What is your goal when learning a song by ear?

[bassdude51]

I chose your 2nd choice box.
Learn the chords and the important licks and melodic portions, improvising the rest.
Not even the bass player in rock n roll bands ever plays his lines identically for each gig..................why should I?
As long as I'm about 75% to 90% to the song.
Good enough!

 

[MichelD]

I can't learn a song by ear.

 

[SidNitzerglobin]

I take the middle path as well in almost all cases. Seems like it strikes the balance appropriately between showing respect for the original version while still allowing some freedom to make it "my own" within reason.

Even more so when most of the bits were improvised in the original in the first place. Kinda feels dishonest in some way to play them note for note in those cases to me.

 

[Spin Doctor]

Learn the damn song. In R&B/Funk, there is no room for 'winging it'!! Period! In my day, your skills were judged by how well you could learn and play all the important licks and notes in the song.

I'm not so sure that's the case anymore, especially in DC. Seems like you get more credit for not playing it like the original. But there's always a basic framework in funk and r&b. The fills are up for grabs.

But to me there's a huge difference between "winging it" and being musical.

 

[kalanb]

It depends on the song and what my goal is. If it's a song that's riff based, like 2-4-6-8 by the Jackson 5, you gotta nail the riff. If it's a line over chord changes, like oh sweet nuthin' by the velvet underground, getting the changes and feel for the tune works if that works for you.

I've been transcribing some of my favorite lines/songs, and since my goal is to play along to my favorite songs accuracy is paramount. It's a great exercise but can be a total slog. Did mother of pearl by roxy music a couple of weeks ago and that took 15-20 hours to figure out and notate.

 

[mrcbass]

As was mentioned several times, it really depends on why you are learning a song. If it's just for personal growth, then why are you learning it? To cop lines or to build your personal catalog? There's your answer.

If you're learning it for a group situation, then it will depend on what your group expects. I'm not a note for note kind of guy and rarely do I learn a song to that degree. I wouldn't be in a band that expects me to cover every song note for note. (In a lot of cases, I doubt that most bassists actually perform it they way they recorded it so why should I? What does it matter most of the time anyway?)

My goal is almost always to get the song to a level that I can play through (know the structure) and then I work out any details. Most of the details don't get flushed out until I rehearse it with the band so I can see where we are taking it and what I can or should add or in some cases not play certain parts. I'm a musician not a robot and do my best to represent the groove and have fun doing it.

If you're talking tribute band, that's probably going to require more attention to note for note than a cover band.

If you care that much about specific parts then you should listen to the CD not the cover band at your bar.

 

[Swerve]

I'm generally a note for note stickler. Later I might add or subtract certain certain things at my discretion, but when first learning I try to play it identically.

 

[electracoyote]

IME, it depends on the song, the standards of the project, and the individual's sense of accomplishment.

And it's important to note that in a cover band situation, "right" versus "wrong" or "bad mediocre good better best" are purely subjective.

I can say that as a covers bass player for several decades I have never done less than important phrases that are signature or supportive to the overall arrangement and maybe a little additive or subtractive non-distracting embellishing. That has kept me and my rhythm sections working a lot and in-demand. BL's know they can count on me, and some BL's can have sensitive ears and be very picky. I try to give them no reason to give me the hairy eyeball, and I want the call-back.

Most often, if I really like the line, the way it was composed and how vital it is to the arrangement and recognition of an established "hit" or crowd-pleaser, I go for as close to note-for-note as possible. I figure that original bass player wrote and/or played a line that helped sell millions of copies of the recording, concert tickets, tee shirts, and maybe I have something to learn from him or her rather than imposing my own not-so-clever "interpretation."

Also important to note that I do not find myself in projects where a complete re-working of the most popular arrangement is the project standard. The bands I play in, no one has those kind of creative or arrangement chops, and even if they did it would probably be wasted because we have a target mainstream dance party audience who wants to hear their favorite songs "like the record."

I have what I consider some very good reasons for being perhaps on the more faithful, detail-oriented end of the spectrum. If the line was recorded simple and that supports the song, and if it ain't broke, why fix it? That's an indulgence I rarely take. Also, I usually learn a lot about music, technique, fingerings, etc. from a well-composed bass line.

The "practice like your life depends on it" is kind of amusing in wee bit snarky way. At first, yeah it takes considerable effort. But in a short while your ear improves, your intuitive knowledge and understanding of the fingerboard improves, you get better with different techniques like pick, fingerstyle, slap, and pretty soon you're learning even complex lines in short order and playing them with confidence, consistency, and a command over your instrument, hardly like your life depends on it.

