How Guitarists Can Improve Their Ears

[@AndriyVasylenko]

I have an ear training 'system' called LOL-WTF:
LOL - listen olveiz listen (it's all about listening, picking music by ear)
W - watch (support listening with observing, how it's played)
T - try (put into practice, move music from brain to instrument)
F - fancy (imagine and analyze music, visualize it, predict melody move etc)

[@gado__]

Andriy Vasylenko LOL WTF (sorry, had to be done)

[@AndriyVasylenko]

ad'gado It's easy to remember)))

[@axalissuintoyr4107]

+samuraiguitarist This is just superb, I have been researching "music notes for a guitar" for a while now, and I think this has helped. Have you ever come across - Peynharlotte Acoustic Smasher - (search on google ) ? Ive heard some interesting things about it and my brother in law got great success with it.

[@cocothetimeless8382]

lol wtf

[@lindasmith6316]

It's online guitar courses one has to pay for. These are free unless one wishes to contribute.

[@GeorgeSPAMTindle]

If you feel like pushing yourself a bit harder try playing along to the radio. You have one shot at it, no idea what is coming next, and they will play a lot of songs that you would not choose to learn. It worked for me.

[@SaartjeandRufus]

that is a very good suggestion thanks

[@Henry-ms1sl]

That's a brilliant idea! I'm going to try this tomorrow, thanks mate 👍😁

[@loadingresourcesdotdot]

How do you listen to the radio

[@mattgilbert7347]

He's right about singing. Ever wondered why David Gilmour's phrasing is so memorable? It's not like he's using majorly advanced techniques, although I am not knocking his chops.
It's because he started singing at the same time he started guitar, and he often does "sing his solos" as he plays.
It's something I never did, and it's a major regret. Try it out!

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

I personally sing all the parts of the song. I like to be well-rounded.
in a blues or jazz town, that's just called "scat singing." Tho it's usually to sing a horn line of you don't have a horn guy.

[@Patguitarlessons]

Great video, Im a full time guitar teacher and I couldn't agree more with what Mr Samurai just said here. I learned my guitar in the 90s and since at the time there was no internet, you didn't have any choice but spending time playing the CD backwards and fwd to identify what was going on...as a result, playing by ear was never a problem for me. What I would like to add is that it does not take long to train your ear, you could start transcribe correctly easy songs in a couple of weeks time even... Its sad to see nowadays so many people with their ear undevelopped, such a great skill to have...Dont get me wrong, internet and all the resources out there are fantastic, but its nice sometimes to step away from it...Use you ear, get away from the tabs, listen to the bass, sing he notes you play, it does not matter if you don't like your voice, just do it, start with simple exercises. You have to make the effort, stop being lazy googling the chords all the time, without ear youre missing out on such great things that music has to offer, like playing with other musicians, oh boy!! :-)

[@RinsedCheeks]

Should one start by just identifying isolated intervals, then move on to melody and chords?

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

@@RinsedCheeks No song is made of isolated intervals, tho.
Maybe do a simple 3-chord song just for fun and if the chord is wrong (very very common) change it to one that makes more sense.

[@redverallo9886]

I cant hear fast scales..

[@whiskyjohnny6006]

Really helpful video, love your channel and style.
It's just a matter of time before you'll explode on youtube!
Cheers from Italy :D

[@KMAsKorner]

My teacher always told me "if you can't sing the melody you won't be able to play it"

[@BJSepuku]

Yngwie Malmsteen must be one hell of a singer then.

[@AmirOstad]

BS

[@DanneoYT]

Time to sing 'La Campanella' by Lizst

[@SniPeRtHieF]

Damn, this guy just put my confidence to the ground by saying that I need to learn how to play songs by ear. I have been playing guitar for over a year and I find it impossible to learn any song by ear without some tabulature or some kind of tutorial. It's not that I have bad hearing, it's more like I don't have enough guitar and music knowledge in general. I honestly find it kinda depressing and I sometimes consider quitting practicing guitar because I'm improving very slowly.

[@weabooslayer7007]

i feel like that too bro, you're not alone..... but we have to consider that giving up is the most coward choice we could make

[@fraserwing8744]

This is the biggest grind but if you see it through the ultimate prize is yours.

