• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Ear training - how can I improve it?

L

LooFunk

Jan 3, 2017
32
9
#1
Hi

I'm looking to improve my ear training around chord progressions and song structures. For example the best scenario for me would be I'm jamming with someone and I can just play along without him telling me the chord, key or sequence. That would be terrific!

Are there any sources out there that provide tracks of common intervals so o could perhaps play along to and study? For example, the 2,51 in all keys or blues progressions played on the piano on tracks I could play along with would be great or does anyone have any other suggestions?

Thanks
 
#2
One thing I like to do is sit down with the bass and try to work out the melody of a familiar song. I like to do this with children's songs, TV themes, and Christmas carols -- the idea being that the song is so deeply embedded in my brain that I can call it up from memory and "listen" to it on demand. While I'm doing this, I try to pay strict attention to the intervals so I can match them to the sounds. For bonus points, once I figure out a song I work on finding alternative fingerings for it in order to help match the sounds and intervals to different fretboard patterns as well.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Chris Inburque, BassChuck, Bassist4Eris and 1 other person
#3
Transcribe everything (and I mean everything) you can't play on bass after hearing it first time. Maybe start with bass lines. Then vocal lines. Solos from all instruments.

A book cannot train your ear, only your mind. To train you ear, you must listen, listen, listen, transcribe, and listen. And when you're done that, listen and transcribe some more.

It's not a quick process, but every day you listen and transcribe you get closer to those elefant ears you strive for.

Good luck.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Garret Graves
#4
Search for backing tracks, with guitar and drums isolated... run through the songs, finding root notes to match, or comp the guitar (and the chords present), and start 'complicating' things by bouncing around your fingerboard, finding what sounds good for the song, overall.

When I first started out, I developed my ear by listening... over, and over, and over... to albums on my Mom's console, even slowing it down to learn the faster part of the songs. Eventually, I learned what fit and what didn't, and so will you...

Good luck, brother!
 
#6
LooFunk said:
Hi I'm looking to improve my ear training around chord progressions and song structures. For example the best scenario for me would be I'm jamming with someone and I can just play along without him telling me the chord, key or sequence. That would be terrific! Thanks
Click to expand...
Yes Google can find you backing tracks that list the chords. That's a start. However you need to be able to hear a song and.....

..........Be able to call the key the song is using. You have to be able to identify the key. That's first. If you can not do that no need going any further. Work on identifying the key to any song. How? Listen for the tonal center. Run your G string up the neck. When what is happening in the song and what you are doing on the G string sound good together, you've found the tonal center of the song. Look down at what note that happened on. That's you key. When you can do that, you are ready for step two. My point; you have to start somewhere and identifying the key seems like a good idea to me. This will not come over night, you have to work on it. But you gotta start somewhere...

Once you've identified the key that will tell you the seven notes and the seven chords used in the song. Do you know the notes and chords in all the keys? Kinda helps if you do. If you decided this song is in the key of G would be nice to narrow your notes and chords down to those found in the key of G. Use the circle of 5ths or some other cheat sheet if necessary. After you have narrowed the field down to the key, chords and notes, found in that key start working on identifying what is active at this moment in the song. Yes by name or interval number - either way, but, you need to be able to identify by name or number what note/chord is active.

Hear a note and know if it is up scale or down scale from the last note. Yep, if you can not do that, well good luck. Listen and play-a-long to video songs till you can.

When you can do the above you are ready to start your journey.

Of course, IMO.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: nzscott
#9
MalcolmAmos said:
Yes Google can find you backing tracks that list the chords. That's a start. However you need to be able to hear a song and.....

..........Be able to call the key the song is using. You have to be able to identify the key. That's first. If you can not do that no need going any further. Work on identifying the key to any song. How? Listen for the tonal center. Run your G string up the neck. When what is happening in the song and what you are doing on the G string sound good together, you've found the tonal center of the song. Look down at what note that happened on. That's you key. When you can do that, you are ready for step two. My point; you have to start somewhere and identifying the key seems like a good idea to me. This will not come over night, you have to work on it. But you gotta start somewhere...

Once you've identified the key that will tell you the seven notes and the seven chords used in the song. Do you know the notes and chords in all the keys? Kinda helps if you do. If you decided this song is in the key of G would be nice to narrow your notes and chords down to those found in the key of G. Use the circle of 5ths or some other cheat sheet if necessary. After you have narrowed the field down to the key, chords and notes, found in that key start working on identifying what is active at this moment in the song. Yes by name or interval number - either way, but, you need to be able to identify by name or number what note/chord is active.

Hear a note and know if it is up scale or down scale from the last note. Yep, if you can not do that, well good luck. Listen and play-a-long to video songs till you can.

When you can do the above you are ready to start your journey.

Of course, IMO.
Click to expand...
Can you identify the key of a song? By ear?
 
#20
Try getting the insanely cheap and effective, "iRealPro" for tablet or phone. You get backing tracks for a lot of songs and exercises and if you play and sing your lines it WILL build your ear.

Another thing to do (likely shoulda put this first) is to play your scales and arpeggios and sing along with them. Sustain a chord and sing the scale note and then play it on the bass. You can start to harmonize the notes you play, as well. You may NEVER play more than a single note at once on the bandstand, but hearing the harmony internally, rather than having a keys or guitar player literally giving you the info, you'll have your internal "ear" setting you up to pay magnificently supportive lines which are informed by music itself, filtered through the wisdom, experience and personality of you.

Does it get better than that?

LooFunk said:
Hi

I'm looking to improve my ear training around chord progressions and song structures. For example the best scenario for me would be I'm jamming with someone and I can just play along without him telling me the chord, key or sequence. That would be terrific!

Are there any sources out there that provide tracks of common intervals so o could perhaps...
Thanks
Click to expand...
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back