 Train It!
The Ear…………the most important tool we all share as musicians. Some have gifted ears, some don't. Those who can yell out "Bb" when a door closes usually become piano tuners or Mix Masters. The rest of us have to be satisfied with Relative Pitch; there's nothing wrong with it, but we have to exercise and practice. It's just like lifting weights…………the more you work at it, the more you will attain results.
Try this…………..listen to Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody. Try to focus on each individual instrument and voice throughout the song. For instance………..pick out the bass part. See if you can focus on it while blocking out all of the other parts. Try to hum along with it (of course, choose an octave you can hit). Then choose another part and do the same. This is a practical exercise intended to build your ability to pick out different parts and actually identify them.
Another essential skill is Interval Recognition; intervals are the distance between two notes. Music is many times communicated in numbers based on Do Re Mi……..etc………the Diatonic Major Scale. (Diatonic scales are 7 tone scales) So………in the Key of C we have C D E F G A B or I II III IV V VI VII (Kind of makes to want to don a Toga).
C ii I
D II
E III
F IV
G vV
A VI
B VII
To put this simply……………..Count how many letters are named for each interval. For example, the distance between C and E is a third, hence……….C D E………3 letters. The distance between C and A is a sixth, hence…………..C D E F G A………..6 letters.
Now comes the fun part…………being able to identify them by ear. There are a few tricks to it, but you still have to practice hearing the intervals. There is a link to a very good Theory site I use on KennySteel.com. If you dare………go into the Interval Training area.
Look……….Musicians who play for fun probably won't need this info……….but Musicians who are serious about getting to the next level need this tremendously. Would you go to a Mechanic who just wings it? I hate seeing live bands just wing it………….I'll finish the pint and leave.
It all boils down to commitment.
Do you think you have the talent and desire to be your best?
I have a lot of students who have grown to understand the basic principals you'll read on this site today and every post; the students who didn't want to work are gone……..and I'm frustrated by their dismissal of the concept of 'work hard to achieve'.
The solid core of my daily students who understand the value of 'what you put in puts out for you' are enjoying the benefits of ………….well………..enjoying the music they play……….and they are playing well.
In a nutshell………….
Ear Training is as important to a Musician as Chemistry is to a Scientist.
This is just Part I of Ear Training; there will be more to follow. In the meantime………Learn the difference between a Major and Minor third by ear. Can you tell the difference between a Fourth and a Fifth?
Go to the Music Theory site provided on the student links sidebar
and test you knowledge on Intervals. http://musictheory.net
The next segment will cover some ear training tricks you will want to know…......
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