Beginner guitarist ear training question.

[Alien]

Hi all, I've been learning the guitar for quite some time now but all i've been playing are chords and tabs found from the web. I've heard people that claim that they are able to just listen to a song and be able to play it on guitar.

I would like to know if it is possible for me to do that considering that I did not have music training since young.(I'm about 18 now ) Also I know this skill does not come easy but currently i do not even know how to go about and start learning this skill. It would help greatly if any experts around here could at least point me in the right direction to start. Thanks in advance

 

[theunknown]

I don't think it's that hard in figuring out a song.

You can start by searching the note all over the fretboard for every note in the song. Everyone has to start somewhere. After a while in figuring out the fretboard, you will know that the note is somewhere here or there. After even more experience, you can tell that it is a particular note.

Chords may be more difficult as there are many notes played together. What u can do is determine the lowest note you can hear, or the song has a bass playing, listen for the bass. The lowest note is usually the root note. From there, determine what shape of the chord it is (CAGED system)

Remember, somehow sometime, you have to memorise the fretboard. Better if u can identify the notes. For now, personally i memorize some notes especially G notes, which i based on to tune my guitar if i lazy take out tuner lol.

 

[boyl]

a good start will be to hear the chords without looking at the tab.

you can start by trying to identify the root note of each chord. (most often, this will be the lowest note, as mentioned by theunknown, unless it is an inverted note).

once you can do this, the next step will be to figuring out the more detailed part.

 

[jackmann]

Guitar player and keyboardist

Hey hi there.

Standard 440 tune . master the Do Re Mi.
Begin at middle C.

Then u have to master the fretboard tune, every fretboard will produce difference note.

U must remember every tune put in your mind. practice it.
It will be difficult in starter stage. but if have that skill, don't worry not even musical instrument u can tell it what note is that.
Even the engine sound u able to tell.

Listen.. in ancient time music had no chord and note, after that they wrote it
and name it.In this world every sound produce note.

THERE IS NO RULE IN COMPOSE SONG. as long nice to the listener.
But u must know what u are doing. music is ears food make it nice to hear.

A tip for u fellas always take the (DO) RE MI take the root note (DO) exactly
U will know the rest family related chord.(guideline)

The best after u practice your ears judgment.. without instrument u can tell what chord that song play.

Practice it, to be good musician, it super skill amazing.

I have explain more or less it depend on u. I advise u don't depend on too much gear. built your own skill and originality and be true to yourself.

It not a joke it called master skilled.

Ok good luck.

 

[Alien]

Hi all and thank you for all your prompt response. I will practice right away but have to wait after my A level to really get down to practicing it hard.

I have actually no problem figuring out the melody. But then songs usually have more than just melody. Take "A whole new world" for instance, there is usually some other sound other than melody ( chords? ). Even if i have the chords ( I found from the web ) How do i go about playing them together with the melody? Is that theory or will just having a good ear do?

Anyway, you all talk about memorising the notes. Is listening to the same note and singing it everyday at least a few times a good way to memorise it? Or is there any other way?

Seems like i have still a long way to go before i can consider myself to be an intermediate player :mrgreen: Thank you all once again

 

[boyl]

i never mentioned memorising notes, although i'm not really adversed to the idea.

i myself don't memorise notes because it comes sort of naturally to me. i'm not sure why myself, it just does.

but i think i agree with you that with an extended exposure to music, you will get yourself attuned to it and things will come more naturally.

regarding the chords and melody, hmm, how to start..

i think i'll start by saying that a song consists of melody which has (normally) a set of underlying chord progression.

the chords set the mood of the song, because the same melody can be played with different chords.

some chords create tension, some chords resolve. you know it when you hear a song and stop the song abruptly. if it feels incomplete, it is the tension creating chord. if it feels complete, the chord has 'resolved' the song.

for the case of the song 'a whole new world', you can try to distinguish the main melody first, which is normally the melody sung by the singer.

this melody will be running on top of chords, of which you should try to figure out. this will require attuned ears, not good ones nor theory.

of course having the latter ones help, but get yourself attuned to the music.

you mentioned having obtained the chords from internet. the next thing to do is to try to associate the chord written with the chord you hear. instead of following blindly, try to see why the chords change at certain place, or after certain twist in melody. i think this approach will help a lot.

 

[theunknown]

yeaps. having to identify notes take sometime.

Side note, when i sigh it's always in G. HAHA

 

[jackmann]

Guitar player and keyboardist

Hi

And now I try to make U understand deeper.

A theory is a guideline only. but u have understand what are u doing.
B music is about (BODY MIND SOUL) then come with the spirit.
C Example in ( C major u add D minor higher note it called fancy stuff)
D Practice Exotic scale, go look for it.

E Must know some guideline theory like flatten 5th, dominant, suspended,
minor, seventh, augmented, diminish, harmonic, major, major seventh, etc.
when to apply.
F Must know the reason why? the chord name change when u add some
notes.
example G minor add higher A note it called G minor 9.
so this G minor add higher F note it called G minor 7
so in G natural major chord u add 2 higher notes the 6 and 7 called 13.

Don't get confuse by the chord name, it more easy if u understand the
reasons.
Go learn more about Jazz music minor 7 and major 7 type it gives u widely
open field. practice jazz fusion scale.(inside and outside)

Don't influence too much metal u learn less.
My era do rock metal music is over, and even I can do a solid wild guitar
player than the others out there no problem. but end up no where to go.

Don't get love sick think about your girl friend, u have to divide the time for
your music. music is called time sacrifice.

Also go and look for piano scale then transpose to your guitar work it
amazing.and u are the lucky guy since i have free time to entertain u.

Every week u must learn at least a few pattern scale.
so don't be a lazy boy. someday u will be a good player to replace my
position. caused I getting old.

Go check the song at you tube song called new york state of mine by billy Joel listen to the
chord work and sing melody.

Coooooooool

Good Luck.

Former: self learn SINGAPORE EMI recording studio and 80s Singapore top
rock band.
Jackmann.