Hi guys, I was wondering if you could clarify some of my doubts about ear training.
I have a very little trained ears and I would like to be able to tell any note or/and chord from any song.
I never did proper ear training I just study music theory for a couple years and I can tell if a melody is rising or falling in pitch, but I can't tell the pitches.
I was wondering for a person of the level I am now, beginner, how long it usually takes to reach the level I want?
To be able to tell any note and any chord from a song, all by ear with the help of a keyboard.
How many hours per day would be the best and what would be the best training?
I would like to reach my goal as soon as possible.
Can you tell tips on how can I reach my goal ASAP?
Is this good? http://www.perfectpitch.com/
Thanks.
Ear Training...Getting a trained ear.
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- KVRian
- 668 posts since 28 Sep, 2010
Being able to identify a single note is a skill not many people can do, pure perfect pitch is not something that can be taught. Even my ear training teacher cannot do it. What ear training will help you do is identify chord progressions, intervals between notes, scales, type of triad/chord, etc etc.
Eitherway, to become good at it is just like learning to play an instrument, you need to practice as much as you can. A teacher can help a lot, but is not required. I'd recommend getting one of the ear training software, like Earmaster (http://www.earmaster.com/homeB.htm) or Auralia (http://www.sibelius.com/products/auralia/index.html). Also this task is much easier if you do actually know how to play an instrument.
edit: I guess I should add that some people believe perfect pitch can be taught, but all I've found is being able to identify a note on a piano if I know how to play a song that starts on that exact note, and have heard that exact note on that exact instrument. That's more relative than absolute though.
double edit: I looked up that website you linked. Reviews just say its full of baloney, as with anything else that uses "secrets no one knows about" as a marketing technique.
Eitherway, to become good at it is just like learning to play an instrument, you need to practice as much as you can. A teacher can help a lot, but is not required. I'd recommend getting one of the ear training software, like Earmaster (http://www.earmaster.com/homeB.htm) or Auralia (http://www.sibelius.com/products/auralia/index.html). Also this task is much easier if you do actually know how to play an instrument.
edit: I guess I should add that some people believe perfect pitch can be taught, but all I've found is being able to identify a note on a piano if I know how to play a song that starts on that exact note, and have heard that exact note on that exact instrument. That's more relative than absolute though.
double edit: I looked up that website you linked. Reviews just say its full of baloney, as with anything else that uses "secrets no one knows about" as a marketing technique.
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- KVRAF
- 7818 posts since 20 Jan, 2008
I agree,
Without following the links I'll add singing to your main instrument as well. To capture a tone in your head and then be able to reproduce it by singing and finding the note on your instrument is the most consistent method I've found to date.
Much of the problem is we want it all now. I would advise to put aside a separate time for ear practice and other practice. They should be at least a half an hour apart for it to really settle in. Ear training is a life long process. It can be very confusing if you study ear training with numerous instruments as tonal characteristics that shape the tone are different for different instruments. What may seem like a harsh or soft tone from one instrument may be a completely different pitch on another.
One thing that didn't work for me for a long time was trying to remember a tone in my head. That I could reference in a different song. If every instrument had the same timbre then it would be easy but they don't.
Without following the links I'll add singing to your main instrument as well. To capture a tone in your head and then be able to reproduce it by singing and finding the note on your instrument is the most consistent method I've found to date.
Much of the problem is we want it all now. I would advise to put aside a separate time for ear practice and other practice. They should be at least a half an hour apart for it to really settle in. Ear training is a life long process. It can be very confusing if you study ear training with numerous instruments as tonal characteristics that shape the tone are different for different instruments. What may seem like a harsh or soft tone from one instrument may be a completely different pitch on another.
One thing that didn't work for me for a long time was trying to remember a tone in my head. That I could reference in a different song. If every instrument had the same timbre then it would be easy but they don't.