[@Shazar789]

For melody, try an app called Functional Ear Trainer
^ Keep practicing it. It's a very good app and practice everyday makes a great difference.
Also, do the things like Samuraiguitarist said.
I would recommend picking out the melody to simple tunes by ear in C major. Or whatever key you're most comfortable playing.
Tunes you know very well, maybe nursery rhymes, ballads, folk songs etc that you just already know the melody off by heart.
Play as many of these types of tunes as you can and you will start to notice patterns
Also learn scales inside out!
For chords and chord progressions there is a great app called ChordProg.
Music theory.net/exercises is also a great site
Learning theory helps a lot

[@lExN34]

Don't give up! I'm not a pro but it's actually fun trying to play by ear. I usually just listen to the bass notes of a song and use that to find the chords.

[@dilfhunter5645]

lol i’ve been playing guitar for four years and i’ve only decided to start learning by ear this year lmao. tbf tho i only started taking guitar seriously for only abt a yr now🤷🏾‍♀️

[@aten55]

As a guitar instructor (who was formerly a choir nerd), I'm glad you're touching on this. I know so many guitar players who are technically proficient, and know their theory - but they have an extremely hard time with things like ear training, tone, and some of the less tangible characteristics that make a great guitarists. Great video!

[@mrty3178]

THANKS SO MUCH!! Thisvideo answered sooo many questions I had. I find your videos sooo encouraging and helpful. I hope you don't plan on stopping anytime soon, you're doing SUCH a great work!!

[@samuraiguitarist]

As long as people like you are watching they'll keep coming. Cheers my friend!

[@Rubrickmusic]

Great video, very important to know that if you wanna be a professional guitar player, you need to know more than just the actual playing, but like you said, to have really good ear. Awesome as always man!

[@ChienJaune01]

Ear training has been the single most rewarding exercise I've ever done, by far. I enjoy being able to replicate simple or guitaristic melodies without even thinking about it, and being able to figure out more complex stuff. Plus it makes it easier to navigate around a secondary instrument.
Also once you get going with interval recognition, doing it on everyday melodies (formatted radio songs while you wait to pay for your groceries, police siren, whatever comes your way usually in an unconscious and unvolontary way) without having access to your instrument and having to wait to check if you're right is a cheap and effective way to test yourself and learn, whether you succeed or fail.
Do it. Seriously. It pays off. It's the cheat code to music. One bit at a time, even if you feel you'll never going to get it, you will.

[@jcdooms]

Thank you so much, one of my goals as a guitarist is to be able to hear what I want to play. I was trying to learn Free Bird when this video popped up and it really gives helpful directions for improvement

[@julius7801]

This channel is so wholesome

[@Santiino]

I think i jsut found the best video about this topic
Perfectly structured and explained👍

[@andrewdimartino7426]

Great video! Ive been wondering what kinds of things i could do to start training up my ears, and this will definitely come in handy. Thanks for taking the time to make this, i watch a ton of guitar related videos on youtube and it seems like the topic of ear training isnt covered nearly as much as it should be.

[@godfatherfatal5962]

I appreciate that you push for true musicianship man. Thanks

[@adamdam]

I find, my tonal/vocal ear with melodies when singing and playing guitar has naturally come to me and also rhythm both musically and whilst playing has never been an issue ...which is something I've noticed friends of mine who play never had naturally and never progressed because of it...Enough of my good points.
My grasp on theory and such, many points you pointed out in this video are some things, I've never truly developed...I did when i was 15-18 but now at 26 I've not improved on that at all and not wanted too either, It holds me back? Sure it does but I find as a player, playing a little skewed and outside the box naturally is more fun and my style rather than thinking 'ohh that's wrong, it's not set to this certain scale or pattern'
It's a matter of making the most of the talent you have and improving on it with techniques, tricks, theory, patterns and most of all just enjoying it...playing and enjoying it is what it comes down to.

[@leonardomachadoes]

Great video. Tip #2, the Theory one, was a big help for me. I still think I am one those guitarists with underdeveloped ears, but theory (plus practicing shapes) was my kickstart in realizing that and then, consciously try to improve it. Thanks for sharing.

[@thebandloftan]

These are great tips. I took Aural Skills classes in school but haven't related the knowledge to the guitar much, so this is perfect!

[@kervernes5472]

Thank you for motivating me after an unsuccessful practice session. Picked up the guitar right after. Cheers!

[@IntelWond]

You have too little views and/or subscriptions; your stuff is really great and useful. Thanks! Now it's time to practice.))

[@Soviless99]

"theory and ear training goes hand in hand" honestly the best advice

[@TayfunYildiz]

2:10 when you only play single notes but you imagine you play like a rockstar

[@Soviless99]

very awesome video i feel like this covered everything to get better at guitar because its all about the ears. having a good ear will probably make learning more stuff easier to learn and cause better improvement

[@vvarjat]

7:44 LOL @ Toronto Subway!
That's awesome! I would sing that arpeggio so often!

