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

[richardr]

I've provided you with a Twinkle

Thanks, Bernie, but Jeanette's playing it in G on her sax which means F concert. I've mashed something out on the keyboard and emailed it to Jeanette but I doubt whether she'll be able to open it and in any case I'm sure that someone else can produce a much more professional-sounding twinkle.

 

[AlanT]

The reason I play by notes is because I am lazy. Playing by ear would take a lot of time to get to the same place I can get to instantly with the sheet.

 

[gladsaxisme]

I have said all along that I have to learn a tune by using the dots but as Colin has said its always made much easier by knowing the tune and being able to sing it of sorts and on some tunes without listening to it I have found it impossible to learn it.
Hers another little conundrum I am at the moment and for some time been trying to get Take 5 under my fingers but have found it incredibly difficult to get the necessary rhythm going even though I listen to lots and lots of versions all the time.
I wonder if you Taz and the rest of you play by ear players have got it sorted, if so how about posting it for us to hear, I would love to hear it especially by you Taz

 

[BigMartin]

That would be really useful. I think I've got the intervals for the second part but not sure I'm starting on the right note. However I was getting tired last night so will have another go tonight 🙂

One approach you might try is this. Play the major scale for the key you want to play "twinkle" in. Play it slowly, listening carefully to the relationships between the pitches in the scale and keeping aware of which note you are on at any moment (root, third, fourth etc). Do that for a few minutes (as long as you can keep paying attention). Then try playing the tune. My bet is you'lll find it much easier. That way, while you're learning the tune you will start to hear better how the major scale works, which willl make the next tune easier and so on. A good clue to which key you're in is that most simple tunes end on the key note.

 

[Bernie]

Take Five. Blummin awful tune. I've had a shot at it recently, some idiot in my band suggested we should do it, but the drummer had a terrible time trying to get the rhythm and with any luck we won't be playing it again. I classify this as a "circus tune": pointlessly difficult and an unappealing experience for both the participants and the audience, like a poodle riding round the ring on the back of an elephant in a tutu.

Learn a nice tune instead, that's what I'd do.

 

[trimmy]

The reason I play by notes is because I am lazy. Playing by ear would take a lot of time to get to the same place I can get to instantly with the sheet.

I'm with you on this (maybe not instantly) plus what I've been advised is when you do start to get it under your fingers do away with the dots.

 

[richardr]

Thinking this subject through - This has been "my own" approach in recent times.

Your account of how you do it corresponds almost exactly with mine. The big difference is that I may well be thinking all day of what I want to play but the moment I pick up my horn, it leaves my mind.

The reason I play by notes is because I am lazy.

Some would say that's the reason I play so much by ear.

 

[ProfJames]

Is anyone going to vote?

 

[Alice]

Take Five. Blummin awful tune. I've had a shot at it recently, some idiot in my band suggested we should do it, but the drummer had a terrible time trying to get the rhythm and with any luck we won't be playing it again. I classify this as a "circus tune": pointlessly difficult and an unappealing experience for both the participants and the audience, like a poodle riding round the ring on the back of an elephant in a tutu.

Learn a nice tune instead, that's what I'd do.

Good grief... I know we aren't meant to take you seriously Bernie.. but wow! It looks like I won't be operating any heavy machinery for a while! 🙂 😉 Take Five is a classic! I have been unsuccessful in learning to play this by ear. I also have the sheet music in a book and my mind was boggled. This is one of my inspirations and something which I am determined to learn as I improve.

 

[Alice]

Your account of how you do it corresponds almost exactly with mine. The big difference is that I may well be thinking all day of what I want to play but the moment I pick up my horn, it leaves my mind.

Some would say that's the reason I play so much by ear.

That can happen with me too. It's most odd!

 

[Targa]

Can anyone produce a very simple "Twinkle" and put it where Jeanette can get it in time for her session tonight, please? I could play it and record it but I don't have the know-how to get it on-line. This sounds to me like @Colin the Bear

Totally irrelevant but the best Twinkle I know.

 

[jbtsax]

After watching and hearing that video I had to rinse my eyes with eye drops, wash out my ears with hydrogen peroxide. Now that the trauma has subsided, may I offer a "Twinkle" that will not offend but tickle the senses and bring a smile.

 

[Nick Wyver]

Take Five. Blummin awful tune. I've had a shot at it recently, some idiot in my band suggested we should do it, but the drummer had a terrible time trying to get the rhythm and with any luck we won't be playing it again. I classify this as a "circus tune": pointlessly difficult and an unappealing experience for both the participants and the audience, like a poodle riding round the ring on the back of an elephant in a tutu.

Learn a nice tune instead, that's what I'd do.

It's so unappealing to audiences that it's the biggest selling jazz single ever. 🙂

 

[Tenor Viol]

Take Five. Blummin awful tune. I've had a shot at it recently, some idiot in my band suggested we should do it, but the drummer had a terrible time trying to get the rhythm and with any luck we won't be playing it again. I classify this as a "circus tune": pointlessly difficult and an unappealing experience for both the participants and the audience, like a poodle riding round the ring on the back of an elephant in a tutu.

Learn a nice tune instead, that's what I'd do.

They were 'playing' with time signatures when they made the Take 5 album I believe - hence pieces in 5/4, 7/4 etc

 

[jbtsax]

Repeat to self: "Don't take Bernie too seriously. Don't take Bernie too seriously. Don't take Bernie too seriously. Don't take Bernie too seriously.

 

[llamedos]

Thinking way back, I knew a "pub pianist" who was a very good sight reader and was also an excellent ear player. When playing by ear he invariably had his eyes closed and, if you got close to him, he was humming quietly to himself. I wish I could turn back time and discuss this approach but it could only be done now using the services of a medium.

I assume this was the only way he could play by ear but he was remarkably fluent at it. He was also a good accompanist for singers but I don't remember him playing anything other than the pop tunes of the day without dots; with the dots he could accompany singers of operatic material very capably. I hesitate to use the term opera singers because it wasn't that sort of pub.

As a music reader I am mildly envious of good ear players but wouldn't get hung up about it. If I could manage it without effort I would be happy but it seems to take me longer as the years whizz by - perhaps my hearing is going the same way as my other faculties - and recall my proudest moment as being when I managed the clarinet solo in Pee Wee Hunt 's recording of Twelfth Street Rag.

Dave

 

[trimmy]

What seems to come across is the mutual admiration of both sets of players, and those that can do both are the lucky ones.

 

[gladsaxisme]

I had a go at richardr's great offering for us to try and was mildly pleased with the outcome,I struggled to find the first note and was plumping for D but then struggled to find where it was going from there (probably because it was wrong anyway)so I went back to richardr's advice of first note ie B and it seems to be coming together now I will have another go later and the post the notes as they go and see if I have it right or nearly right,here's hoping

 

[richardr]

may I offer a "Twinkle" that will not offend but tickle the senses and bring a smile

Shame it's not in F so that Jeanette could use it. She can't open the file I sent her and I'm not techy enough to sort it.

 

[richardr]

I had a go at richardr's great offering for us to try and was mildly pleased with the outcome,I struggled to find the first note and was plumping for D but then struggled to find where it was going from there (probably because it was wrong anyway)so I went back to richardr's advice of first note ie B and it seems to be coming together now I will have another go later and the post the notes as they go and see if I have it right or nearly right,here's hoping

Thanks for giving it a try. I've checked and the start notes I gave are right. I hope it works out. If it does, you've broken the CAN'T barrier.