How To Figure Out Songs By Ear On Guitar! feat. Nik Nocturnal

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[@NikNocturnal]

That damn chord got me. love how the video turned out dude, thanks for having me!

[@fernandovilches9880]

Great video, nice to see bts of how you figure out songs.

[@edthejester]

Figuring out chords; I use Audacity a lot; just load the audio in there, select the chord I'm having trouble with, and hit loop-play selection. Then just match note for note

[@poot_by_the_foot1341]

Squiggle poo

[@gambit3155]

Nik, your work is amazing. You have a sub from me here and on Spotify. Thanks man.

[@nickfilipoff2892]

Thanks Nik! Just subbed to you.

[@Kyrelel]

5 Steps to learning any song by ear 1) Listen to small section of song 2) Play random notes on fretboard while listening to song 3) Move fingers around until they sound the same 4) Repeat steps 1-3 until bored 5) Google " guitar tab"

[@Coomslayer-nb1qk]

that's so accurate

[@quantumxfluxmd6821]

😅😅😅😅

[@luvrix]

What if it's a super unknown song :'( fml

[@juanmejiagomez5514]

@@luvrix In that case you have to not get bored lol

[@deathblow777]

@@luvrix Thats me learning ghost runner on third tabs

[@DavidNwokoye]

OMG a crossover between SWEEPMAN and my Nikka 🤘🤘🤘

[@mydogismyprofilepic]

David Nwokoye I see what you did there.

[@drperkyreal4686]

Nikka

[@cryptic3420]

My Nikka \m/

[@eduardsusai559]

Wuss gud my nikka

[@matejmikulcic9254]

I am not alowed to say that

[@jackharrisguitar]

Great you've distracted Nik long enough that I can go and cover the new Triviu- OH, HE'S ALREADY DONE IT!!!! It's good to see that we all transcribe in the same way - GUESSING ALL OVER THE NECK AND GETTING ANGRY!

[@leltraco1983]

that's the true way of transcribing! hahaha

[@StuntcatTV]

Although I am impressed by your hearing, composing and playing skills, I find some relief in the fact that even Sweepman and the Shredmaster are struggling with stuff too. :D

[@nazman465]

Nik actually livestreams everytime he is learning a song. It's quite fun to watch.

[@alessandro9740]

@@nazman465 where is that?

[@dhelsgade]

Please challenge Rudy Ayoub next! He's style is quite unique, too! Of course, in the middle of practice he'll 0-3-5-6

[@nicolasortiz4422]

Rudy will learn the song while staring at the camera for the whole 30 minutes. Without blinking

[@mrgreenfr6216]

@@nicolasortiz4422 perfection

[@dhelsgade]

@@mrgreenfr6216 kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZoLHaJaKaMysqKs

[@julianaraneta5416]

"smoke on the water intensifies"

[@subhammukherjee7149]

"Rare footage of Sweepman tapping leaked." And, everytime Nik went "Haa?!", I just cracked up laughing. Love ya both so much. ❤️

[@wildersound]

Before the video starts: Bradley's probably gonna write some Michael Angelo Batio-ass sweep arpeggio-monster that Nik isn't able to play edit: oh...

[@madhatter797]

You'd be surprised by nik's shredding capabilities

[@sohamsengupta6470]

@@madhatter797 Yeah Nik is pretty damn fast when he wants to be

[@abfhngw]

Why learning Polyphia songs by ear is a nightmare The dam chords

[@danielhadida3915]

But then again, you don't need to, as Tim is putting up tutorial for most of what he does. And they sell tabs.

[@abfhngw]

True But I like to try and tackle them on my own It forces you to kinda study what they do and learn from it And it also serves as a good challenge to try and train your ear to hear all sorts of technical chord and rhythms

[@MrKoolaidjam]

Petition to make this a series?

[@Nobody-em2hw]

YES

[@zanefranklin6237]

9:13 "I'll try and pick out the first note of each sequence". Doing this has always helped me learn hard parts by ear. Glad to see someone sharing their techniques in such a helpful way. Keep up the shred Bradley!

[@alessandro9740]

can you explain pls? :)

[@chrish1349]

upset you didnt have a waterbottle on your desk...

[@sohamsengupta6470]

Nik is a hydrohomie

[@mgrocki]

This was a great idea!!! Nik is a beast💪

[@sohamsengupta6470]

Oof spicy tracks from both of ya, and god level ear training on display. Btw I actually typed another comment before which doesn't seem to have been posted cause my internet is kinda slow, but if it did post for the love of god Brad delete it. It's cringe.

