Tip Of The Week #6 | How to figure stuff out by ear | Tips & tricks!

[@jan_Travis]

I didn't start trying to learn by ear for 3 years. I just got into a band with a guy who has perfect pitch and I was so impressed by it. One day, we were sitting at our drummer's house and our drummer played a song on his phone. Bassist told him to replay it; drummer bro complied. I kid you not, in barely a minute, bass bro had the melody down. I was stricken with awe. I was able to learn a song by ear today, Down On The Corner by CCR. I didn't use a tab or anything, i just listened to it. I was able to roughly figure the song out. I did look up a live performance of the song to see what John was doing. I had the song down quite well. I was so proud of myself.

[@Goonercry]

HOw long did it take to have that ability? How did you practice?

[@jan_Travis]

@@Goonercry I don't really practice it, I got put the headphones on and just noodle around until I get it. If you want, there's this website about relative pitch training where it'll test your relative pitch. I still don't have great ear but I can somewhat figure things out.

[@Goonercry]

@@jan_Travis I am doing the same as you did, just spend time to figure out each note in the corresponding scale, but I want somebody like you to confirm how long does it take to be at the point of fast transcribing the melody in head to the fret ?

[@DatHombre]

I'm late but just saying for anyone in the future- one thing that can make figuring out a song by ear a lot easier at least in the beginning is loading the song in a DAW like Reaper and slowing it way down along with using the time selection to continually repeat a part. Then you can just have it replay a small part while you're continually trying to find the notes (obviously). I had never learned a song by ear til very recently and this helped sooo much especially for the faster parts.

[@o0...957]

Only 3? I didn't learn to play by ear for 6 years.

[@kesienaa5073]

Masterful, you've just explained a computer science concept called binary search with a guitar 🙏🏽🗝️

[@Limpuls]

I was thinking the same, lol

[@thedude2122]

Lol

[@rounak_san]

Yeah 😂😍

[@chetanya2995]

haha

[@thursday4267]

It’s easier now more than ever to learn to play by hear. We have the best headphone technology, and with KZbin we can play almost any song we went when we want, and slow it down even. I remember reading about the old greats and how they’d just have to figure it out whenever the song they wanted was played lol 😅 Great video!

[@dabiededoo]

i not play with headphones😅 most of the time i even not plug in my guitar hahahah😂

[@absofjelly]

I couldn't even guess what instrument it was.

[@BFHPET]

lol

[@rusiruaponsu1756]

😂😂👌

[@azizikariya6655]

it is mayonnaise

[@valebliz]

LOL

[@shadowx2750]

@@azizikariya6655 dude you should specify a bit more . its an acoustic mayonnaise

[@bobbybower9405]

Paul is the best teacher on this website because he shows you what is it you know and what you need to work on so you can latch on to one of his steps and go from there

[@rva]

thank you Mr insightful

[@mahoya1232]

U were born a teacher. You explain things and all I do is to understand them. Thenx bro

[@kevinh4042]

I've definitely noticed that this got a lot easier after memorizing the fretboard note names and scale patterns. Vast majority of the notes will be diatonic so you just guess up and down within the scale patterns instead of needing to guess blindly.

[@SteverRob]

This is a good approach. Use your ears. I've been playing for a loooong time, and occasionally, I still have to walk up and down the fretboard to find that one particular note. When I first started out, I'd pick a familiar song as shown in the video (but something a bit more hip lol) and listen to the bassline. I'd put a record on (yep) and listen to the bass. I'd find that note on the sixth string of my guitar, and follow along. That bass note was the root of course, and that led me to start building chords, one finger at a time. Playing along with records also gave me valuable lessons in timing/metering. If it's a song I used to know, and have forgotten, the best way to "reload" it is to disengage my brain and let my hands take over. It's amazing sometimes to sit there with a guitar and watch my hands go where my brain couldn't remember, what many call "muscle memory" but I digress. Always had music in the house as a child, and I did the same with my girls. They all have a great musical aptitude and play instruments.

[@voltagevillain7342]

Wise men say (the C-Em-Am) that David speaks a lot of sense. This video is such a simple idea but so useful and helpful. I have been doing exactly as he suggests for a while so feel like the kid who has been revising. I still find the notes harder to distinguish than the chords but choosing really easy or well known tunes is great advice. Thanks David!