[@viggowolff9191]

Like everything else good, this is truly a gift from God!

[@lucasveiga4426]

hey guy, great vid, great tips, it's hard to find so many good information, and you brought all this with just one video, amazing work, hope you get the recognization you deserve, thanks a lot

[@JeffHesterDesigns]

Keep up the good work. I'd like to see a post similar to this, but aimed at dialing in guitar sounds... like training your ear to dial in the right amount of bass, mid, and treble for a good tone. Again... great video.

[@RyanONeilmusic]

in NYC the sound for the doors closing is a descending major third. Learned this in high school and I've been noticing it for the last 19 years.

[@MarzioCuello]

Dude, I have to thank you a lot. Yesterday I did my first mayor-scaled solo ever. It was a lot similar to the way I think of creating music when I sing or whistle -things which I learnt yeeears before actually even touching a guitar-. It's a real coincidence that you just uploaded this video haha. Keep being great and sharing it to the world so, once again, thank you so much.

[@nataliapalacio2517]

Eyyyy what a lovely video!! I´m studying musical language and I came here looking for some chords and I found a very interesting tips!! Thanks!

[@AndresUscategui951]

hey Samurai Guitarist, muy geniales tus videos. A pesar de ya llevar varios años en la música, nunca dejo de aprender viendo nueva información en lo que compartes. Gracias y saludos desde Colombia

[@kanrup5199]

Can find ear training software on mobile phone app stores. I've had some success by first linking intervals with songs I like (helps if also in the app), then using quick guess repetitions on the app to reinforce recognition. Better to start with small set of intervals, and learn ascending and descending. Increase slowly. Then you can move on to guitar, play notes and hear intervals.

[@cupofmochaccino5920]

Thank you so much this really helped me... Someone who wants to pursue music but has an underdeveloped ear.... Thanks so much again

[@philipjones7372]

Thanks - Really good way of putting it across. Appreciated 👍🏼

[@aidanscovers]

Excellent information, something I wish someone had told me when I first started guitar instead of finding out 5 years in. 8 year career and still benefiting from daily ear training.

[@lairlair2]

I was reading about Hendrix and him never formally learning theory. He said it was a way for him to listen a lot more closely and develop his own sound. He probably had a lot of curiosity to investigate new horizons

[@toddhamby]

you sir, have a great and motivating channel. Thank you!

[@danielhahn7329]

Wow,fantastic video!
Yesterday i actualy learned a bit of Purple Haze by ear!😀

[@ethancarpenter279]

This is a great video, it really helped me out thanks

[@CurtisRadley]

Thanks for the video samurai. You're the best!

[@THESUNDANZEKID]

Really resonating. Thanks man.

[@raleighsingleton7455]

this has really given me a new perspective on learning guitar

[@joaoalex]

Amazing quality video, thank you so much!

[@jbdmb]

great informative video. all great important aspects

[@shaharpikmanoscar]

Love your videos! Thank you

[@nolifeonearth9046]

My two cents: Dont use a floyd rose as a beginner. It made my guitar stay in tune almost like a keyboard. I never needed to go through the pain of tuning it myself because it always was perfect. So ironically it worked too well on my guitar. That way I missed the opportunity to forge certain aspects of my hearing at young age. Your bendings will suffer. And so will your music. And only then check your tuning afterwards with a tuner after you tuned by ear. But dont kill your motivation with that: set a fixed amount of time to do it by ear and then use the tuner.
Learn the intervals and get yourself a list of melodies that start with them. parallel to that you need to learn to play every interval on the fretboard. Every Interval in every position. If you get better with that you can assemble your scale on the fly, as you play. You will see the matrix like neo after a while. Like fleshing out the pentatonic with extra intervals to get different colors: phrygian, lydian etc. This will be totally achievable because you will always know your relation to the root note. This will also make you learn new licks faster because you have neural pathways in your brain that can effectively process the incoming stream of musical information. Sing the intervals in your head.
Learn other peoples solos by ear. Slow them down with a program (the youtube player can also play the videos at slower speed) if they are too fast.
If you want to invest even more: Become a singer.

[@justinhughes619]

Thank you for the great content. Keep it up!

[@LilyAraqelyan]

Very helpful!

[@GiancarloCurti]

good tips and well taught. cheers

[@nukeboy14]

Do you have any recommendations for ear training sites?
Fantastic video as usual

[@Jonas-ud2ci]

www.teoria.com/en/exercises/
I like this one

[@samuraiguitarist]

I used to use www.musictheory.net

[@samuraiguitarist]

Auralia is software that is really great but you need to pay for it.

