Start with tunes which you can hum. Get the tune in your head,
and hum it for a few days before starting to work it out.
Some people use a machine or software to slow a recording to half speed, then work it out note by note.
I like to decipher a phrase, and then write it down in standard music notation. Another great way to learn a tune by ear, is to get another fiddler to show the tune to you. I ask to hear the tune
at tempo a few times through, and then we slow the tune down, and work out the sticky places note by note. It is also a great way to sort out bowing, as well.
It seems that any approach will work, as long as you stick at it long enough to find out what works best for you.
a) Lay your hands on learning tapes where the players you admire play tunes slowly and at regular speeds, 2) listen to CD's, tapes etc. with your instrument always in your hands. 3) See if you can pick out the key, the main notes on anything that gets played on radio. Your favourite ITM program is good for this, but it might be too fast to begin with. If so, start with airs and simple kids' stuff not necessarily Irish 4) Scratch at the back of sessions. The big wigs might love to hate your being there, but you will be getting familiar with what they play (ready to amaze them when they discover you know their favourite tunes and can really play with them after all), 5) ask if you can tape your local session (with all the players' permission) then play the tapes over and over in the car going to work, when you go to bed, whenever you can sing along with them aloud or in your head 6) learn from whoever is prepared to pass on tunes by ear (as well as the nuts and bolts techniques and theory and how to read written music etc) 6) set yourself goals - a tune a month -> a week -> a day. 7) Be an individual - play, play, play (enjoy, enjoy, enjoy).
PS: playing by ear really helps to relate the sounds in your head to the dots on the page - so after a while you can look at a written down tune and visualise how it would sound if you played it. Maybe you already have the tune in your head, but you didn't know what it was called.
Then you get this series of 'Ah Ha!' experiences: "So that is what that tune is called" "But so and so plays it a little bit (or a lot) differently" or "so and so sometimes puts a roll or cut or whatever in there" "Gee I like what so and so has done with the tune (or not), I'd like to do a bit of this or that with it too (or not)".
You are adding an extra dimension to your music.
Having played the sheetmusic game, then gone down this route myself, all I can say is good on you, way to go. It takes time and commitment, but you'll nearly get there if you really want to (its a life long road with never an end - it just gets better and better).
Cheers
This isn't really a tip but just a thought for you to carry along - having learned songs both ways - i have found that the struggle to learn the song by ear can be a bit more frustrating - HOWEVER, and this is the thing - those songs are the ones that you will learn the best and play more solidly. It is definitely worth the effort!! Best to you!!
Hi Amanda,
Learning by ear has come up a number of times on The Session. Try typing "learning by ear" into the search function under Discussions and you'll find several threads that offer advice from many different perspectives.
The main thing is to not get discouraged if it feels "impossible" at first. Find another player who will go through the tunes slowly and phrase by phrase. That's really how most of us got started, so plenty of experienced players are usually willing to do this for a newcomer. And just keep trying--it's one of those things you just have to keep doing until it clicks, and then you'll wonder why it was so hard.
The way I found I was learning tunes by ear was just going to as many sessions as could convince my dad to take me to. You haven't said what instrument you play - I play whistle so it's fairly quiet under the twenty or so melodeons - just ty - I've been told that there is no such thin as a wrong note - jst a harmony - no one'll mindif you get a ouple of notes wrong!
As Will says, this subject has come up "boo-coo" times and been thoroughly discussed, probably more thoroughly than most people wanted to read about. If you don't get much feedback from us voluble types, it's because we're too embarassed to fulminate out in public again with the same advice. So do try searching the threads as Will suggests.
Although of course anyone who has NOT posted as, um, voluminously as some of us already have may certain feel free to do so. *grin*
A good way to learn to play by ear is to get to where you can hum the tune. Once you can hum it, you'll be able to find the notes on your instrument to play it.
Better than humming, learn to "lilt" it. You know: "deedle-dum-dum-deedle-deedle-deedle dum dum." It's better than humming because it'll help you capture the cuts and crans and such.
I started learning to play by ear by playing recordings of jazz solos over and over. Eventually,
I got some sound equipment that would let me slow it down, so It would take less time to get
it written down properly on sheet music. I'd work out one phrase at a time, usually about four
notes. First, I'd concentrate on the rhythm, then I'd try to pick out one note at at time, and I
might play it on my instrument to make sure I got it exactly right. Then I'd practice playing what
I had written down until I could play it at least as fast as the slowed-down recording. This might
take several listenings just to get four notes. If it sounded right, then I'd go on to the next four
notes. Anyway, after ten years of working on this skill, you probably won't need to write it
down or slow it down any more. You'll get to the point where one or two full-speed listenings
will do. If you are at the point where you can already hum or lilt it, then you are better off than
I was.
I used to read abcs - then my teacher took it away from me and I wasnt allowed to do it anymore - Just force yourself not to read music and eventually you will have no trouble picking up a tune by ear - it becomes almost second nature.
