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How do you do it?!??
- Thread starter ciaran_hughes
- Start date
I don't know how I do it. But I was laying in bed this morning, still about half asleep, and started hearing the chord progression to a song in my head. Then, in my mind's eye, I was able to see my hands on the fret board going through the song.
After I got up and had some coffee I checked to see if I was accurate and turned out I had it exactly right.
All I can tell you is that it takes a very seasoned knowledge of the fret board and an equally high sonic recognition of chord progressions, scales, modes, etc.
For instance, here's a simple example:
If you were to hear the chord intro of "House of the Rising Sun" chances are you'd recognize it.
Take that to another level: Being able to recognize the sound of progressions without them having an attachment to a famous song is the challenge. But once you memorize them and can recognize them, maybe understand the simple theory of it, and become aware of the sound of it, you've got it. Then memorizing and learning by 'ear' is easy. You hear it, you recognize the familiarity of it, and you play it.
After I got up and had some coffee I checked to see if I was accurate and turned out I had it exactly right.
All I can tell you is that it takes a very seasoned knowledge of the fret board and an equally high sonic recognition of chord progressions, scales, modes, etc.
For instance, here's a simple example:
If you were to hear the chord intro of "House of the Rising Sun" chances are you'd recognize it.
Take that to another level: Being able to recognize the sound of progressions without them having an attachment to a famous song is the challenge. But once you memorize them and can recognize them, maybe understand the simple theory of it, and become aware of the sound of it, you've got it. Then memorizing and learning by 'ear' is easy. You hear it, you recognize the familiarity of it, and you play it.
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Welcome!!! I usually listen to the song a couple of times to get an idea of where it's going before attempting to play it.
The more you do that, the easier it gets. Start out with some simple tunes with three or four chords and work from there.
After much practice you can figure out the changes and where the song is going. Good luck!!!
The more you do that, the easier it gets. Start out with some simple tunes with three or four chords and work from there.
After much practice you can figure out the changes and where the song is going. Good luck!!!
Smooth_bass88
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- Oct 31, 2006
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A lot of it depends on how long you've been playing music and how young you were when you stared. I started music lessons at ten, and electric bass at 12. After alot of years, and after you've heard all the notes thousands of times, you begin to be able to pick the notes out, no problem. Repetition. I would very strongly discourage the use of tabulature. You'll never ever improve this way. I would also discourage using online video tutorials. Again, you won't improve your skills this way either. You have to trust your own ears, and instincts.
Yes. that's how I did it back before the internet and tab came into existence. Like everything else, it gets easier the more time you spend on it. A lot of time and patience is required, especially at the start, but IMO it pays dividends in the long term. Having a good ear is a major asset.
Happy listening...and listening...and listening...!!!
I get what you mean about the internet and tabs but tabulature for stringed instruments dates back to the 1200's. I can't read standard notation for beans so yes, the easy availability of tabs on the net has been a lifesaver for me. I also use the Amazing Slowdowner app linked to Spotify tracks, another lifesaver .
I agree with getting the structure first, structure being chord roots and basic pattern and rhythmic stuff. I toss in whatever signature licks jump out at me during a first pass, too. Play around with that for a while and then go back to the recording for listening to figure out what I missed. Once I have the initial simple version in my head and fingers it's much easier to notice what I didn't catch the first time, because any differences between what I've been playing and what I'm hearing are very obvious.
This second pass is usually a lot more work, unless the song is simple or I'm not hoping to do an exact copy of the bass line- which is often. But I do like to do copies when I'm practicing because I think it adds a lot to my vocabulary to have various phrases and turnarounds from great players in my toolbox. This pass is where I pick up all the turnarounds and flourishes and runs that deviate from the basic bass line. Often, during this phase of learning, I'll get stuck on a phrase and have to listen several times in order to work out exactly what's going on. At this point I stay with each phrase until I'm satisfied I have it right and I won't move on to the next phrase until then.
When I think I have it all right, I do a third pass and pick up all the things I thought were right but were wrong . At this point I *might* look for videos of other players covering the song to see if there's anyone doing a very good version who's playing it differently than I am. Lots of players out there are doing questionable covers but I've picked up a few really good pointers this way, too, and answered a bunch of my own questions. So I'll incorporate anything from this that I think is more correct that what my ear gave me, and then it's pretty much done.
As far as hearing goes, no special tricks, just know what you're listening for in the mix and the more you work with it, the easier it gets to isolate the bass in your own hearing.
This second pass is usually a lot more work, unless the song is simple or I'm not hoping to do an exact copy of the bass line- which is often. But I do like to do copies when I'm practicing because I think it adds a lot to my vocabulary to have various phrases and turnarounds from great players in my toolbox. This pass is where I pick up all the turnarounds and flourishes and runs that deviate from the basic bass line. Often, during this phase of learning, I'll get stuck on a phrase and have to listen several times in order to work out exactly what's going on. At this point I stay with each phrase until I'm satisfied I have it right and I won't move on to the next phrase until then.
When I think I have it all right, I do a third pass and pick up all the things I thought were right but were wrong
. At this point I *might* look for videos of other players covering the song to see if there's anyone doing a very good version who's playing it differently than I am. Lots of players out there are doing questionable covers but I've picked up a few really good pointers this way, too, and answered a bunch of my own questions. So I'll incorporate anything from this that I think is more correct that what my ear gave me, and then it's pretty much done. As far as hearing goes, no special tricks, just know what you're listening for in the mix and the more you work with it, the easier it gets to isolate the bass in your own hearing.
