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Can you do this?

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Started by matthew in Musicians (Gear, Tabs & Lyrics)

I’ve seen some guitarists on TV who can quickly copy what the vocalist is doing, isn’t it called playing by ear or some shit. If I could do that I would feel like a God, apparently it takes years to develop, you know hear a tune in your head and then just strum away on your guit and you hit it on the nail right then and there. Can any of you guys do this? Is it a: born with it or not thing?
I’ll stick to the drums instead me thinks!

Posted on Wed, 11 January 2006 at 19:11

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#1

hoochalobster (Sarah) Super Moderator wrote:

I have a friend who can do that, literally just hear a song once and then play it. He’s been playing guitar since he was 11 so that’s a good 15 years of practice.

I, meanwhile, had difficulty when my daughter asked me to play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star on her Barbie keyboard :rolleyes:

Posted on Wed, 11 January 2006 at 19:30

#2

Divers (Simon) wrote:

it’s practice mate, i can’t say i instantly play back what i have heard but give me a few minutes i can work it out. It comes after time, i have been playing guitar since i was 12 and can’t really read music but can play things by ear.:)

@hooch I wouldn’t worry i have heard that mozart almost killed himself because he couldn’t master twinkle twinkle it’s a toughy.

Posted on Wed, 11 January 2006 at 19:34

#3

matthew wrote:

power chords might be okay to figure out, but not something involving many different strings and notes,then I’m stuffed.

Posted on Wed, 11 January 2006 at 19:41

#4

Taunty Dan wrote:

i’m with Divers on this, leave me for a few minutes and i can usually figure it out. I find that with some bands, say T? for example, once you’ve figured out a couple of their tunes you kinda get to know what chords and patterns Andy uses. For example once i’d figured out screamger and trigger inside the rest of troublegum came pretty easy. Solos i aint much cop at, mind.

Posted on Thu, 12 January 2006 at 10:50

#5

buffalo-boy wrote:

I’m gettin better all the time, its just practice really. Most muso’s just practice their chords but try stuff like training your ear by recording two notes, a root and an interval (lots in one go) then listen back and try and write down what they are. You will get better!
I work my stuff out to impress people usually like when I worked out the back to the future theme for my girlfriend. I also figured out Police Academy theme…this didn’t impress her as much…! :)

Posted on Thu, 12 January 2006 at 13:40

#6

Taunty Dan wrote:

i’ve got a cracking 2 Unlimited medley which gets aired once in a (drunken) while!!

Posted on Thu, 12 January 2006 at 14:03

#7

buffalo-boy wrote:

Hey Dan , thats cool - do you fancy supporting us?! It’d sure get the crowd going!

Posted on Mon, 16 January 2006 at 08:33

#8

Taunty Dan wrote:

they’d lynch me!! :D

Posted on Mon, 16 January 2006 at 12:37

#9

tgE wrote:

first time i did that was the eastenders theme tune. rock n’ roll eh!?

Posted on Mon, 16 January 2006 at 16:07

#10

Idlevice2 wrote:

My mate can doi that really easily- I don’t know how, though. He could do it after about 3 years of playing. Now you can name or hum any tune and he can pick it up right away. It’s also fun to turn the radio or a cd on while he’s holding a guitar and watch him instantly work out how to play it. Damn him… maybe you either have it or you don’t. He can tune his guiar by ear and stuff… I can sometimes work out what keys things are in, but I’m usually a few semi-tones out. He gets it perfect every time. He says he always thought everyone could do all that.

Posted on Tue, 17 January 2006 at 21:34

#11

Misanthropologist (d) wrote:

There was actually a piece in a guitar magazine years ago that suggested it was possible to learn. Basically the technique they had was to sit with your guitar in front of the telly, and then try to pick up the theme tunes and adverts. I guess if you spend enough time doing it, you’ll learn it eventually.

Posted on Tue, 17 January 2006 at 21:48

#12

wyrd wrote:

I play the bass.
With easy songs I just push “Play” and at the end of the song I know how to play it.
Then, if the bass player plays something “strange” I just mess around and usually in a while I get everything.

It’s a question of ear, I think. Listen to a lot a music, that’s my suggest!

Posted on Wed, 8 February 2006 at 20:28

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