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Learning a song by ear??

#21
That came naturally to me as it is the only way I learn songs. I guess having good pitch is important. I learn to 'sing' the bass part, to the point where I can pick out every note and then apply that to playing it. The little things, ghost notes etc, get added after I have the song about 80% figured out then after I have all that I can then begin to put the song together in sections and slowly keep building it all together for the complete song. I then practice it over and over and by that time I will have it ingrained in my mind so much that I do not forget it. After I am comfortable with what I've figured out, I then go back and review it for things I might have missed so I can nail it down 99% note for note.
How my gray matter can retain all of that is beyond me.
 
#22
The reason I quit piano early on was my parents and my teacher kept shoving the classics at me. When I was about 15 I started up again, but this time I started with books of Beatles, Stones, Kinks, etc. Once I began learning with music I liked, I stuck with it. Soooo, just stick with what you really love. If you love raggae get raggae music sheets. If punk, get that. Just learn on music you love, or you will burn out really fast.
 
#23
I love Transcribe! from Seventh String. I'm not natuarlly gifted, but hard work and Transcribe! have helped my playing immensely. Start with a easy song and focus on one measure. If that's too difficult, try one note. The more you do it, the easier it gets.
 
#24
I had trouble with this skill when starting out, too. I had success by starting with the Ramones. The bass lines are almost exclusively 8th notes on the root, and the chords generally last at least a measure apiece, giving you plenty of time to find the root note. Once I had figured out a dozen or so Ramones tunes, I found myself starting to "hear" chord progressions, which is half the battle.

It's also helpful if you know some theory, and/or some of the scales that are typically used in the style of song you're finguring out. This allows you to try out the most likely notes first when your still searching for the right ones.
 
#25
I would say that I have near-perfect pitch and I also believe that I was born with the ability to figure out songs by ear. Difficult songs takke a bit longer to learn, but I eventually get them right including small details. I do have my limits though. I never learned the entire solo in "Havona" by Jaco but I think if I really wanted to I could. It would just take months and possibly longer to do. Then there are some things that are just so impossible to play, I just pass on learning to play them and just listen and smile.
 
#26
The great thing about rock music is most of the music uses patterns. Most rock music is formed from a minor scale. Play the hell out of the minor scale the flat 3rd and flat 5th are very identifiable. You will start to hear those patterns in the music you listen to.

there will be no need to pick out every note in every beat. You will hear the pattern

Hope that helps a little. I'm not that got at explaining things. One of the reasons why I don't teach lol
 

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