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Learning to play by ear

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 Chib
(@chib)
Active Member
Joined: 15 years ago
Posts: 4
Topic starter  

I started playing the guitar maybe about six months ago. I currently take lessons and my teacher encourages that I learn to play songs by ear. At first I found it really difficult but I'm starting to get the hang of it. I've also noticed that I have problems identifying lower pitched notes(bass notes) and synthesised notes. For e.g.this is what I'm currently trying to decipher, it's the theme of a popular UK show...called Eastenders.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ek8Gex_NYwQ

From about the 24th second it goes all synthesised and I get lost. I've tried slowing it down but I 'm not getting anywhere but I can tell the intervals between the notes.

Note A, Note B(A step lower in the scale), and hammeron on Note A.

Any advice on how to approach this....
Cheers
Chib


   
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(@dogbite)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 19 years ago
Posts: 6348
 

before computers, Tabs, anything I used my ear to learn songs. I would put on an album, CDs weren't invernted, and use the low bass E string on my guitar to follow the chord changes. from that I could make the chord and follow along. many times songs were tuned to Eflat. some were open tunings. that's were I had problems.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=644552
http://www.soundclick.com/couleerockinvaders


   
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(@hanging-chord)
Estimable Member
Joined: 16 years ago
Posts: 87
 

many times songs were tuned to Eflat. some were open tunings. that's were I had problems.

This statement confuses me. Why does how the guitar is tuned affect your ability to determine what notes/chords are being played? It would affect how the guitarist does his fingering, but an F# is an F#, however your guitar is tuned...right?


   
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(@dogbite)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 19 years ago
Posts: 6348
 

yeah that's true. I think I was referring to when I was very new at guitar.
for example, I found it harder when a song was in E flat. sure I could barre an E flat way up on the eleventh fret. then that sounded too high to play along with the album. it was hard for a newbie.
now, after years of playing everything is easier.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=644552
http://www.soundclick.com/couleerockinvaders


   
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 Chib
(@chib)
Active Member
Joined: 15 years ago
Posts: 4
Topic starter  

Thanks for your answers. The key of the song is actually in E flat. I had to cheat bit by using my metronome (It can recognise frequencies/pitches) and I got G,E,E still yet to try that on my guitar


   
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(@bobby-j)
Active Member
Joined: 15 years ago
Posts: 5
 

Not sure if it would help on that song you are trying to figure out but what helps me sometimes is to us a karaoke filter to remove the vocals, or in the case of an instumental it takes out some on the midrange in a "normal" vocal range. Audacity has a decent one in it's plug-ins. Doesn't work with every song but sometimes it can make the guitar parts very clear.


   
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