[@ear-guitar]

One of the most overlooked skills! Realized it too late, now I am teaching my studetns how to play by ear.

[@releventgaming8753]

Can you give me some free tips & trick's?

[@brockmann4815]

I managed to do it way better than I thought I could. Thanks, now I'm motivated to figure songs out by myself.

[@caseyrauch9151]

I've never had lessons or took the time to learn from tabs. Although I don't try covers very much, this is a skill that definitely develops over time. If you love listening to music as much as playing it, it won't be hard to develop, but every craft takes time to build.

[@TragedysHalo]

I've no clue on music theory but being a self taught occasional acoustic guitarist I was able to guess most notes & chord sounds. Another thing that should be addressed is that you probably know more than you give yourself credit for. That being said, I was astonished when I was correct. It made me realize I knew more than I thought, initially. However I was never 100% sure of my guesses. Still opened my eyes to how much I knew compared to how much I thought I didn't about this. Thank you for this exercise!

[@malcolmbenson6368]

Very useful, I have bought the Learn, Practice, Play course you designed and, even thought I have been playing for decades it is opening up my confidence and making sense of theory and techniques I have never mastered. I highly recommend it to all guitarists. These KZbin freebies are enhancements and very motivating. THANKS Paul

[@obiwanjacobi]

LOL trying to guess without using a guitar. I got pretty close and bang on on some. Nice lesson!

[@Larsove8]

I'm already doing quite well at stuff like this, but it's nice to be reminded to actually practice it. Makes a ton of difference in both listening and playing skills.

[@SheldonHull]

I think this is the first guitar tutorial for Old MacDonald had a farm that I'll actually upvote and enjoyed

[@maxjbg]

You seem to be a very nice person. The sound of your voice and your guitar is very nice. I really like your channel

[@luciustitius]

Didn't know the Netherlands possess such a beautiful national anthem - and an ancient one it is. Very impressive. Little embarrassing for me beeing there so often and liking your country and your people very much (and not for the reason lots of people visit Amsterdam, never been there to be honest, have to do this one time beautiful city i've heard). Love to watch your channel. Got a lot of inspiration from from you tutorials. Dank je wel!

[@brinojrvijayan5202]

Thank You!! I feel I got better musically by listening to this

[@XiyuYang]

Great video. I would add that trying to read sheet music definitely helps with sight singing and figuring notes, chords and scales out by ear. Guitarists please start reading sheet music. It helps a LOT!

[@MrMWhitham]

Really great lesson and something I haven't seen much of in the world of guitar KZbin... Many thanks for your time and help 🤩

[@UltraWindow]

it was so satisfying to guess within a 4 fret range, but this is how i started learning melodies by ear, just grinding a tune out, repeating it until i get it perfectly. first time i solved a riff it took a week, it was the opening melody for metronomy - black eye burnt thumb not the easiest tune, not even a guitar tune but it flows very nicely.

[@andretaissin8141]

Thank you for this. I really like your videos Paul. This was the first video about ear training I've watched and now I'm very excited to work on that. I couldn't find any exercise videos, so I've actually made one myself. Feel free to use it as well, I hope it is helpful for you too.

[@Brayden329]

Thanks, Paul! This is helpful and encouraging for a skill that feels out of reach sometimes.

[@Brayden329]

Happy birthday is now in my repertoire ;) on to Solitude by Black Sabbath!

[@metspin1]

Great stuff, man. I learned this on my own, but I really like all of your videos. Always something I can use on your channel. Greetings from Serbia and keep up the great work.

[@psmithphil]

Serbia? I'm from the USA and I know that Serbia is a great country with great people.

[@camcarb3]

Excellent video! I used to play these "games" with a friend of mine to pass the time. In the single note "game" we required reproducing the note on the correct string. Really good training, or so I've come to find.

[@hazmansharuddin7844]

your voice is so manly and relaxing

[@leenz8147]

@Koala Koala how insecure do you have to be in your sexuality?