Dirk, by the way, is the fastest ear I've ever seen on a beginner (under three years), which includes many experienced Suzuki students and teachers. He's far faster than I am, that's for sure. It's easy to fall into looking for some kind of magic bullet to give you Dirk's kind of ear, but the way he's describing it really is the way to do it -- and it takes time to do it. Don't expect the process to be easy or fast, but if you keep at it, you'll get there.
OK, rank heresy (in Irtrad, anyway): see if your local college has a music program, and see if you can audit an Ear Training class. That's how I learned, and believe me, once you can pick out a 4-voice Bach fugue by ear, tunes are no problem!
I also agree with those who've written above - get it in your head so you can sing it with no trouble, and you're more than halfway there. Sing or hum along as you play (if your instrument allows!) and in no time at all, you'll be able to play anything you can hum.
Zina's post helps me understand the need for self-deprecation!
Anyway, Jeff's idea of going to school sounds like the wisest one yet. If it took me this long to learn what I know, then there are better ways than the way I developed the skill. I agree with Jeff that this may be heresy, but it might help to realize that studying methods from classical and jazz might actually work better. (Oops, did I say that?)
I should also add the importance of music theory. All the music Iv'e heard - jazz, Irish, classical, etc. use the same basic modes, arpeggios, scales, turns, 2-5-1 progressions- etc. After a while, you get to the point where you can pick these things out of a tune. The trick, I think is to not only listen, but mimick what you hear by playing it on the instrument, or humming it, if you can. I found that it was impossible for me to hum John Coltrane's "Giant Steps," for instance - my voice just couldn't do it.
Learning to play by ear
Learning to play by ear
Hello
Has any-one any tips on learning to play by ear please?
Amanda
# Posted on May 11th 2002 by morrigan
Re: Learning to play by ear
Start with tunes which you can hum. Get the tune in your head,
and hum it for a few days before starting to work it out.
Some people use a machine or software to slow a recording to half speed, then work it out note by note.
I like to decipher a phrase, and then write it down in standard music notation. Another great way to learn a tune by ear, is to get another fiddler to show the tune to you. I ask to hear the tune
at tempo a few times through, and then we slow the tune down, and work out the sticky places note by note. It is also a great way to sort out bowing, as well.
It seems that any approach will work, as long as you stick at it long enough to find out what works best for you.
Good luck,
Scott
# Posted on May 11th 2002 by scottythefiddler
Re: Learning to play by ear
a) Lay your hands on learning tapes where the players you admire play tunes slowly and at regular speeds, 2) listen to CD's, tapes etc. with your instrument always in your hands. 3) See if you can pick out the key, the main notes on anything that gets played on radio. Your favourite ITM program is good for this, but it might be too fast to begin with. If so, start with airs and simple kids' stuff not necessarily Irish 4) Scratch at the back of sessions. The big wigs might love to hate your being there, but you will be getting familiar with what they play (ready to amaze them when they discover you know their favourite tunes and can really play with them after all), 5) ask if you can tape your local session (with all the players' permission) then play the tapes over and over in the car going to work, when you go to bed, whenever you can sing along with them aloud or in your head 6) learn from whoever is prepared to pass on tunes by ear (as well as the nuts and bolts techniques and theory and how to read written music etc) 6) set yourself goals - a tune a month -> a week -> a day. 7) Be an individual - play, play, play (enjoy, enjoy, enjoy).
PS: playing by ear really helps to relate the sounds in your head to the dots on the page - so after a while you can look at a written down tune and visualise how it would sound if you played it. Maybe you already have the tune in your head, but you didn't know what it was called.
Then you get this series of 'Ah Ha!' experiences: "So that is what that tune is called" "But so and so plays it a little bit (or a lot) differently" or "so and so sometimes puts a roll or cut or whatever in there" "Gee I like what so and so has done with the tune (or not), I'd like to do a bit of this or that with it too (or not)".
You are adding an extra dimension to your music.
Having played the sheetmusic game, then gone down this route myself, all I can say is good on you, way to go. It takes time and commitment, but you'll nearly get there if you really want to (its a life long road with never an end - it just gets better and better).
Cheers
# Posted on May 11th 2002 by Jill
Re: Learning to play by ear
This isn't really a tip but just a thought for you to carry along - having learned songs both ways - i have found that the struggle to learn the song by ear can be a bit more frustrating - HOWEVER, and this is the thing - those songs are the ones that you will learn the best and play more solidly. It is definitely worth the effort!! Best to you!!
# Posted on May 11th 2002 by macmuffins
Re: Learning to play by ear
Hi Amanda,
Learning by ear has come up a number of times on The Session. Try typing "learning by ear" into the search function under Discussions and you'll find several threads that offer advice from many different perspectives.