[@BenignCentaur]

Hey Sam. Would you agree that a musician's ear is a perishable skill? That once you've developed a good ear you have to use it or lose it?
When I worked full time in a music shop, which involved tuning guitars (and other instruments) all day long, as well as gigging most evenings, my ear could zone in on chords and pitches like a guided missile. However, after 10 years of not playing regularly (if at all), my ear's nothing like as accurate as it once was.

[@MusicMotivator]

Excellent Sensai! Sharing with my students.

[@ananda_miaoyin]

Tons of information. Zero bullshit. Watch it again.

[@KnellosaurLP]

Hey man, just wanted to give some positive feedback!
Right now I'm on my way learning to play this beautiful instrument. Given that I've always been musical, as in singing, but never enjoyed playing any instrument enough to keep track (the piano was just too standard-sounding and concept for me, sure is a great instrument, no offence :p), the music theory has never been too entertaining for me. Now that I am learning an instrument that's this much fun, the theory seems so easy as well. Thanks for making those videos, they seem very informing yet have a good time/information ratio. Also dig that Asian/Sensei typa thing
keep it up!
love

[@JanneKuronen]

Good video, maybe you could have mentioned in the transcribe part about slowing down the audio with some software to make it easier.

[@adamfalkenstrom5609]

This is one of my favorite guitar teacher! He will most definitely be as big as Marty and Justin its just a question of when.
// Love sweden

[@humbertoyepis5616]

Great advice, thanks

[@kristiancuales2964]

I love the way teàch , Sensei . You're a great teacher. Sugoii. :O amazing!!!!

[@Raphaeluberzor]

Hey sensei,
Thank you again for your inspiring videos

[@germanmartinez1994]

Awesome video!

[@warnuhattingh5855]

Thanks for the help mate!!

[@guitargogden]

Good video! One of the biggest problems I've already had is figuring out what tuning the guitar's in. Even harder now with 7/8/9 strings.

[@victoriagrace5134]

I've always had a naturally decent ear. I could learn melody lines (not always in the right keys, but the correct intervals) of my favorite songs. I never understood why. After you mentioned singing, I think I might get why. I've always been singing even before I took voice lessons. And after voice lessons, my ear became better. From my experience, learning how to use my voice has only improved my instrumental skills.

[@ItoJunjiMusic]

"as alwees"
-samurai guitarist 2016

[@kamui1847]

What are you talking aboout

[@yvan2218]

Finally, somebody who makes sense. Praise the gods for I have found this wonderful dude.

[@MarxVevo]

thank you so much man

[@aaronbergAPB]

Great one

[@jackofallyt]

Samurai , can you suggest some good EAR TRAINING apps or online , for intervals / chords !!

[@RinsedCheeks]

I'm not samurai, but try the chrome extension ear training app. I would stay away from phone based apps (especially iphones) since it may be hard to identify chords and such with it's horrible speakers!

[@grove4mylife]

Thanks for the video :D I'm still in my begininng stage of learning by ear, but it's a good challenge to do.

[@RinsedCheeks]

What ear training exercises should one do daily? Like should I dedicate one day to interval, the other day to chords, melody, etc? Or should we fit everything in just 20 minutes a day?

[@felixjancessilo904]

damn it, i love that back background music

[@ruihenig]

Ha!!! the subway in Toronto makes a decending major triad while the doors are closing! guess i'm not the only one who thinks of that! Peace from a fellow Torontonian!

[@BitPuffin]

How much do you charge for skype lessons though?

[@samuraiguitarist]

$30usd per half hour $50usd per hour! Shoot me an email if you are interested [e-mail]

[@BitPuffin]

Cool, good to know! I am possibly interested in the future just not immediately :)

[@billypilgrim1]

What if just want a trained ear to give me an opinion about my music? are you up for that?

[@philchaser3018]

So expensive

[@jackbloe2117]

Strip club is even worst tho.

[@ArtAntiDe]

So I just furiously uninstalled an interval ear training app that started the first level with SecondMajor vs Second Minor because "they all sound the same! Those notes are super close!". I then tried a different app that started with full Octaves vs Thirds... and guess what I failed so miserably, just randomly guessing would have given me a better score 😭
However those videos here made me think about my instrument playing "goal", now going from Beginner to İntermediate. And I really just want "to play my favourite songs on my instrument, even without sheet music" so I guess I HAVE TO get gud at playing by ear.
I also take lessons and we mainly learn traditional Turkish songs. Those are actually passed down by ear primarily with HEAVY use of singing the melody in Solfege. So my teacher does incorporate "play this, but don't look!" excercises and I manage okay... I still suck at "and now hum the melody at the same time" it completely derails me. İ learn Saz and this instrument is meant to play exactly what is sung (thank god İ don't speak Turkish, so I can chicken out from the singing. As an introvert it makes my brain go comatose)

[@Hacate]

Thanks a bunch!
I am very bad at this by nature, which is why I've postponed learning by ear again and again, no more! Time to learn songs the hard way, curse you tabs!