Dell Vostro i9 64GB Ram Windows 11 Pro, Cubase, Bitwig, Mixcraft Guitar Pod Go, Linntrument Nektar P1, Novation Launchpad
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- KVRAF
- 26033 posts since 20 Oct, 2007 from gonesville
I got my ear copping things off of records. with just a guitar, picked off as much of every kind of part I could detect. I had no guidelines or any special materials. I did the thing because I wanted it.
expect it to take time if it's not coming easy to you. approach in in the fullness of playing music on an instrument. singing is crucial. that's the primary way for your body to know pitch.
lose any idea of shortcuts you are entertaining or is marketed to you.
expect it to take time if it's not coming easy to you. approach in in the fullness of playing music on an instrument. singing is crucial. that's the primary way for your body to know pitch.
lose any idea of shortcuts you are entertaining or is marketed to you.
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 147 posts since 5 Dec, 2009
Thanks guys.
Any methods do you suggest?
I have plenty of time now, just wondering how should it be the training and how long per day, which tools/software to use?
Thanks
Any methods do you suggest?
I have plenty of time now, just wondering how should it be the training and how long per day, which tools/software to use?
Thanks
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- KVRist
- 105 posts since 13 Oct, 2002
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- KVRer
- 7 posts since 9 Jan, 2011 from Perth, Australia
Movable do solfege.diijay wrote:
Any methods do you suggest?
http://www.google.com.au/search?q=movab ... ent=safari
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- KVRian
- 806 posts since 1 Sep, 2008 from US
More methods than stars I suppose.. But depends on what you want to play. I find practicing interval recognition the most helpful. It's easy, and helps working on higher level skills easier, especially for chord progressions.
Hour wise, if you practice with software, you're looking at 45min~1h in 1 sitting, everyone that I know of seems to be pretty tired mentally by then, if that gives you a ballpark.
Just to add another one to mix: GNU solfege (free): http://www.solfege.org/ , my favorite one so far for some quick exercises, though if you're on OSX installing is PITA
Hour wise, if you practice with software, you're looking at 45min~1h in 1 sitting, everyone that I know of seems to be pretty tired mentally by then, if that gives you a ballpark.
Just to add another one to mix: GNU solfege (free): http://www.solfege.org/ , my favorite one so far for some quick exercises, though if you're on OSX installing is PITA
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- KVRAF
- 7818 posts since 20 Jan, 2008
Re intervals.
I would pick a different key everyday. First play a scale pattern. Then sing and play. Then play one note, sing the next without playing it and then while the note was still ooming out of my mouth I'd play it to see how close I was. It was rough at first. Then I would play a primary chord and sing the first third and fifth. I'd go back omit one of the notes on the guitar while playing the other two and singing the third.
It's important to hold the note in your head. Play a note call out it's name then try to think in terms of what that note sounded like through your day.
I would pick a different key everyday. First play a scale pattern. Then sing and play. Then play one note, sing the next without playing it and then while the note was still ooming out of my mouth I'd play it to see how close I was. It was rough at first. Then I would play a primary chord and sing the first third and fifth. I'd go back omit one of the notes on the guitar while playing the other two and singing the third.
It's important to hold the note in your head. Play a note call out it's name then try to think in terms of what that note sounded like through your day.
Dell Vostro i9 64GB Ram Windows 11 Pro, Cubase, Bitwig, Mixcraft Guitar Pod Go, Linntrument Nektar P1, Novation Launchpad
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- KVRer
- 3 posts since 27 Nov, 2011
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It depends on your ear. It takes months to years to develop your ear training. Anyway, the more you pratice, the better you get. You can also try http://eartrainingradio.com (http://eartrainingradio.com) for your practice.
Good luck!
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- KVRAF
- 26033 posts since 20 Oct, 2007 from gonesville
yeah, how long, it depends on your 'talent' I hate to say. I didn't have any ear for pitch as a child. After I figured out most of the parts on Abbey Road I could pretty much proceed. I was motivated and I had 'the fear'.
If you take things off of recordings, you will encounter the 'do different keys' for real.
Interval recognition is crucial. You could identify intervals that are hooks in songs you know. Ma-RI-A (I just met a girl called Maria) is up a tritone resolving up to the P 5th for instance.
doing it rather than planning out a way you're going to do it...
If you take things off of recordings, you will encounter the 'do different keys' for real.