[@Ash-fm6ym]

@@leenz8147 i see this opinion a lot from soyboys online, that if you say something's gay then you're secretly gay yourself . If you dislike spiders ,it doesn't mean you want to bang them. If i say anal sex is gross it doesn't mean I want shit on my penis

[@darylldumo75]

i got this very same advice from a classmate of mine a year ago. Because of ear training, I am able to play songs with out depending on Ultimate guitars website. Great video, this help me a lot aswell

[@oscarwagner4515]

can we all take a second to appreciate this awesome intro?

[@victoraguilar3167]

Haven’t play in a while, but I still got it! I got all the chords and almost all the single notes without my guitar! :)

[@georgepramod7891]

this is professional are born . I've started practicing it almost I'm getting right

[@MMKMatthews]

I really love your videos, such character, I love your voice and calm and peaceful tempo. The attire's great as well every time! And most importantly, it feels as if I'm sitting there with you learning and practicing.

[@crazydrummer4827]

I got it all right away, but when I go with real songs I cant do it because all I hear is vocal and drums and maybe some silent improvisation on a guitar.

[@kickbam213]

Crazy drummer veoma cudnovato

[@crazydrummer4827]

prvo pitanj

[@nuurnwui]

There is all kind of crazy involved. When I am tired I can figure out notes/chords much less well than when not tired. And for some reason it helps me to turn up the bass in the eq usually. And with instruments that I don't know well (like unusual synth sounda) if find it much harder. I'm pretty sure other people's ears work differently. Meaning: See what works for you and keep at it.

[@kristinabaker4433]

i don't play guitar, but I like listening to you talk and play both are quite enjoyable

[@timberhoff]

One exercise I use is that I just listen to a completey random song and just noodle along with it trying to find 1) notes 2) chords and a 3) key. Then I put the karaoke version on of that exact song and try to play along the melody etc. It’s really fun and rewarding if you get all three correct.

[@darkvoid7398]

honestly I thought I was going to be horrid at this, but after that test I can honestly say i'm better than majority of the deaf population.

[@benmaxwell9594]

This is a great video for help in beginning to play by ear/recognise by ear. Keep up the good work! You're video's are great!

[@fredilly]

I have run out of nursery rhymes to practice....love this

[@zaviercadorin6244]

Man you are a great teacher keep it up 👍

[@southernstingray2743]

Thanks matee,really great vids ,my brain is finally seeing the light re guitar playing thanks to your kind self!!I've played an American Standard Strat since I bought it brand new back in 96!I've played til my fingers bled and as they say blood sweat n tears,trying to play SRV stuff full album stuff via tablature!I haven't used the books in years,I've picked up heaps in 20 years ,but your explanation is really helpful for my guitar mind that walked before it could crawl!Thanks heaps n Merry Christmas!

[@illlanoize23]

Dude I actually did it maybe I’m not an idiot. It’s hard to recognize other instruments but the guitar is a lot easier since that’s actually what I play haha. Will keep watching this

[@MatacJr]

Thank you Paul, yeah good point, try, throw yourself into it

[@kennethemmanuel2914]

now i realise, i am nothing

[@crittersfritters]

The good news is, with practice, you can become less nothing. I still have a long way to go myself.

[@jenshaglof8180]

That's awesome. A spiritual awakening! :)

[@AuntAlnico4]

GreendGrandine # now I realize that this paul David's is laying on the heavy accent a little thicker than he really talks .

[@mahoya1232]

knnethm 😂😂😂😂 you are really funny

[@Wammus85]

Wow, i just realised your from the Netherlands with you playing our wonderfull anthem.:D

[@prmmartins]

I guess all the single notes, and chords. Even the d minor. Cool!

[@martyg8137]

Paulo Martins good work!

[@prmmartins]

Tks!

[@SteverRob]

It's the saddest of all chords

[@martyg8137]

SteverRob I've usually found Am to be the saddest.

[@prmmartins]

You think just like Eddie Van Halen.

[@CR-oo3cm]

I really like your intro music, selfmade and cool! Just a tiny peace that'll make your videos even better.

[@thedjbakus]

That is the best vid i have watched on this chanel!

[@lclover77]

Excellent tips ....thank you so much !!

