Learning to hear better

[nickg1823]

I was wondering if anybody had any good techniques or methods to boosting ear strength. When trying to learn a tune I sometimes find myself playing the correct rhythms but the wrong notes. To me they sound right but after either A) Seeing someone else play or B) after giving myself some space from the song hearing that what I was doing was not correct. I just want to improve in this because what kind of musician am I if I don't have a developed ear? Don't answer that. Thanks.

[Kmonk]

It takes time and practice. Just try to keep concentrating on what the bass player is doing. I'm at the point where I can pretty much tune out everything except the bass. This can also be annoying because when I'm listening to music for enjoyment, I still find myself analyzing the bass playing.

[Peace Cee]

An Idiots Guide to Music Theory has a good ear training cd included. You want a piano/keyboard handy. It trains you to hear not only individual notes but also intervals. Get it at Borders or Barnes and Noble if your zone still has one.

[Dredmahawkus]

Originally Posted by Kmonk

It takes time and practice. Just try to keep concentrating on what the bass player is doing. I'm at the point where I can pretty much tune out everything except the bass. This can also be annoying because when I'm listening to music for enjoyment, I still find myself analyzing the bass playing.

that does get kinda annoying when you are trying to listen to music and you are humming the bass.....it sometimes seems like thats all you can hear!

[MarkMgibson]

I know friends who've bought "Relative Pitch" ear training courses, and have found them very useful. I'll see if I can find out the names of them.

[Sni77]

There's some software and websites out there that have some ear training.
I like using this one: http://www.miles.be/software/34-func...ear-trainer-v2

[Bainbridge]

Free interval training and such: www.musictheory.net

There are a few ear training programs out there. I've used MacGamut for school and hated it (it's a very clunky program), but you might look into that.

[mambo4]

Interval recognition is a justifiable standard Music 101 skill.
But for ear training , as far as "hear a song and quickly play along"
I think a very overlooked skill is learning to recognize the sound of common chord progressions.
Being able to quickly recognize a I-IV-V, ii-V-I, or a I-vi-VI-V etc is far more useful in this regard.

[Anonymatt]

I think interval training is helpful. I've done some of it.

Mambo is right. This is what I've been told. When you learn songs, try to analyze them in these terms. Then when you see those patterns again, they're just those old patterns again. Having the discipline to do this all the time is another thing.

What also helps is your scales and chords. Learning how all the different chord tones (the third, the fifth) sound against the root is key. They help you realize what, harmonically, is a non-distracting bassline. As your sense to distinguish between the chord tones grows finer, you will have more definite understanding of what you hear and of what you play.

I would say that, for most of us, having a great ear is a symptom of having a bunch of other stuff together.

I am only at the point where it is starting to come together for me when I am playing the bass. If I am just listening around and trying to figure something out, I can get confused easily.

[Groove Doctor]

I found learning to sing helped A LOT. Interval training, basic chord theory is helpful too. Basic piano skills will help you physically see how the notes all fit together.

Advanced exercises: listening to classical music while looking at the Score and playing along with every part on bass really stretches your ear/reading/playing.