Ear Training

[Super24]

I need to work on my ear. Any suggestions on how to learn?

 

Anybody ever try "Perfect Pitch"?

[mcmurray]

First of all, forget about perfect pitch - you can't have it and it's not necessary!

 

Also, forget about 'interval recognition training' - it's useless for now and will do more harm than good if you proceed with it.

 

Functional Pitch Recognition is what you should be concerning yourself with. Here's an article I wrote a while back that will get you started;

 

http://www.jsguitarforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=56336

 

Here's a definition of functional pitch recognition;

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ear_training

 

Here's a great resource with excellent articles and a totally awesome ear trainer program;

 

http://www.miles.be/

[Izzy]

Not sure what you're talking about but I like to listen to something on headphones then have an ear off and play along.

Finding the notes myself is rewarding, even if tabs are faster.

Also, I tune by ear, know no other way...by that I mean I find a tuner and listen to the pitch, then I make each string sound like the tuner. I couldn't just tune...the strings would be off, though not in relevance to each other.

[Brookfielder]

I don't know if perfect pitch is something you can learn. I think it is a sense that you are born with, or it takes a lifetime to develop.

Not so sure it would be something you would want. You could think of it as being a neat-freak and being surrounded by slobs. The mess would constantly drive you nuts! The same would be said for off pitch performance if you have perfect pitch.

Would anyone out there with Perfect Pitch agree?

McMurray's Plan looks good!

[ledzep59]

Perfect Pitch? I think Guitar Center has a sale on that stuff right now.

[badbluesplayer]

I have a good ear. I'm not sure why, but I think it's because I've always sung to myself and hummed tunes to myself all day long, ever since I was a kid. My advice is to start humming and singing and don't stop.

[mcmurray]

I have a good ear. I'm not sure why' date=' but I think it's because I've always sung to myself and hummed tunes to myself all day long, ever since I was a kid. My advice is to start humming and singing and don't stop.[/quote']

 

Agreed, but getting a good ear is only half the story. Realizing what you are hearing and linking it to the fretboard is the tricky part, and singing alone won't do this.

[Super24]

Thanks for the info guys. I just want to get better at identifying keys and figuring out songs by ear. I'll start with the links posted above.