Becoming an Ear Trained Bassist/Musician

[tristate04]

Hope all is well.

So I like to identify elements in my playing that are obstacles preventing me from getting to the next obstacle quicker. I really want to hone in on Ear Traing or Aural Training as some might say.

Have any of you discovered programs/methods that helped you tremendously? I am not looking for the overnight secret trick. I am looking for the practical studies that take time and slowly build. I listen to tons of music and 90% of the time play by ear and feel, but I want to be able to hear a note and say oh that's an A natural you see what I mean?

Thanks for your input.

[StooB]

http://www.trainear.com/  I use this excellent program loads. If you start associating intervals with songs, subconsciously this will get into your brain. This means you are able to practice your instrument/music in your 'dead' time (car journeys, at work etc) when listening to music and trying to associate each note or chord with an interval. With a lot of practice,  you will notice your ear's home into the correct interval over time.

Here's the creator of the wevsite explaining it:

Music Theory / Ear Training: Learn to Play Songs by Ear.

[StooB]

But for the very best ear training software which costs a little money but is so worth it is Earmaster Pro 5

http://www.earmaster.com/presentation/

[tristate04]

Thanks for the response StooB. I have come across the EarMaster course and may give the free trial a run. I am one of the guys that always has to have a systematic approach to things. So thanks for those links!

[StooB]

No Probs. Start by learning the main notes of the scale first (12345678) then continue onto the accidentals, it's overwhelming when you practice every interval. Good luck!

[mjl422]

Also, practice hearing common progressions.  Hearing a 1-4-5 or 2-5-1 or 7-3-6...etc  can sometimes save your life and make you sound like you know what you're doing....lol

[Fingers!]

Also, practice hearing common progressions.  Hearing a 1-4-5 or 2-5-1 or 7-3-6...etc  can sometimes save your life and make you sound like you know what you're doing....lol

Ha...He said, "save your life".  SAY IT AGAIN!  Tell your neighbor...! 

[tristate04]

Also, practice hearing common progressions.  Hearing a 1-4-5 or 2-5-1 or 7-3-6...etc  can sometimes save your life and make you sound like you know what you're doing....lol

That is good advice. I want to be able to recognize the notes in the progression before even playing a note, like during the intro of an unfamiliar song were the bass hasn't come in yet

[Fingers!]

That is good advice. I want to be able to recognize the notes in the progression before even playing a note, like during the intro of an unfamiliar song were the bass hasn't come in yet

There was a time when there were three key players in the house, with the better of the three sitting on the front pew listening to the other two.  I had NO idea what they were doing or where they were going.  In the midst of my struggle, I happens to glance in his direction. 

Noticing that I was waaay, waaay, waaay off he threw a ‘wait’ finger up at me while he listened.  He never heard the song either but he was able to follow the progression moves. 

And he walked me thru that whole song with the number system, from about 25 feet away from me.  So, while everybody was watching the choir director, I had my head cranked the complete opposite direction, looking into the congregation and killing that song.  They thought I knew the song.

So, yea.  “Save your life!!”  He saved my life that day.  I wasn’t joking when I said ‘say it again!’

[tristate04]

Haha yeah I am a firm believer and utilizer of the numbering system. I just recently had that same experience with fingers getting thrown up in the air like annointed gospel gang members, maybe to the audience it is the new age of speaking in tongues lol. No but that really does help me too, just want to be able to figure it out on my own if I am in a new setting and don't get the signals.

[Fingers!]

Haha yeah I am a firm believer and utilizer of the numbering system. I just recently had that same experience with fingers getting thrown up in the air like annointed gospel gang members, maybe to the audience it is the new age of speaking in tongues lol. No but that really does help me too, just want to be able to figure it out on my own if I am in a new setting and don't get the signals.

That was some time ago.  Now, I am much better with progressions.  I can now hear and feel certain intervals, like the shift from 1-to-7.  Or the 3-to-4 / 4-to-3, the 4-5-6 both ways; this started coming after hearing and playing those different rotations for, like, forever.