Ear training

There are many aspects to ear training but the most important thing is
to be able to play what you hear.
But you have to hear it before you can play it.
Pick a recorded song that you like and listen to it.
Most pop recordings have several instruments.
Like a pop country song may have 3 guitars, bass, drums, mandolin,
banjo, fiddle, pedal steel, piano, organ, percussion, effects and
more.
The average person listens to the music as a whole paying most
attention to the lead singer.
Some songs even have entire orchestras behind them.
As a musician you have to break it down into parts.
Each instrument plays a part.
Each voice sings a part.
It's the combination of all the parts that makes the recording sound
the way it does.
You have to learn to hear each instrument separately.
If you are playing guitar the first thing you should learn is the
rhythm and chords.
Most music is written in key and follows a chord progression.
Listen to the bass.
It is usually playing the root of the chord on the first beat of every
bar or chord change.
Figure out what key the song is in.
If the song is in 'C' and the bass is playing C, A, F, G at the start
of each measure you should automatically know what chords to play.
Most people can't learn the rhythm to a song quickly unless it is very
simple.
You have to listen to it and play along with it over and over.
So now you have learned to play the right chords and the right rhythm
to the song.
You learned a part.
If you want to play lead to the song you have to listen and play
along, knowing what the chord progression is so you will know what
scales to use.
This is only the beginning of ear training.
Please add to this.

Pt




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Relevant Pages

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