[@bigbl4ckbird]

Hello everyone, I just wanted to say if it was a few months ago or a year ago, I wouldn't guess jack shit here. I studied intervals, and played a lot of guitar, figured it by ear on spot, and found this 1 hour pitch video that might help you get the name of the notes into your brain and it helps. Don't give up and work your ass off!! :)

[@alexthomas7556]

I learn to play metal music by ear and I write tabs on Songsterr but looking back at these kind of videos is quiet nostalgic because just less than 10 months ago I couldn't even recognise pitch in nursery rhymes.

[@dabiededoo]

wooe i had all right after trying a few before you mentioned them. except the first one.. i didnt knew i could do this.. im in week 15 or 16 only the first i had wrong i was only using the A and E strings there.. chords i had G and C wrong so have still to practice a lot

[@scrimpmster]

thanks Paul, great video as always. I'm happy that I go the notes and chords pretty quickly. I'm going to be spending more time on interval training and working out basic melodies.

[@johncharal1698]

Paul, good tips and you definitely got a studio upgrade.

[@samyboy7489]

I picked up a guitar for the first time and heard smoke in the water and figured it all out just by hearing the riff..... not saying this is crazy or I’m talented but it was mighty easy for me

[@TechFitHD]

Thank you!

[@iamandes4455]

Simple yet concise. Thanks for this great video!

[@HerryRoesdi]

great tips Mr. Paul

[@ronnieryver7169]

I’ve been playing for 2 months and got most of them right, the ones I didn’t I was off by a note or so. 🤗not bad!

[@tbprodutions]

Aren't you fucking special

[@Physik0r]

I got the chords instantly but not the single notes xD

[@ceoraaa]

Lol I'm the opposite

[@Mikey-wg2xu]

Physik0r i was opposite too. Single notes easy chords took a bit longer

[@Caaarrl94]

me too,

[@keanusiganoff]

Same!!

[@sidm2422]

Same

[@chrissauve2346]

well practicing by ear and not relying on tabs and tutorial videos is probably a good way.

[@The2bdkid]

I don't use tabs and I still suck. rip

[@chrissauve2346]

2bdkid it's not gonna happen over night

[@aawesome_sauce]

You have to start somewhere

[@Ginjakilla1014]

I find doing it by ear or watching someone play a piece is a lot easier than trudging through tab.

[@hereditarysedentary6812]

I have only learned the verse for "Like A Stone" by Audioslave by ear, not the rest of it and no other songs, I also just sat down and pieced the song together, lol must have been my one thing to ever learn by ear without practice

[@fuaddavi]

I am starting now. Thank you for the explanation and motivation. very helpful.

[@Ryan_Perrin]

Got the G and E :p but mostly because of the different sort of resonance you get with open strings

[@riokleva3137]

Wow Paul thanks you really got me going

[@kylaligayo2366]

I want to make my own songs, own lyrics so I can relate more

[@desiguitarist9147]

Sir your learning techniques so funny 😂 i just enjoyed it

[@maheranam318]

Very helpful, Thanks a lot man!

[@josesoares2705]

Single Notes: 1:06 G 1:27 C 1:45 A 2:04 E Chords: 3:36 G 3:49 Dm 4:05 E 4:20 C

[@ipelegeng]

Great didactic skill here Paul, kudos!

[@wilsonfisk6156]

Im a total beginner but it helps with chords if you hear if the first string is open or is it lower. So I filter some chords based on that

[@jeroenleeuwerke6585]

Even native english speaking youtubers can't get the amount of views you do. Great vid as usual.

[@stefanodomeni]

Also, what if the song you're trying to learn is in a different tuning or has a capo? How do you figure that out?

