How do you learn by ear?

[v1paul]

I've been playing bass for a while now and I'm seeing improvements but I'm still really really struggling to transcribe things by ear. Has anybody got any good methods of learning by ear?

[Bassman203]

Listen to a song, then try and pick it out one note at a time. Slow it down with windows media player if you really have too. Start with simple songs, then move up to more complicated things. Make sure your bass is tuned to make it easier to pick out the notes.

[bdubs16]

Once you understand basic scales, arpeggios, and generally what notes get played in a progression (useful for mainstream rock) it becomes pretty easy. You just match pitches by listening and playing at the same time.

[Rudreax]

Above all else, learn to recognize intervals. All music is just a bunch of intervals, and knowing them will help you learn music faster because you can just know what's being played through intervals.

[jrklmx(Andrew)]

Solfege
If the chord sounds Sad, it's not going to be major.
Pick some of your favorite songs, try singing them!
You'll know how it sounds in your head, play the same notes on your bass, guitar, piano, whistle etc

[fdeck]

Yes, singing tunes. You can do it anywhere at any time.

[Ed Fuqua]

Originally Posted by jrklmx(Andrew)

Solfege
If the chord sounds Sad, it's not going to be major.
Pick some of your favorite songs, try singing them!
You'll know how it sounds in your head, play the same notes on your bass, guitar, piano, whistle etc

Which sounds sadder, a Cmaj6 or an Amin7?

[eddievanbassman]

Play along with the radio.

[Banana_phone]

Originally Posted by Rudreax

Above all else, learn to recognize intervals. All music is just a bunch of intervals, and knowing them will help you learn music faster because you can just know what's being played through intervals.

This. The first thing I learned in my journy to become a competent bassist were scales (I started with the Major and the modes and then went with Harmonic Minor and it´s modes too). The most important thing I have learned with scales was to reconigse the intervals (althrought the pratice of scales really helped my chops, the ear training was the most usefull thing I got from it).

I think that if you pratice the Major scale and it´s modes correctly (not just playing it linearly one octave up and then down. By the way, this Pacman´s post about the pratice of scales is very usefull in that aspect, read it. --> Pacman's sure-fire scale practice method ) you can begin to familierise your mind/ear/inner voice in the recognition of intervals. (I know theres some lousy grammar on that sentence but I only know some english and a lot of engrish).

Soo, too make my point, I think the only advice I can give you is: - pratice scales in the way Pacman told us about in his post above and start singing some thing (anything, any piece of crap melody is good enough for that matter) into a recorder and try to play it.

I hope that is of use to you or someone

PS: Ed Fuqua --> Nice one, nothing like a good porcion of pwnage mixed with a little food for thought

ALSO: Check out "Ultimate Ear Training For Guitar & Bass" by Gary Willis, I started studying it a some time ago and I find it very helpfull. I recomend it.

[kiwlm]

Originally Posted by v1paul

I've been playing bass for a while now and I'm seeing improvements but I'm still really really struggling to transcribe things by ear. Has anybody got any good methods of learning by ear?

This tool is super
http://www.seventhstring.com/

For myself, I find that its useful to learn some songs by tab as well (either other songs or the "answer" to your transcription). There are times when after I read the tab, I find that I was playing the wrong octave, or I was playing extra notes (especially funk), and I corrected myself and it helped me to transcribe the next song.

[southernrocker]

Originally Posted by eddievanbassman

Play along with the radio.

bingo

[JimiLL]

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

Which sounds sadder, a Cmaj6 or an Amin7?

it's would be which one sounds more sad, and IMHO, the A Chord is gonna be the one to make you cry

[tegnoto89]

Which sounds sadder, a Cmaj6 or an Amin7?

Neither, one's jazzy and one's bluesy.

[Stumbo]

You might want to check out the following threads for some excellent software/websites that can help improve your ear.
~Ear training
Goodear.com
Test your ear
Free downloadable ear trainer (basic/advanced) Solfege. Great program
Free downloadable sing and learn treble/bass clef program
Trainers/tutorials. Music theory, ear training, read music, chords, intervals, etc.
Discussion of Solfege
Bassist's guide to singing
Taking transcribing to the next level

Also check out the following software BestPractice-free, easy to use, ,slow downer/pitch shifter/looper(can record/loop modified section)/vocal remover/karoake,isolate bass/treble(bass backing track maker).

It can help you pick out the bass lines much easier.

Combining the ear training, intervals, singing and using Best Practice, you will improve your skills that allow you to "play by ear". Also, play melodies from various songs that you already know: Star Spangled Banner, kid songs, TV theme songs, etc.

It takes time and practice to improve, but it's doable.

Good luck.

[Ed Fuqua]

It was a trick question, they're both the same chord...

[Myke Myke]

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

It was a trick question, they're both the same chord...

LOL LOL
I got ur joke

but its just the same notes in the chord not the same bass notes unless its a CMaj6/A

[countrybassist]

Alot of practice. It's a good idea, although not imparative, to have a good knowledge of theory. If you can determine the key of the song, it makes it much easier. Just take 1 note at a time. Listen to the song and find the firt note on your bass. Just go one note at a time until you have the entire line,

[Ed Fuqua]

No, a Cmaj6 is an Amin7 in 1st inversion and an Amin7 is a Cmaj6 in 3rd inversion.

[Risen]

I don't really know, I preferplaying music byear though, since i can make some stuff sound better. You would probably need to know about intervals. Im not sure if I haveperfect pitch because I don't memorize the name of each note :P

Intervals and Scales are very important

[Myke Myke]

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

No, a Cmaj6 is an Amin7 in 1st inversion and an Amin7 is a Cmaj6 in 3rd inversion.

Duh... NOTE WISE
not sound wise there completely different because of the bass note in the chord that's what I was saying