The main thing is to not get discouraged if it feels "impossible" at first. Find another player who will go through the tunes slowly and phrase by phrase. That's really how most of us got started, so plenty of experienced players are usually willing to do this for a newcomer. And just keep trying--it's one of those things you just have to keep doing until it clicks, and then you'll wonder why it was so hard.
# Posted on May 11th 2002 by Will Harmon
Re: Learning to play by ear
The way I found I was learning tunes by ear was just going to as many sessions as could convince my dad to take me to. You haven't said what instrument you play - I play whistle so it's fairly quiet under the twenty or so melodeons - just ty - I've been told that there is no such thin as a wrong note - jst a harmony - no one'll mindif you get a ouple of notes wrong!
Nessie
# Posted on May 11th 2002 by Nutty Nessie
Re: Learning to play by ear
Hi Amanda:
So do try searching the threads as Will suggests.
As Will says, this subject has come up "boo-coo" times and been thoroughly discussed, probably more thoroughly than most people wanted to read about. If you don't get much feedback from us voluble types, it's because we're too embarassed to fulminate out in public again with the same advice.
Although of course anyone who has NOT posted as, um, voluminously as some of us already have may certain feel free to do so. *grin*
Zina
# Posted on May 12th 2002 by Zina Lee
Re: Learning to play by ear
Try sticking one track of a cd you want to learn on durring the night and press repeat! Very annoying....but very effective!!!!!
# Posted on May 12th 2002 by Wackadack
Re: Learning to play by ear
A good way to learn to play by ear is to get to where you can hum the tune. Once you can hum it, you'll be able to find the notes on your instrument to play it.
# Posted on May 13th 2002 by Martinfamilyband
Re: Learning to play by ear
Better than humming, learn to "lilt" it. You know: "deedle-dum-dum-deedle-deedle-deedle dum dum." It's better than humming because it'll help you capture the cuts and crans and such.
# Posted on May 13th 2002 by cuchulain54
Re: Learning to play by ear
I started learning to play by ear by playing recordings of jazz solos over and over. Eventually,
I got some sound equipment that would let me slow it down, so It would take less time to get
it written down properly on sheet music. I'd work out one phrase at a time, usually about four
notes. First, I'd concentrate on the rhythm, then I'd try to pick out one note at at time, and I
might play it on my instrument to make sure I got it exactly right. Then I'd practice playing what
I had written down until I could play it at least as fast as the slowed-down recording. This might
take several listenings just to get four notes. If it sounded right, then I'd go on to the next four
notes. Anyway, after ten years of working on this skill, you probably won't need to write it
down or slow it down any more. You'll get to the point where one or two full-speed listenings
will do. If you are at the point where you can already hum or lilt it, then you are better off than
I was.
# Posted on May 15th 2002 by dirk
Re: Learning to play by ear
I used to read abcs - then my teacher took it away from me and I wasnt allowed to do it anymore - Just force yourself not to read music and eventually you will have no trouble picking up a tune by ear - it becomes almost second nature.
# Posted on May 15th 2002 by bb
Re: Learning to play by ear
Dirk, by the way, is the fastest ear I've ever seen on a beginner (under three years), which includes many experienced Suzuki students and teachers. He's far faster than I am, that's for sure. It's easy to fall into looking for some kind of magic bullet to give you Dirk's kind of ear, but the way he's describing it really is the way to do it -- and it takes time to do it. Don't expect the process to be easy or fast, but if you keep at it, you'll get there.
Zina
# Posted on May 15th 2002 by Zina Lee
Re: Learning to play by ear
OK, rank heresy (in Irtrad, anyway): see if your local college has a music program, and see if you can audit an Ear Training class. That's how I learned, and believe me, once you can pick out a 4-voice Bach fugue by ear, tunes are no problem!
I also agree with those who've written above - get it in your head so you can sing it with no trouble, and you're more than halfway there. Sing or hum along as you play (if your instrument allows!) and in no time at all, you'll be able to play anything you can hum.
Jeff K
# Posted on May 15th 2002 by JeffK627
Re: Learning to play by ear
Zina's post helps me understand the need for self-deprecation!
Anyway, Jeff's idea of going to school sounds like the wisest one yet. If it took me this long to learn what I know, then there are better ways than the way I developed the skill. I agree with Jeff that this may be heresy, but it might help to realize that studying methods from classical and jazz might actually work better. (Oops, did I say that?)
I should also add the importance of music theory. All the music Iv'e heard - jazz, Irish, classical, etc. use the same basic modes, arpeggios, scales, turns, 2-5-1 progressions- etc. After a while, you get to the point where you can pick these things out of a tune. The trick, I think is to not only listen, but mimick what you hear by playing it on the instrument, or humming it, if you can. I found that it was impossible for me to hum John Coltrane's "Giant Steps," for instance - my voice just couldn't do it.
# Posted on May 15th 2002 by dirk