Learning song by ear benefits?

[The1bassist06]

This might be a dumb question but what benefits do you get from learning songs by ear rather than using sheet music or tabs? I have just begun to try to learn some James Brown songs by ear and this question just popped into my head.

[Epitaph04]

It becomes easier to learn songs after a while. You don't need to rely on tabs once you get really good at it. As you learn more music by ear, your ear in general gets better at distinguishing notes and intervals.

[HeadyVan Halen]

You joking right?

If you intend to play music in front of humans with humans, there will be a time where they ask you to play a song you don't know.


Insert---->ear

Most important skill you can have.Period.

[Jazzdogg]

Originally Posted by The1bassist06

This might be a dumb question but what benefits do you get from learning songs by ear rather than using sheet music or tabs? I have just begun to try to learn some James Brown songs by ear and this question just popped into my head.

Gigs: In the musical world in which I work, it takes huge ears to gig successfully; "musicians" with inadequate listening skills are usually relegated to bottom-of-the-barrel gigs and marching bands.

[MrLenny1]

You get big ears!
But, don't overlook reading. Knowing theory & reading charts
is all part of playing songs on the spot.

[Skitch it!]

Improved aural skills, interval recognition, chord structure recognition, common fill's/lines, hearing stuff ahead of the moment/anticipating changes/transcribing/remembering song structres etc. You get an idea of various players tone/touch/technique/approach and dynamics which if you like aspects of, can assimilate and blend into your style/thinking in your own way, stuff like that.

[Eugene Festus]

Ear training is just as important as reading music. Being able to recognize intervals by ear and on paper both have their advantages.

[Richard Lindsey]

The benefits of learning by ear have already been capably suggested by others. The one thing I would caution you about is that IMO it's counterproductive to oppose learning by ear to reading, as if you had to pick between them. There is no opposition, no "instead of" or "rather than," and you don't have to pick. You would benefit from doing both. The best musicians I know can.

[cire113]

Music is all about listening and hearing.. all about the ears...

To those saying reading is equally or more important imagine if you had to play with no ears... and had eyes... but imagine if you had ears and no eyes... case closed... lol

Ears are more important


I personally dont read but why not use everything you can

[Stumbo]

How about learning to sing the melody of a song? Got tab? Got ears? I suggest getting a keyboard and playing melodies by ear. Or bass lines. Try to learn to sing your bass lines. It will definitely improve your musical memory.

My wife learns melodies by ear, doesn't forget anything. I think she remembers every song she's ever sung.
I can learn lots of tunes but have to review.

[No Malarky]

It helps me play the right notes.

[butchblack]

Being able to listen to what's happening and being able to play something appropriate. Learning to take what you hear and be able to translate it to something you can play. Don't underestimate big ears.

[scottfeldstein]

Learning to play by ear is primary, in my opinion. In fact, I just call it "learning to play" full stop. Reading music and understanding theory can take you to the next level, it's true, and there's no need to forgo it. But a musician who cannot learn a simple piece of music by ear quickly is lacking in a more fundamental way than a musician who cannot read music.