[@godwinbssdd]

Should of included videos of y'all playing the originals at the end. See how close you really got

[@F1r3Foxxxy]

Yes please, would be great! I feel invested in this episode and want resolution! :) Maybe on Nik's channel upcoming?

[@FrankieAmadeian.]

That moment when you realise Bradley's cartoon self is holding a bass and not a guitar. *_B r u h m o m e n t_* Good job, boys. Both tracks were badass. Nik's chromatic tapping doe.

[@sohamsengupta6470]

Yeah that's one of the biggest bruh things bout this channel but it's hard drawing guitars in cartoons innit

[@andririki1298]

This 22 minutes video feels intense. Somehow my heart was pounding a bit when the time was almost up. Both of you are exceptional guitarist

[@MrBX5]

This was a pretty inspiring watch. As someone who's been playing for a few years but only recently started ear training, I've been taking close to an hour to figure out 10 to 20 seconds solos.

[@alexandregarot2782]

I wish you gave each other a feedback at the end to see what is correct and what isnt. Great video guys.

[@sebastiana3244]

Great crossover. 2 of my fav channels. Keep it up man. I loved the 20 sweeps for quarantine video. This one is pretty good too.

[@elmerm6876]

Bradley how do you even come up with those wack chords...

[@samueljacobson470]

@@BradleyHallGuitar at least it not D7sus2/F#

[@elmerm6876]

Yeah but like how do you come up with that? It sounds so funky in a good way

[@milkymilsy]

@@BradleyHallGuitar So... it's a Bm(add11).

[@milkymilsy]

@@BradleyHallGuitar Oh hey, Bradley replied to me.

[@Oron354]

@@samueljacobson470 Duh......its easy

[@dhelsgade]

I really love that lick 6:53 lmao Fits perfectly with Bradley's wtf reaction

[@DanGmz]

This was really fun :D My bass player and I do this often, every time he composes a new song instead of sending me the tabs he sends me an mp3 and I have to figure out what he plays. Damn bass player!!! :D :D

[@DanGmz]

@sREUDIAN fLIP Yeah, I have no problem playing by ear, I've been playing guitar for over 25 years and I never took a lesson, but still the tabs would speed up the process of learning a new song. :D

[@kagenotatsumaki]

13:28 LMAO! That was the most genuine "WTF!?" I've heard in a long time.

[@delator52]

Bradley's part has a lot of early Veil of Maya vibes✌🏼🤘🏼🔥

[@-sailhatan-]

His clip is basically Its Not Safe To Swim Today

[@GeorgiyZakharov777]

Awesome job, guys!

[@ezioauditore6176]

how to learn: hear play pause play hear play pause repeat .....

[@razorgear78]

This is my favorite video you've done. Both entertaining and insightful. My only criticism is I wish it had a proper ending. Like a comparison of results amd how close you each got to the original piece. Keep up the good work

[@viniciusleaoa]

You guys are going to play the songs yourselves in another video, right?? (Please do)

[@mattdillonmusic]

I've played on and off for about 10 years and have the foundations of music theory but never trained my ear. I started ear training a few months ago and try to learn songs that are already tabbed and established as a reference for my accuracy. I'm learning how difficult some parts can be to learn by ear. Thanks for play through here showing the struggle ♥️🤘

[@justinsundstrom8976]

Damn I love Bradley's riff...full song PLEASE!!!

[@emilebreseghello3175]

Hey bradley or nik, could you upload those song, so we can learn it please!!??😆 Edit: god, i forgot that i didn't have a seven strings

[@GoldenGateNum9]

And they completely leave out the part about "how to figure out songs by ear", this is worse than Dave Mustaine and Gary Hold trying to teach guitar.

[@Allforfunforall]

Nice!!! get Rudy!

[@bananapiece]

Yes ill take the credit for the collab since i told nik to work with you, thank you

[@jarrod4115]

*18:44** literally me everytime*

[@mrgreenfr6216]

You guys make it look so easy damnit ;_;

[@cfc-co8ng]

I'd love to see the same challenge on a complicated solo.

[@zukioh]

I love the style of the riff you sent Nik. Do you write your own stuff like that and if so, where can I listen to it?