[@MMorgattto]

you can still find the correct notes. but you will notice that its weird to play and that may give you the indication it has a different tuning.for example having to stretch your fingers too much. Or in case of drop tunings you realize the lowest note they play you are not able to replicate with standard tuning ergo they are using drop d for example

[@adityadeodeshmukh972]

Well you'll still have the correct notes but they'll be in a lower key or in a higher key in case of alternative tuning

[@educatedgamer5107]

really its the intervals that u guess and the u adjust its pitch (im so geussing rn)

[@adityadeodeshmukh972]

@@educatedgamer5107 yes correct

[@rahmanazhar86]

Just watching this vids, i can say that I got 2 chords correct. I am going to study more. Thanks Paul

[@prithvineo]

As always, great video and an amazing tip

[@igorgodfig]

Hello Paul, I follow your channel for some time because I am getting back to my guitar rotine after 12 year away from it and you speak with passion about it! By watching this video I was pretty surprised that you are Dutch because I am leaving in the Netherlands for almost 6 years now and I have been looking for some good music sang in Dutch to help me to improve the language, if you have some recommendations I would be grateful! Keep on with the great work!!

[@falcoloco6187]

actually very helpful video

[@jungle5663]

This is very helpful, thanks for the tips.

[@markmartin3221]

I thank you, nice work

[@jackofalltrades2920]

Ok, and after I have recognized the chords, how do I know the strumming pattern or the picking pattern? This is my problem for months :(

[@lukasmiklo5815]

I used to struggle with this a LOT. Then I was told to stop trying to figure out a pattern (DD U UDU), but rather just try to feel the rythm and try to play along you quickly realize what is it. *If it sounds good it is good.*

[@CoryBurchettSkates]

This guys videos are in my feed so much I don’t even need to subscribe to his account lol

[@RingsOfSolace]

It was funny, because before watching this, I'd figured out old mcdonald randomly. I and one notes were off, but were exactly how I thought the song sounded from singing it growing up lol I feel like I've heard the first drop in the second syllable of "mcdonald."

[@aginprabha7907]

Most useful tip... Thank you

[@jobwereldtop]

Haha didn't knew you were Dutch until you played Wilhelmus. Rock on man

[@Br1zky]

Thank you so much i got the first ones right thanks to God ❤

[@ShetaniiMadeIt]

He sounds like he’d be a khajit on skyrim

[@straleus]

You are awesome.

[@FavStaR69]

You sang that Old Macdonald like a boss! How about some Bohemian Rhapsody?

[@Darthdeedee91]

i am surprised how quick I found the notes and chords. Not as bad as I thought

[@thedrules478]

my prob is hearing the guitar over excessively loud vocals or other instruments. ex tomorrow will be kinder by the secret sisters. i have teh first part, but it gets fuzzy when the vocals start.

[@ryanleone3007]

Paul, I've been playing and singing for over 25 years and when I write my own songs I still have a problem recreating my vocal melodies on the guitar. I can spot all my intervals,( almost all, I still have some descending intervals that I don't know because I don't have any mnemonic to help me.) Anyhow, I would love to get better and would welcome any advice or exercises.

[@artemmolchanov1868]

Recently found a KZbin guitarist called TheDooo. He literally can play a song (both backing track and solos/main theme) by hearing it ONCE! How is it even possible?

[@HeinGodeke]

NO WAY, I just found out my favorite yt'er is Dutch too!!! oh shit!

[@MadAboutMagic]

Hein Godeke if your Dutch how could you not realise ?!!!

[@HeinGodeke]

i dont know, probably because he became my favorite very quickly, i was just subbed for 6 weeks or so

[@MadAboutMagic]

Hein Godeke yeah your pretty fucking stupid basically

[@HeinGodeke]

tnx

[@Linnerd]

I didn't realise it either

[@thomaspick4123]

Good job.

[@ConneRRylanD]

When it comes to tuning the instrument. How do you start? If I can get my low E correct using a tuner I can get the rest but I don’t know how to start without any assistance. I need a correct note to get the rest. How do you get a correct note from nothing? I mean you must know it in your head but is there any tips or tricks on how to do that?

[@trevorgwelch7412]

Some people have Perfect 👌 Pitch

[@woodyreece5588]

while playing a guitar along with this video I was not that bad ...but without it I can't identity the chord or note correctly ...lol .need more practice I guess ....awesome video man..

[@jonimunukka9238]

I didn't have a guitar handy but got them all correct. I don't even have perfect pitch!

[@GeneCarrasca]

I used the "singing the note" tip when I played the solo part for "Something Just Like This" by Coldplay and Chainsmokers. Simple!