hey folks.
i'm looking to start with some baby steps, the fundamentals to improve my ears to be able to play by ear.
right now, i'm in the beginning stage- just working on identifying chords.
i'm having trouble hearing/figuring out the bass notes and the transition point between measures.
does anyone have or know a list of easy songs that consist that do not consist of too many chords? i'm trying to find the "right material" of the appropriate level for me to study with. this seems important because if i can't find the right material that suits my level, i'm just gonna be frustrated, banging my head against the wall. the problem is i don't know which songs are good to work on at this point b/c if i look up the tabs, then i see the answers which defeats the whole purpose. easy song lists anyone?
as for the hearing process itself, i'm trying real hard to listen closely/intently. this seems like a WHOLE DIFFERENT level of listening- completely different from just casually enjoying a song like the way the average person does. is this how it's supposed to be? did everyone here go thru this phase as well? is this like the important, necessary step to becoming a "real musician"? or maybe i have really untalented ears.....
comments, advices, thoughts!
thanks
The best place on the planet to start is with the Lessons link on our homepage.
"Salvation lies within" - as that guy said in The Shawshank Redemption.
Best,
A :-)
"Be good at what you can do" - Fingerbanger"
I have always felt that it is better to do what is beautiful than what is 'right'" - Eliot Fisk
Wedding music and guitar lessons in Essex. Listen at: http://www.rollmopmusic.co.uk
listening differently....absolutely. I was feeling almost cursed a while back when I changed my listening habit.
I would focus on just one guitar, almost blocking out everything else. eventually, that is all I would do and it spoiled the song. I grew out if that when I got better on the fret board and understood relationships better.
Just one tip for figuring stuff out by ear. Everyone says to listen for the bass note. I find this very difficult for me. Usually the bass is far down in the mix, and I just don't hear bass notes as clearly. I find it much easier to listen for the top note and go from there. You might try that.
It is a whole different way of listening. Even when I'm listening for enjoyment I'm still analyzing, listening for the chord changes, etc. It's difficult at first but the more you do it, the better you'll get. I also find it very satisfying and is one of my favorite things to do on the guitar.
