Ear Training for Bass Guitar

Another free video bass lesson from Mark J Smith for www.talkingbass.net.
This week I'm giving the first lesson in the ear training course. It's a step by step guide to the absolute basics of finding a note or phrase on the bass and internalising anything you play by way of singing along to yourself.

[@26Feathers]

I remember skipping this lesson when it came out 6 years ago XD I;m back sensei

[@dopamining7621]

Freaking brilliant. I was just shouting `BUM` in various notes in my bedroom, but brilliant nonetheless. A million thanks, as always.

[@wrightlight]

Been playing bass for years and this is such a great, simple, actionable exercise. I'm getting after it. Thanks Mark!!!

[@learnoncology5413]

Thanks, sir. You make me feel better. I felt I couldn’t get any progress in ear training before.

[@dennistinucci5735]

You are certainly brave for demonstrating ear tones with the bass - well appreciated and a great tip on becoming musically competent. I am taking your reading music course and have gained a lot from your lesson plan.

[@davidbalan6571]

Very good 💓 lessons Bass guitar Mark J Smith's

[@zennor_man]

You are an amazing teacher Mark.... I have never progressed in musicianship but your lessons make so much sense to me.

[@MichaelWilliams-rj1iv]

when are u gonna make another lesson on ear training?

[@Tomtoms-tomtoms]

Another fantastic lesson, very much appreciated 👍👍

[@funkolator]

Thank you, and greetings from germany

[@ZacK-uq2kd]

Hi Mark, this ear training tutorial is so awesome. I'm waiting for the next lesson of this series!

[@MrCBEjr]

Great lesson! I am sure this will help me pick up songs faster.

[@faisallee4063]

Damn! Best tutorial I've ever seen. Thanks a lot. Warm greetings from Indonesia.

[@Rhetrochips]

Great lesson, great production value, as always, well done

[@IsaacRobinsonA]

Best learning tool that I have ever seen. Ike

[@reedysbarbershop]

Great lesson, Thank you so much!

[@johnd942]

Brave! But well done! Loved it, and learned something useful! Cheers!

[@HowToEos]

My biggest issue when trying to repeat the note is that I don't know if it's right. I get that there should be a resonance, like if you play two As on the fifth and 7 fret, but I can't recreate that in my head. Any tips for achieving this?

[@talkingbasslessons]

HowToEos You should aim to simply hear a recreation of the note in your head. Just keep trying and,most importantly, sing the note back to yourself with the bass note. That way you can literally hear both notes together and compare them.

[@coutureeurope891]

Great Mark ! When is the next lesson is coming ? So important to identify intervals without using try and error way ! ( may be for me ! ) When I transcribe , I hate try and error way.( I know that 99% of people do it ) But How to grab in my brain where the intervals are ? Do you get any exercise to incorporate intervals sound in your brain ? Some people use famous songs beginning to remember the sound of an interval. For example : Superman song ... ta ta ta taaa. it is a perfect 5 ? Is it that the way to do it ? thanks a lot Mark! Juanki Funki

[@suiheisensongs]

Thanks a lot for this exercise! This is perfect♥️

[@mjmorgan-maloosefingers9135]

Thank you Mark

[@Gordygors]

love this tutorials

[@cherdrol]

Great help. Thank you.

[@fabiolopresti6953]

Perfect. Thank you very much

[@getright1747]

That's a good idea it helps

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

Merci for this.

[@josephnsubuga1374]

You are a great teacher of bass. Be blessed always.

[@kalibhakta8640]

I hum and... dude, did you just play the melody to "Whistle while You Work"? and am I expected to be able to whistle it?

[@alexfithero]

Ear is tuff I been trying to have patience. I practice everyday but I can find notes now and things. Maybe in 3 years I'm only two years in, two people I talked to said 3 years.

[@alexfithero]

One year later SR _17 drum machine. Find the notes on the drum machine. Nuff said. The patterns on bass.

[@febinlawrence5589]

thanks sir,, i m practicing low notes now

[@petermiller5659]

hi mark is there a part 2 on this?

[@doxx2427]

Hi mark, what type of pickups do you use?

[@everywhere5]

Sir the main problem i face i dont know what i m playing is right or wrong.plzzz help me out

[@jankazdevs]

Thanks a lot!

[@everywhere5]

U r awesome man

[@mikequillman7726]

This is great, question? Sometimes i seem to be unable to hear certain notes, like wholes in my hearing. Is this common.

[@d.l.loonabide9981]

Very common. Notes and intervals can sound very different in different contexts. How many contexts are there?

[@superdamon9229]

hello could you just play and remeber all the notes on the bass

[@gregthesalad495]

That would mean you would have to have perfect pitch

[@j.c1574]

The E really vibrates through my whole head haha

[@juanpueblo647]

Build up a powerful ear for music. Google for Mnemonics for Perfect Pitch.

[@metrosolve]

VERY HELPFUL INDEED!

[@nicorepetto5781]

What bass is that?

[@greengoblin2006]

I need to change my word i kept saying bum and it made me laugh so i might use Hum instead :)

[@stevesynan3910]

Just don't do this exercise in an airport.

[@pedersolvang4794]

BAMs away!

[@d.l.loonabide9981]

Don't do anything at an airport.

[@BassJournal]

Where can i donate

[@talkingbasslessons]

There's a donate button on the website. It's in the sidebar. Not on the first page though. It used to be but I've been messing around with the layout. Try the Lesson Map page.

[@reggaefan2700]

TalkingBass Video I thought my bass was the only bass that buzzed like that. I thought something was wrong with my bass. Knowing that your bass also buzzes like that makes me feel very happy.

[@talkingbasslessons]

It's because I've just got new strings and a low action. I also need to sort out my trussrod a little. Shows up more on the recording than through an amp. If you want to get rid of the buzz usually raising the action a touch can help but first of all make sure your trussrod isn't too tight or loose. If the relief is too far one way you'll get buzz in certain parts of the neck.

[@imranaliimranali7240]

Sir this bass model No. Plz

[@stusuchit2034]

Solfège!

[@liamricciliamricci]

yap sessison my god

[@d.l.loonabide9981]

You're singing isn't terrible. As a teacher, modeling negativity is sub optimal.

[@FasanyaSeun_]

..

[@Mud9]

BUUUUUM

[@bustabass9025]

Solfege Markie...not "Bom"😉 do re mi fa sol la ti doooooo! do ti la sol fa mi re doooooo!