Favorite Songs for a Beginner to Learn by Ear?

[Rick_Bass]

 

[LoTone]

ZZ Top has a number of 8th note rock patterns based on blues scale songs like Sharp Dressed Man or Gimme All Your Lovin' for example. These are straightforward songs with simple chord structures that can teach a lot about feel.

 

[john_g]

I agree with LBS on trying to find a newer song that he may like or at least familiar with. Something like Shut and Dance is easy but fun to play and you can break each part down for learning. Uptown Funk too is pretty easy, as is Cake by the Ocean. If he is open to older stuff, one of the first i learned was Walking on the Moon by The Police and Sharp Dressed Man by ZZ Top

 

[PJ Bassthumper]

For a beginner I like to keep it really simple so that they feel that they have accomplished something in a relatively short period of time and they don't get discouraged. I would suggest something repetitive with a lot of 8th notes. Think along the lines of U2's With Or Without You, The Police's Every Breath You Take, ACDC's Hells Bells, The Cults She Sells Sanctuary, Def Leppards Hysteria which was the first song I learnt by ear. Once he gets comfortable chugging along than you can raise it up a notch with something like Green Day's When I Come Around or Longview which is still repetitive but adds more complexity than chugging along to 8th notes.
In the end build him up slowly. Give him a lot of opportunities for small victories and make it fun.

 

[OptimalOptimus]

Nirvana
Blink 182

 

[MisticoRitualista]

Herbie Hancock- Chameleon
Sly & the Family Stone- If you want me to stay

Both are great grooves

 

[rashrader]

The first tune I learned was Hey Joe. Then I learned the first 5 Iron Maiden albums. Hey, it was the mid 80’s.

 

[bbh]

I’m too often asked to play the theme song from tv show Barney Miller. I think my real learning started with grand funk live.

 

[bassalo]

Simple but fun song to play. GMaj.

 

[Robbie J]

Reggae may be another good place to start. Usually very simple, and good to help with ones understanding of rhythm, too.

Yup, I’d go with reggae as well - however I’d specifically recommend dub reggae:

• Bass is generally very prominent in the mix
• Little to no lyrics in dub, so the bass can be heard even more easily
• The main “verse” riffs are often very simple
• The “chorus” riffs can be more complex, but can often be simple too
• It sounds cool (at least to my ears anyway!)

I had a few King Tubby CDs which I used when I was first trying to play songs by ear, and I generally found these much easier to start with than the classic rock and metal I would more usually listen to.

 

[WrapRough]

Here some Flabba Holt grooves to get you going...

Flabba Groove