Playing the saxophone Learn to play by ear or by reading music

[jbtsax]

Sorry it is so difficult for some to get it. Just think of every song you know that begins with an octave.

 

[Jeanette]

That is spot on. It sounds like you need a shot of self-confidence. Someday you might want to try singing the song and thinking in terms of (movable do) "solfege" like this:

| do re mi do | do re mi do | mi fa sol | mi fa sol | sol la sol fa mi do | sol la sol fa mi do | do sol do | do sol do |

When you can think of a tune like this, it becomes easy to move it from one key to the next, if you know the major scale in that key. This is also a way to begin to think of tunes intervallically or in intervals.

What song is this the beginning of? | do do | ti sol la ti do | do la | sol | la fa | mi do re mi fa | re ti do re mi | do |

Here's a hint: the do to do in the first measure is an octave. Maybe it could be written do1 do2 or something like that.

Got it 🙂

I actually had to play the first two bars 😳

Jx

 

[jbtsax]

Got it 🙂

I actually had to play the first two bars

Jx

Cool. Now go over it several times in your mind using the solfege syllables. Even better sing it. Voice quality doesn't matter.

 

[Jeanette]

Cool. Now go over it several times in your mind using the solfege syllables. Even better sing it. Voice quality doesn't matter.

Yes I will but first I'm just a bit excited about row row row your boat, another one my tutor recorded. I managed to figure out GGGAB by listening and picking notes then I was getting stuck and thought just keep playing and hit keys without thinking and out popped BCBAG (Life is but a dream)?? Is that right. I'll go back and figure the middle later 🙂

Jx

 

[kevgermany]

I think I've got it as well. Was there a J involved?

 

[Jeanette]

I think I've got it as well. Was there a J involved?

More than one 🙂

Jx

 

[kevgermany]

Flower power

 

[ProfJames]

I think it's a tune by the Doobie Brothers............

 

[Alice]

I think it's a tune by the Doobie Brothers............

I will need one of those to kick start me. I'd forgotten all about trying to figure this out.

 

[ProfJames]

All this effort used to go into writing music and you want to play by ear!!!

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10154614968272738

View: https://www.facebook.com/artdiscoveryshare/videos/10154614968272738/

 

[Alice]

All this effort used to go into writing music and you want to play by ear!!!

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10154614968272738

View: https://www.facebook.com/artdiscoveryshare/videos/10154614968272738/

I personally don't want to just play by ear.

 

[richardr]

It's just occurred to me that the chief reason why I play by ear is the fun of simply picking up my sax and blowing a tune, any tune that comes into my head.

 

[Alice]

It's just occurred to me that the chief reason why I play by ear is the fun of simply picking up my sax and blowing a tune, any tune that comes into my head.

I do that too. My ability to read music is ok, but it's slow and faltering and my tone goes completely out of the window sometimes. I also make mistakes with the rhythms that I wouldn't do if I was just playing the song from memory. Playing by ear and from memory just frees up the expression. Of course, i'm learning to read too because there are complex pieces which I also want to be able to play like that.

 

[Taz]

It just occurred to me that a tune I posted in a different thread, has value here. I was messing around with my new effects and loop pedal, when a tune sprang to mind. The tune was Green Onions by Booker T and the MGs, in fact I think it was this thread that made me think of it. So I got the pedal out and recorded my first live loop. So forgive the quality of the playing, as I was concentrating on the pedal and not the sax. Could someone tell me what key I've played it in, I know it's not the original.

https://soundcloud.com/taz-16%2Fgreen-onions-on-the-looper

View: https://soundcloud.com/taz-16/green-onions-on-the-looper

 

[richardr]

It just occurred to me that a tune I posted in a different thread, has value here. I was messing around with my new effects and loop pedal, when a tune sprang to mind. The tune was Green Onions by Booker T and the MGs, in fact I think it was this thread that made me think of it. So I got the pedal out and recorded my first live loop. So forgive the quality of the playing, as I was concentrating on the pedal and not the sax. Could someone tell me what key I've played it in, I know it's not the original.

https://soundcloud.com/taz-16%2Fgreen-onions-on-the-looper

View: https://soundcloud.com/taz-16/green-onions-on-the-looper

I like this recording. I've given my answer by PC so as not to misguide anyone else. I used to play Green Onions on alto from sheet music, using the original recording as a backing track. I struggled with the timing but I've come on a way since then so I'll give it another go. My sheet music is for the part that Taz treats as backing: a case of a piece where its up to the listener to decide which is the lead and which is the backing.

 

[jbtsax]

Could someone tell me what key I've played it in, I know it's not the original.

E concert which is the key of C# on the bari and alto. This could be your entry in the Blues of the Month which is in this key. 🙂

 

[Pixie]

I'm trying to play by ear and find it really difficult so thanks for this thread. I'm trying Moon River ..... Well part of it

 

[Jeanette]

I'm trying to play by ear and find it really difficult so thanks for this thread. I'm trying Moon River ..... Well part of it

Good for you but agree not easy 🙂

Jx

 

[richardr]

so thanks for this thread

Chalk this one up, @Taz
When this thread started I thought there would be some guidance to help people get started on playing by ear but I've realised that different people have different issues - not, one size fits all. Maybe the best service the Cafe can provide to by-ear beginners is encouragement. It must be welcome news for people who are struggling to find that they're not the only ones, just as I was amazed and delighted to discover from the Cafe that ear is a legitimate way to play. So please tell us how you're getting on. It's not idle chatter, it's valuable encouragement.
Prompted by Pixie, I've just had a go at "Moon River", only to realise that I don't know the tune half as well as I did!

 

[Pixie]

Prompted by Pixie, I've just had a go at "Moon River", only to realise that I don't know the tunehalf as well as I did!
Darn thing's wider than a mile.