Successful Strategies To Play By Ear

[blue_jays]

Musicians this is a popular topic to talk about. I understand that some of us musicians can play by ear and there are those who have difficultly doing this. However, there are musicians who can just read theory (which is great)  and want to learn how to play by ear

Are you a musician who has trouble following and learning how to play by ear?
Would you like to learn?

Do you play another instrument such as piano, bass, organ, brass, violin, guitar and would like these skills to be transferred over to your instrument?

What are some problems that you are having and if you have any questions feel free to pm me

[Eddied50]

hearing and   figuring  out the notes  i hear.  Most ear training is on a computer program by the time you figure it out you have missed so much practice time.  Help !!!!

[SoundofJoy]

If you ever had the game "Simon" its the same concept without the lit colors. You hear a combination of notes and you try to repeat it. I learned my ear training by listening to the most dominant notes which is the melody line of any song. Now if the song is just chords then I had to break down every note in that chord by humming the notes in my head while at the keyboard. This was before I was able to purchase chord and scale books which made learning much easier when I started to practice the right way. If helps if you're not tone deaf

[morrism357]

Lack of ear training by far is the biggest obstacle in playing by ear. Look at how many chord request we get a day. Teachers and message boards want to through a bunch of theory at you but no eartraining. Theory just explains what the ear has heard. Theory also allows you to make a song your own. Im a walking theory encyclopedia yet I struggle badly to pick up songs on the fly. even though I still can I figure a song out if i take my time with it. My problem is I cant play a melody line or a bass line in real time. For me I have to repeatly play parts of songs over and over and find the notes by trial and error.Musicians arent really playing by ear they are playing whats been shown to them or written down for themr. They really arent much different than sheet music readers. True play by ear musicians play what they hear. One very popular play by ear course sold a booklet and told people they eould be able to play after reading this book. If that person cant pick out the melody to old mcdonald I dont care how much theory they wont play one song. Requesting any tips.

[terra holmes]

Sound of Joy, very good analogy. I was taught to read by notes and theory, and I felt like it was no longer a challenge for me. My music teacher told me I had a good ear. I can't count the many many times I asked to be train by ear. She kept giving me excuses. I finally came to a conclusion, why pay this person 75.00/mth for notes and theory.
I lost my only child a year ago and was advised by a professional to find an outlet.Gospel music is that outlet...I love listening to music and trying to pick out the melody within a song.
I do agree that its a struggle to pick up songs on a fly. I may not be a mastercraftsman at the moment but I have faith that it will eventually come...and when it does I will share it w/others freely.  thanks LGM family and God Bless all of you.