 

[SLPimp]

If it's iconic, I learn it note for note. If it's standard country fare, I settle into a 541 and call it a day.

 

[Sam Reese]

My answer to the question: To make money.

 

[Medicine Man]

I learn note for note first, but then just play what i feel like live. Certainly derivitive of the original, but i like to mix up little fills here and there.

 

[Deenah]

Some songs you just have to be dead on, but like metal, you can get away with more and not have the audience looking like there beer is warm. I tend to play note for note,but I've had nights where improvising was a game changer. There was this place we played where the crowd loved it when I screwed around a bit.
we packed it all 3 times we played there. I just wouldn't do that if It were a session gig.

 

[cratz2]

If I'm in a tribute band, I'd strive towards, note-for-note, album perfect otherwise I'd like to get the changes, the key riffs/licks down solid and make it my own while ensuring the piece is easily identifiable.

 

[coy garcia]

For me it depends on the tune. If I'm playing blues or jazz I capture the feel and maybe a run or 2 of the original tune..then improve my way through it. If I'm playing a led zep tune or something like my sharona, stand by me etc... It must be learned note for note or nobody will recognize it.

 

[BrotherMister]

All of the above. Depends on the gig/context/whether I’m doing it for my sake or not.

Most function gigs where it’s wall to wall covers the changes and feel are all I’m after. But naturally that takes you into realms where the bass line is part of the song. You can’t really play cop the feel of say Billie Jean or Day Tripper where those riffs are the song. But say a Motown tune you can emulate a Jamerson line by knowing the style and the changes. I try to at least show some respect to the original line to let people know I’ve actually heard the record, but after a few bars of flirting with it then I’ll maybe do my own thing.

If the gig is more legit, or maybe I’m really into the song, then it’s note for note. If I’m doing it for my own personal sake it’s note for note. That doesn’t always mean I’ll play it note for note on a gig.

Short answer: All of the above.

 

[Pings Bass]

My goal in learning a song depends on the job. I don't generally do a lot of covers so mostly i just need to know the changes and melody line and go from there (standards and such). If somebody wants note-for-note cover they need to provide me with sheet music, because no way am I going to spend a day learning some dopey cold play song from the record. (Yes, I've played cold play for a church gig.)

 

[jimmyjames77]

Depends on the gig. For my tribute act I tried to learn every note to the Van Halen tunes. When in my old original band I learned almost every note. For some guys they just want the viewing public to know what song they’re playing. Chord progressions. And any major licks though out.

 

[Todd Hamby]

My goal is note for note as close as I can get it. It’s an obsession for me.

 

[coyote1]

This kinda hangs me up every time I try to learn a song by ear so I thought I’d see what different opinions are. I find trying to learn a note for note bass line, even from notation, and especially from TAB, tedious and un-fun. Even when I do succeed I generally end up mentally changing the line when I am practicing to my own natural feeling of the song and then I feel like I wasted the time learning note for note and have to go back and do it again. As I said no fun.

So, now that I am a better player and understand theory a bit better I wanted to start learning songs by ear but, when I think about learning it note for note like I did as a beginner I find it very unappealing and go back to my rut.

I much prefer to improvise when I am playing but part of me feels that its cheating because I am not “learning vocabulary” or some other excuse I come up with. Also, if I am improvising I’m sure it will eventually conflict with the bass line on the original track I am playing against.

So what do you all do?

There are many trains of thought for this. Each is dependent on your own goals, as well as on the goals of the band for which you are learning the song.

as for me:
TAB sucks. Hate it, hate it hate it! It gives you so little information. You have to have heard the song already in order for it to be of any value whatsoever, and even then it still sucks.

Therefore, I cannot recommend enough to learn to read. And to learn theory thoroughly (say that ten times fast lol). Because so very much of music of all genres can be easily played if you can do those things. When you get clarity on those, then you can listen to a piece once or twice and transcribe it accurately - and with so much of it, you need not even transcribe because you will already know the chord patterns and be able to play appropriate bass lines.

 

[Zooberwerx]

I frequently distill or re-arrange the tunes to better fit the framework of the band...it's worked for 15 years. These guys have varying talent levels which is a primary consideration. The final product may not sound like the record but it will sound pretty damn good.

I refuse to do lousy covers of well-known tunes. If somebody wants "Sweet Home Alabama", we tell 'em to go sit in the car, turn on the radio, and wait 15 minutes.

Riis