Tone Deaf with Low Notes

[Xandrell]

I find it easier sometimes for me to figure out notes using higher notes than the actual low note it is. A family member made a crack saying I'm playing the wrong instrument then. I've learned our 60 song set list so it's not a lost cause but it made me think.

 

[lz4005]

You might get your hearing checked to see if you have any damage in a specific frequency range.

 

[Stumbo]

Whatever works. As long as you remember the lines, you're good for the band.

Fir the long term, can you think of a song you're not playing currently, remember how it goes, and then play it?

 

[RoadRanger]

Nobody can hear the actual pitch of the fundamental of the lower notes - no matter what anybody says...

 

[5544]

Did you learn those 60 songs by ear or by sheet music / tab?

Asking because you say you are tone deaf but don't understand how you are able to know the difference if that were true - not trolling disclaimer.

 

[Xandrell]

Did you learn those 60 songs by ear or by sheet music / tab?

Asking because you say you are tone deaf but don't understand how you are able to know the difference if that were true - not trolling disclaimer.

Both. But by ear, I have to sometimes fish around for low notes. Higher notes and guitar are easier.
Once I have it, it's ok. I can tell when learning a song if a note is off but higher notes are just easier to decipher.

 

[RoadRanger]

Yup, just play the notes an octave up to "find" them. Some folks pitch shift the entire song up an octave to dig out the hard to hear notes - I've never tried that myself.

 

[smeet]

Low notes are harder to hear than high notes. I used to play with amazing singer who wrote great songs, including the basslines, played guitar and keyboards, and always sang in tune. But she could not distinguish the low bass notes.

 

[Badwater]

Most common is for people to lose the high frequencies with age. Low frequency hearing loss is also associated with some kind of brain trauma like stroke, CVA, TBI. I know a guy who has lost almost all his high frequency range down to about 1kHz. When I ask why he has the treble up so high to the point of essing, he says he want to hear the clarity of the voice. And, he is tone deaf with low frequencies, as he can't hear the difference between a full note on some bass lines. Anyway, low sub woofer frequencies below 40Hz is often very difficult to hear even at moderate volumes. Some say below 40Hz is where we feel the bass vs hearing it. If you can make out the difference between notes down to 60Hz, you're not tone deaf. Bass frequencies on 4 string bass rarely use anything lower than 60Hz.

 

[natobasso]

I find it easier sometimes for me to figure out notes using higher notes than the actual low note it is. A family member made a crack saying I'm playing the wrong instrument then. I've learned our 60 song set list so it's not a lost cause but it made me think.

It might help to do a few things to isolate the bass so you can hear it better:
- Turn down the treble
- Turn up the bass
- Try to hum the bass part, you'll know you're onto it when your singing matches the line
- Try to hear other instruments, one by one; this helps you separate them, and then you can "choose" to hear only the bass by focusing
- Do the above with all the music you listen to (when practicing at least) so it becomes natural

 

[Myke Myke]

Hearing low notes for me got easier with the more experience I gained as a player. In the beginning when learning songs, I would be doing a lot of pause and play to figure the lines out. It really does get easier to hear with time and experience.

Side note based on what the chord changes are it will help to narrow down what the lines are. Just keep transcribing them lines and it'll become easier!

 

[TedH]

Low interval limits! It isn't you, see Invalid Link Removed for some frame of reference, but yes, learning a line 1-2 octaves up is a very useful and time tested way of avoiding the issue with low-interval limits.

 

[tshapiro]

For what it's worth, I figure out songs all the time playing 1 octave up.

 

[Later_Peter]

I believe this is true with most humans. It is certainly is easier for the human ear to clarify higher pitches... Stick it out.

 

[dtripoli]

On a 5 string, below E, is just a rumble to me.
I go by the thud of the notes rather than the pitch when I venture below E.
I'll learn songs an octave up then move it down to the badlands.