[@PolarTrance]

in a weird way, I sort of don't want a direct line from my head to my guitar, because my head is more like a cover band than an "original" composer.
ignoring that though... great video, very informative as always!

[@216trixie]

I know what you mean. I used to feel/sometimes feel that way. My first ten years on guitar I tried not to learn anybody else's licks...But, I think we get past all that.

[@PolarTrance]

Well I don't mean I don't play/learn other people's music. But as a composer when I start to work on a song and I get a tune in my head, the tune is most of the time someone else's, but because I suck at getting that tune out of my head accurately, I create a tune that is my own.

[@Gongasoso]

+PolarTrance That actually makes a lot of sense xD
That would make a very interesting topic to discuss with pro composers and musicians.
How does a master composer do it?
Not only does it know what's going on all the time, but also has listened to a lot of music, so anything played sounds like something known.
At that moment, music has been completely intellectualized and stripped of much of it's wonder.
How does one get motivated to try and make something new, when everything sounds like it's already done?
You know, besides fusion, prog and weird shit...
Oh, wait...

[@Abhi-yt9ov]

Thank you sensei

[@TiagoLageira]

I wish I saw this video when struggling with this topic!

[@gersainc.]

thank you that helps alot.

[@chynnarodriguez9405]

I really love your videos..and ur a good teacher..I'm Learning how to play an accoustic guitar now..however,i have short fingers. so I can't seem to reach bar chords..do have any advice for this? hehe I'm just trying to avoid them and focus on practicing songs with no bar chords...

[@benjaminluco4207]

wow. . . thanks a lot sensei! one step closer to the path of illumination! xD

[@leodu561]

Listening to the bass: I listened to Paul Chamber's bass
And I started dancing around

[@SheaMasonMusic]

I totally agree about the tabs. They are great but it does hinder our ear training. There are some good iPhone apps for ear training that I've been trying out.

[@onchainsolana]

Everything is understandable which I am thankful for but how to get better at creating fingerstyle arrangements?

[@herrmanselcher1632]

Awesome video! Have you been hitting the gym?

[@brushstroke3733]

Wise sensei, this is where the rubber meets the road! Ear training is the difference between being a guitar player and being a musician.

[@jeremybuenaventura808]

I love your videos.

[@bethcy67]

Jeremy Buenaventura me too

[@moranletouze1449]

What do you think of playing great guitarists' soli as a way to progress ?
Thank you for your awesome videos

[@artistgarg7648]

I ammmmmmmmmmmmmmm cryingggg (happy cry)u are soooooooo goodddd u told me some realllllyyyy important thingsss!!😃😃😃😃😃😭

[@isaaharel3395]

I play a chord then sing the voices so do re mi you know solfag I think it spell that way spelling isn’t my strongest ability lol I sing a lot it fun now I can’t help it now but I hum when I play guitar people laugh at me but it works music is a gift use it well

[@adamw5536]

2:10 If you slowed that down a little it would sound like the intro to Get Myself Arrested by Gomez.

[@WillDeutsch]

“he wasn’t learning purple haze using tabs...” - that was a beautiful line

[@leonarddyrkorn6552]

What are your(anyone reading this comment) experiences with ear training? I seem to get very smal returns from time spent on out of context interval recognition and scale singing exercises, in contrast to recording songs(both pre-written and experiments), learning different instruments and figuring out what's happening in other people's songs.

[@minor_em9]

thank you sammy g :D

[@PGNilay]

I really need to work on my timing intervals in my guitar. Can you recommend some training?

[@kervyquitane4314]

I was learning music theory(with a help of a teacher and at the same time learning and reading on my own). Sensei, do you have an in-depth practice routine for music theory? Should I start with scales then intervals, triads, 7ths..etc.. guide me!

[@CadillacticBean]

Hows your playing improved?

[@augustincollet9965]

Wich site is good to practice intervals identification pls ?

[@TheEntrepMan]

Guitar or amplifier hums produces either A minor or B minor

[@raca-9650]

awesome

[@TimMer1981]

Why the background music? Makes it way harder to focus.