If the recording is 10% flat, figure out the first note and tune off of that. Once you learn song, put bass back in tune and viola!

Learning by ear takes experience and practice......I'm not there yet.

[phektus]

You might just be impatient. This thing takes years. As with any real skill.

[HaVIC5]

Another thing is the tune could simply be too hard for an underdeveloped ear. I'd try easier tunes and then build your way up.

[BassChuck]

Originally Posted by HaVIC5

Another thing is the tune could simply be too hard for an underdeveloped ear. I'd try easier tunes and then build your way up.

True. Music is only difficult if you are trying to do too much at once. Remember Bob's Mantra, "Baby Steps, baby steps,".

[K2000]

Pick easy songs. Make certain you're in tune with the record. Just try to get one section down at a time, instead of playing 'catch up' with a whole song.

What's your favorite type of music? Who are some of your favorite artists? Try to learn songs you already know and like. If you have to learn a new song AND learn how to play the bass at the same time, that might be too much to ask. Pick songs you've heard a lot, already.

[tswd]

I tried for a couple years to be able to do that and still can't. I'm a little better about it with guitar than bass, but still can't do it. The only thing I was ever able to figure out by ear was the chord progression for Southern Cross, which I did on guitar. It's a painfully easy song and it still took me about a week to get it right.

The main thing is putting the time in. Don't get frustrated, just keep trying. For me, the amount of time required to get it is something I don't have.

One thing I've found that has kinda worked is to record yourself playing what you think the roots are over the original recording. Just play one note for each measure. If you're off, it'll sound dissonant. If it doesn't sound dissonant, you may not have the right note but you at least have a harmony to the right note.

Having said that, it's soooo much easier to get the chord progression and start with that. First play only roots and get the rhythm right. Then try to figure out the line from there.

[ibanezshredder]

We where all in the same boat as u. I still remeber the first 5 songs I learned by ear they where all simple songs that probaly played a total of 8 different notes the whole song.

After playing for about three months I started to figure out rage against the machine tunes then slowly eased into black sabbath then slowly into the chilli peppers then before I knew I was transcribing dream theatre songs and then soon after that jacos stuff etc etc.

[Vasudeva]

Thanks guys, this helps alot.