I listen to what the key is, then go back and listen again to the bass parts with that key in mind and get it from then. I almost never do a note-for-note transcription.
I should say that I also usually write down a chart for nearly everything in a musical notation notebook that you can pick up on Amazon. The Hal Leonard ones. It's good exercise. And honestly, I'm getting older and my memory isn't what it used to be. Songs I learned decades ago are fused into my bones, but newer things I figure out, I always have to write down and reference while I'm playing or else I just get lost.
I should say that I also usually write down a chart for nearly everything in a musical notation notebook that you can pick up on Amazon. The Hal Leonard ones. It's good exercise. And honestly, I'm getting older and my memory isn't what it used to be. Songs I learned decades ago are fused into my bones, but newer things I figure out, I always have to write down and reference while I'm playing or else I just get lost.
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Glad you're jumping into this - in my opinion a good ear along with a great sense of rhythm are the two most important factors a bass player can have. I found it useful and fun to transcribe simple melody lines when I first started transcribing. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Happy Birthday and most lullaby melodies should be within your abilities. Eleanor Rigby vocal melody is a fun tune too although it may be a little advanced for now. Give yourself a goal to have the verse learned by February or something like that.
The biggest impact on my ability to play by ear was
memorizing the sound of common chord progressions
Once you can tell by ear what the chords are doing, finding the notes is much, much easier. You have to know enough theory to understand all that Roman numeral I-IV-V stuff and from that deduce the chord tones. The PDF linked in my signature explains it.
memorizing the sound of common chord progressions
Once you can tell by ear what the chords are doing, finding the notes is much, much easier. You have to know enough theory to understand all that Roman numeral I-IV-V stuff and from that deduce the chord tones. The PDF linked in my signature explains it.
One tool I use is Riffstation. You can drag an MP3 into it and it will give you the chords.
They're not always 100% perfect, but it's a good start and your ears can do the rest.
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They're not always 100% perfect, but it's a good start and your ears can do the rest.
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Awesome is this on desktop computer or can it be done on the YouTube app?
I do the same thing now as I have always done. I listen and just match the tones. Often I'll be in error by an octave but I've always had a good ear and adjust accordingly. Obviously, being more knowledgeable now makes finding the notes a lot easier and quicker.
Sometimes I'll adjust the eq if I can't hear the bass well enough.
Occasionally, I'll look up tabs or videos if I am having trouble hearing what the bass lines are. Sometimes I find those aren't as reliable as my ears
Sometimes I'll adjust the eq if I can't hear the bass well enough.
Occasionally, I'll look up tabs or videos if I am having trouble hearing what the bass lines are. Sometimes I find those aren't as reliable as my ears
It's mainly just knowing clichés. You can train your ear to recognize different elements of music theory mainly Intervals. It's good to be familiar with the intervals that make up each chord. The intervals that make up major and minor scales then later the church modes, harmonic minor and melodic minor. You can get a basic music theory book for 5 bucks at musicians friend
Several people have mentioned Audacity, which is my every song, every time tool. Change tempo without pitch change, change pitch (to standard tuning usually for me) without tempo change, EQ to bring out the bass. Once I have it transcribed, I use the change tempo -5% or -10% to practice until I have it up to speed.
It's important to be able to recognize recurring patterns, also. This will come only with time.
Some theory study is also highly recommended. It'll save a lot of guesswork. Just remember that part of art is breaking the rules.
It's important to be able to recognize recurring patterns, also. This will come only with time.
Some theory study is also highly recommended. It'll save a lot of guesswork. Just remember that part of art is breaking the rules.
Lots of great but varied insights. That's the cool thing. Everyone processes music differently. It is not uncommon for two individuals trying to communicate musical ideas to each other while failing until a light goes off and they realize they have been telling each other the same thing. I do that regularly with a very accomplished musician and bud. From another slant, my primary instrument is keyboards. I have no problem using the electronic transpose options on a digital keyboard. Yet I have another bud who simply cannot ever use transpose buttons. When he hits an 'E' key, he expects to hear that pitch. He hears his melody lines and knows what absolute pitch it should be. Me, I do relative pitch. Find your own path.
Knowing major and minor scales aurally is indispensible. Sing your scales. Blues, which many would think is simple (I-IV-V) are fooled. It almost becomes jam band fodder. One has to know how much minor and how much major. The 'blues scale' is required. Now your pentatonics. Once you begin to grasp them aurally, you'll start to hear the relationships without picking up your instrument. Though you can also build your muscle memory to go for those relationships, as some have suggested, without cognitively recognizing them as note.
It's wide open. You just do it. Again and again. All the while getting better.
Knowing major and minor scales aurally is indispensible. Sing your scales. Blues, which many would think is simple (I-IV-V) are fooled. It almost becomes jam band fodder. One has to know how much minor and how much major. The 'blues scale' is required. Now your pentatonics. Once you begin to grasp them aurally, you'll start to hear the relationships without picking up your instrument. Though you can also build your muscle memory to go for those relationships, as some have suggested, without cognitively recognizing them as note.
It's wide open. You just do it. Again and again. All the while getting better.
You need to hear the chords. If you know/hear the chords you more or less know where you need to play on the neck. When figuring out a bass line first focus on the chords and try to play along a simplified version of the bass line. Start with the 'ground notes' and build up from there.