Interval recognition is crucial. You could identify intervals that are hooks in songs you know. Ma-RI-A (I just met a girl called Maria) is up a tritone resolving up to the P 5th for instance.
doing it rather than planning out a way you're going to do it...
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- KVRAF
- 26033 posts since 20 Oct, 2007 from gonesville
solfege, or 'sol-fa' is good in that you have a syllable to represent the note in the scale. however I never got how it's supposed to good for minor key.
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Bronto Scorpio Bronto Scorpio https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=98170 - KVRAF
- 5546 posts since 13 Feb, 2006 from Wiesmoor, Germany
How early you start is also very impotant. Kids learn this kind of things very fast.
My dad always listened to the birds outside and played what they sung on the piano. It turned into some kind of bird/piano concert after a while
I could tell him "Daaaad, please play this and that song from the radio". He only had to hear it once and was able to play it perfectly.
I'm really, really bad at this kind of things. My main interest always were the sounds instead of the melody. I guess I have a pretty good ear for sounds after all these years now.
Cheers
Dennis
My dad always listened to the birds outside and played what they sung on the piano. It turned into some kind of bird/piano concert after a while
I could tell him "Daaaad, please play this and that song from the radio". He only had to hear it once and was able to play it perfectly.
I'm really, really bad at this kind of things. My main interest always were the sounds instead of the melody. I guess I have a pretty good ear for sounds after all these years now.
Cheers
Dennis
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- KVRian
- 588 posts since 3 Oct, 2011
Perfect pitch is soooo over-rated. Any of these could help:
http://www.amazon.com/Hearing-Writing-M ... 121&sr=8-4
http://www.amazon.com/Fanatics-Guide-Tr ... 133&sr=8-7
http://www.earmaster.com/
There are a few good iPhone apps, too. Nothing in the Android market(s) that I've tried has been good, yet, though.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/do-re-mi ... 28469?mt=8 <<< <3
Just 15-30 minutes every day will really surprise you in no time!
http://www.amazon.com/Hearing-Writing-M ... 121&sr=8-4
http://www.amazon.com/Fanatics-Guide-Tr ... 133&sr=8-7
http://www.earmaster.com/
There are a few good iPhone apps, too. Nothing in the Android market(s) that I've tried has been good, yet, though.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/do-re-mi ... 28469?mt=8 <<< <3
Just 15-30 minutes every day will really surprise you in no time!
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- KVRist
- 492 posts since 5 Sep, 2011 from Sussex, UK
I agree with much of what's been said. Don't shell out on software, all you need is calm, patience, concentration and a willingness to practice - anything up to 30 mins a day is great, as long as it's regular. Ron Gorow's book is really good, and I'd highly recommend it:
My top tip is to engage your critical facilities next time you're listening to a piece of music and try to spot intervals in the tune, break it up into parts, try to guess what a chord change is (I - IV, ii - V etc), see if you can spot the "home key", any modulations, sections in major/minor tonality. Basically, scavenge whatever information you can at the level you're at now. No need to go overboard, just do it once or twice a day and you will be exercising the skills you are learning from ear training. Gradually, you'll be come aware that you're less unsure about what you're hearing and can glean more information.
Everyone's learning-by-doing all the time in music, so dive on in!
Some people progress faster than others, and it does require a bit of motivation, as the rewards can take a while to feed back, but unless you have a neurological condition that prevents you (stroke, head injury...) then you can do it!NextdoorNeighbor wrote:http://www.amazon.com/Hearing-Writing-M ... 962949671/
My top tip is to engage your critical facilities next time you're listening to a piece of music and try to spot intervals in the tune, break it up into parts, try to guess what a chord change is (I - IV, ii - V etc), see if you can spot the "home key", any modulations, sections in major/minor tonality. Basically, scavenge whatever information you can at the level you're at now. No need to go overboard, just do it once or twice a day and you will be exercising the skills you are learning from ear training. Gradually, you'll be come aware that you're less unsure about what you're hearing and can glean more information.
Everyone's learning-by-doing all the time in music, so dive on in!