playing by ear

[lovefool]

I really want to play by ear and I found this cool tool to help:
http://www.iwasdoingallright.com/tools/v2_22/ear_training.aspx

I think with time I will be able to recognise the intervals, but I'm not at all sure how I can learn to apply that. What I mean is, say the starting note is Bb, and I hear that the interval is a 5th above, how, without laboriously looking at a piano or counting slowly can I quickly arrive at F?

thanks in advance
Keira

 

[Saxlicker]

Hi Keira,

In a nut shell....
Its all a gradual process I'm afraid that will have periods of rapid progress and slow frustrating times!


Some people of course have a more natural ability to hear the intervals than others I don't know where you fit into that but you will learn it if you desire.
If I understand you right, you see your fingers hitting the right notes after hearing the interval correctly as a seperate task?

The fundamental requirement for this is to know where every note is on the horn with out thinking about it. For my money that doesn't take too long.

With that under your belt, my experience is that once establishing that first note of a musical phrase the next three or four notes come to your fingers within a couple of tries. Practise it, then its time to listen again to build on it with the next few notes.

Some pieces may be a slow note by note effort another may be a tune so deep in your soul that you can pull out the melody in any key you choose with very little difficulty.

 

[Kinda]

Hi Saxlicker

I'm currently trying to improvise by listening to something in my head and then playing whats in my head on the sax.

The tune I can't get away from is California by John Mayall on "Turning Point" which I've re-acquainted myself with it after some 40 years.

The last time I heard it was 24 years ago in a restaurant in South Africa, isn't it funny how music brings back memories?

 

[lovefool]

ahh, so you're saying for you it's a subconscious thing. Yes, I suppose that is the aim. I guess at the moment I am thinking about it as a thought through conscious effort..
K

 

[Linky Lee]

It's something I'm working on at the moment too. I've also been looking at that site now and then.
I'm not too bad with the interval recognition I just get unstuck on the 6ths and minor 7ths. I can recognise whether a chord is major or minor or diminished but get stuck on other chords that I guess I'm just not quite used to.
I think the problem I have is that I find it hard to apply interval recognition to chord progressions as I seem to focus in on whatever the highest note in the chord is, where I need to be focussing in on the root of the chord.

 

[Kinda]

Hi lovefool

I think the ear training allows you to copy, not sure if this is correct. From what I have read its easier to sing the tune or lick yourself and then somehow then transmit this tune to the sax.

I think initially it will be trial and error then as you get better at it then there should be less mistakes and I estimate that this will take me at least 5 years at the current rate of learning!!!

 

[Saxlicker]

Kinda wrote:
Hi Saxlicker

I'm currently trying to improvise by listening to something in my head and then playing whats in my head on the sax.

The tune I can't get away from is California by John Mayall on "Turning Point" which I've re-acquainted myself with it after some 40 years.

The last time I heard it was 24 years ago in a restaurant in South Africa, isn't it funny how music brings back memories?

Hi!

When you get a chance to hear that tune again...it'll be a good measure of how well your ear training and memory for that matter is doing!!!!
Fun huh?

lovefool wrote:
ahh, so you're saying for you it's a subconscious thing. Yes, I suppose that is the aim. I guess at the moment I am thinking about it as a thought through conscious effort..
K

Yes I guess I am. I bet you could find middle C in a millisecond?...now all you have to do is hear one! Then put your finger on it.

BTW....steady as you go on those ski's!!