[@zukioh]

Bradley Hall so random 😂 I loved every second

[@Tsunamisoundstudio]

You guys taught me a lot about myself with this video. How I need to just put in the time and figure it out. Thanks.

[@hotdogslayer4430]

I like how it transitions to a Very hyped voice to a very chill voice.

[@zain8687]

Ohhhhh myyyyyyyy earrrrrs😭 I can't take it anymore!!!!

[@didi_abdillah]

John Petrucci has joined the chat

[@IbrahimAhmed-zi5bw]

We won. Brad and Nick you didn't.

[@limi.]

without music theory I've been playing songs just by listening...The struggle is real. btw you look like Marty Friedman. 😂

[@anthonyhaga7559]

Love this, you guys should do something like this more often. Or maybe pick a song at random and learn it by ear on camera? Idk, cheers.

[@sirshaganguly7706]

It's very cool Bradley Hall ! It would be great to see more these type of videos with other youtubers as well.

[@astraluniverse5928]

not sure if these guys are trolling or if I'm better than I thought I am, but I could get both of these riffs down by ear in like 15 minutes, then maybe 30-40 minutes in total to play both of them clearly. the part where Nik added these semi-tone disharmonic tapping is just cheating. fuck that.

[@tonymoncivaiz7330]

This was badass!!!!

[@Lucas-nu8ur]

Nick sent a much harder lick and bradley nailed faster lmao. I reckon Nick assumed that before working on that one. But both have incredible writing skills

[@pbabiesinspace6112]

I can figure out any single note melody...but when trying to figure out chords other than major, minor, or 7ths my brain just dies. Yeah, I can eventually piecemeal and tinker my way to figuring it out, but it is easier to look up tab or sheet music. And if it doesn't exist, run it through a sequencer and turn it into midi so I can see the notes. Probably an easier way to do it.

[@armageddonibliz4807]

I remember the good old days, 1994, when me and my band mates transcribe megadeth songs using only their ears, a casette tape and player and a whole lot of rewind

[@TheMikeakers]

How about doing a similar challenge but write each other a song, send the song to each other with tabs! But you have to listen to the song for the first time and play at the same time like sight reading? 🤔🤷‍♂️🎸

[@aeoninfinity247]

Oh it's easy! Step 1: Be pitch perfect. Done!

[@iamdxnte]

i learned your guys riffs from the beginin part by ear pretty quick both were easy but i guess the timer adds extreme pressure Lol

[@BallisticaMetal]

13:53 me trying to play Happy Birthday

[@marcocarnaghi294]

This friendship stars and finish with this 45 seconds clip jajaja Btw, both were awesome. Love you, guys!

[@rafajymal]

Bradley: upload a new video Automatically me: LIKE LIKE LIKE LIKEEEEEEE

[@yesman8564]

If I comment “last” nobody else can comment

[@simiousgenious7703]

Yes

[@marceloespinoza3980]

Pito

[@mokojono]

So... a band with both playing the guitar. When?

[@standardaussie]

It's so interesting how patterns we are strong in can produce such different "styles" over a finite set of notes. Then to try to play someone else's patterns is surprisingly difficult. even when they got the hang of them, the alteration of just two notes in said learned pattern is enough to throw your grasp on it. To watch yous play a whole section just fine just to mess it up on the repeat of it if there was a 1 or 2 note difference at the end of an otherwise identical section is fascinating.

[@kenhafermann8284]

Very entertaining. more of these. And tabs I need to learn both. My ear holes aren't as learnid.

[@justplaywoman2]

i would have written a whole new song eith what heard thats how I figure shit out its second nature for Me all dpontaneous and sing too for as long ad i frlt like it and recorded it on youtube many times over however i wsnt and cart many soells

[@MrShreddykruger]

This is the most fucking irritating thing I’ve ever seen in my life. It’s one thing when it to you doing it it’s totally different to watch somebody else

[@agathor86]

Fuck sake now I have to work out both riffs/slow the videos down to see where you put your fingers...

[@Mikemcjr]

the cool part is it shows where other guitar players would have quit and say f it

[@rawbhimself]

This was an awesome idea! Very original and fun to watch! You’re both brilliant 🤘🏻

[@jbsmetal8419]

Wow, how do you never write anything down, that's super impressive.

[@JimWarp93]

If each of you two just gave me 5% of your hearing - I could become a decent guitarist O_o

[@putridabomination]

I need to train my ears more often. I randomly pick up riffs I haven't heard in a while.

