Figuring out basslines w/o an ear

[john grey]

Amazing Slow Downer url:
!Slow down and transcribe with Roni Music software - slow down the speed of music without changing the pitch

 

[Skitch it!]

For straight ahead stuff imprint the major scale into your brain, subconsciously practice it. Once you have it down, stop on each interval and compare it to the root for the sense of intervallic difference and distance. E.G. a perfect 5th interval is the first two notes of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, find other tunes that highlight particular intervals like that for quick recall and recognition.