[@underflowexception]

USE THE SPACEBAR TO PAUSE AND PLAY THE SONG, THE ADDITIONAL HAND MOVEMENT TO THE MOUSE IS A WASTE OF TIME LOL

[@eted2]

Bro I love you please don't do the Malteser thing again 😭😭🤣

[@sotojavimateo7845]

Good crossover sweepman!!! 🤘🤘🤘🤘

[@guillermorosario4578]

F****** amazing dude

[@Bassplayer509]

Next challenge. Let me pretend to be a good guitarist and you try to recreate my epic (not) solo!

[@mybandpigvomithas3sales200]

Beginner solo: wanna be tremblo picking on the b string at some random notes

[@JeremyWard101]

I was hoping they'd show the originals being played

[@julianaraneta5416]

6:23 landmines inbound

[@leltraco1983]

4:42 megalovania

[@SuicidalGrind]

I will say this, Nik got himself some fucky chords, but judging by end result. Brad was the one who was able to learn it the cleanest, so I have to give the win too him. However Nik probably outdoes Bradley in most other regular covers he does so it's a win win.

[@guitarlair]

That's why music theory is important my friends... instead of spending half an hour trying to figure out a chord going fret my fret and note by note all you have to do is find the key, the scales used and find the chord progression through the scales. Can I do it? Probably not complex stuff, but a guy like Kiko Loureiro or Broderick would learn both songs in less than 5 minutes.

[@ruok3351]

Triad chords always remind me of Linkin Park riffs

[@diritakaifritz1669]

I wanna see u with stevie T with this series brad ..please make it happen

[@KnowledgeIsKey215]

You guys both win because you both rock hard af

[@DillSkin]

Yours is such a periphery riff I love it

[@experimentalsick]

Again. melodic ambient solo 😂

[@stefanosironi4856]

SHart

[@justplaywoman2]

and while sung i would be exposing all the stupid dhit hoing on eith these " VOTE FOR ME " vlowns

[@justplaywoman2]

and their WEBSTERS DIVK SHUN ARIES BULL cadt a dpell n dees asses

[@AdamBurseMusic]

Great video. You have a new sub Bradley, saw this after Nik posted on his Instagram story about this video. Great stuff 😀🎸🎶🤘🔥🔥

[@Mikemcjr]

step 1. turn it into a challenge.

[@ahirunakamura9592]

next we shall expect a Kmac's "Guy plays 'Figuring Out Songs by Ear' without actually hearing it"

[@zenkrayos1720]

I think you should do it with thedooo

[@owenc4188]

*Instantly covers it with just knowing the title and not even hearing it *

[@Fkod88]

Both wrote great riffs and both managed to figure them out and learn within half an hour. Bloody impressive! I had to figure out parts of a solo that weren’t accurately tabbed today, and my god what a task it is. Slowing everything down, trying to pick out what the hell the guy is doing with all the bends, tapping, slides, etc. This is a full-time job! The world is a much easier place nowadays when most songs are on UG and many of them 100% accurate.

[@bewusstsein3527]

Can i ask? If you can identify what is the key note or the chord progression used.. though it make you easier to figure it out? Pardon my grammar english isnt my 1st language..

[@MattFromWiiSportsResort]

0:51 PLEASE SOMEONE TELL ME THE NAME OF THIS SONG OMGGGG

[@kingofdragontown9680]

Play Glassgow Kiss on just that mini Marshall up there. I'm curious.

[@nikkodelacruz718]

Nice. It’ll be more interesting if Jared and Stevie T was on this video, I guess. Make part 2 of this with them

[@nickzimm94]

Are you gonna post comparison videos of the original vs the cover at any point?

[@randomdude93-93]

I'm trying to get beyond tabs now and this just inspired me to quit life. Dope lol.

[@NikoboiNFTB]

4:20 Nik started playing Year Long Disaster by Leda Atomica lol

[@modestorosado1338]

It's hilarious to see them struggle under the pressure of a time limit. Now if it's this hard (or at least time consuming) to figure lead stuff, imagine trying to figure out parts that are buried deep within the mix. The other day I was trying to figure out a song and although I was kind of close (at least I think I got the chords right to the basic major or minor triad), I was still too off to my liking. In my defense the guitar in that song is kind of mixed in with other sounds. So what do you do in those situations? There are a lot of sections in songs where the part you want to figure out is very quiet and hard to tell apart from the rest of the mix.