Tab by Ear

[hayter]

Hey, I am new to the boards. I've been playing guitar constantly since February or January. I've become pretty good, even though my knowledge of music theory is still a little lacking. I saw a post on here saying something like "if you know what you're doing, don't cheat and look at tabs." My question is this: how long should it be until I am able to tab songs by ear? I can sort of hear some chords like Am, G, C, and Em, but there are still so many chords out there I can't recognize. Is there a way to practice this? The only way I practice it now is by playing the C major scale and saying the notes as I play them, but that might just be helping me with songs that are just single notes as opposed to chords. Thanks for reading and any help would be very appreciated.

[Thomas]

Hey, I am new to the boards. I've been playing guitar constantly since February or January. I've become pretty good, even though my knowledge of music theory is still a little lacking. I saw a post on here saying something like "if you know what you're doing, don't cheat and look at tabs." My question is this: how long should it be until I am able to tab songs by ear? I can sort of hear some chords like Am, G, C, and Em, but there are still so many chords out there I can't recognize. Is there a way to practice this? The only way I practice it now is by playing the C major scale and saying the notes as I play them, but that might just be helping me with songs that are just single notes as opposed to chords. Thanks for reading and any help would be very appreciated.

"if you know what you're doing, don't cheat and look at tabs"



Especially with dave's music, if you learn the tabs to his songs, you will begin to recognize his chord voicings more and more as you go along. If learn "grey street" and "jimi thing" you'll probably be able to figure out "so damn lucky" on your own.

never look at tabs as a "cheat", they are merely a tool to help you in your guitar playing. if a guy refuses to use tabs and tries to spend hours trying to figure it out on his own, let him deal with it. but as you go along and learn more and more stuff, it will be easier to figure it out on your own. it just takes time for you to become more and more familiar with your guitar.

[hayter]

That's what I thought, but I wasn't sure if the Guitar World looked at tabs like short cuts to learning to play. I want to learn the right way, but I think I'd just discourage myself by trying to figure out some of the songs. One problem I'll have is that I'll hear the chord but Dave is using a totally different version of that chord. That's something I just can't do.

[Locarius]

It really depends on your goals. If you just want to learn some songs that you can play for people then get the tab. If you really want to excel as a musician you should practice learning by ear.

It helps in jam situations where maybe you cant see what someone is playing, or just to figure out the key and stuff.

[c_tietze]

If you say learning a song by reading tablature is cheating, well that's just dumb.

If you're good enough to play by ear, that's great. I'll mail y'all gold plated guitar pins which can serve as a medal.

Secondly, that kind of talk makes folks sound really snobbish.

CJT

[filmdude100cms]

whoever made that post about being a real guitarist, is a poser and a dick.

[lyrics101]

I've been playing for over 10 years, and I still use tabs when the sheet music is unpublished. Hell, sometimes I use them anyway.

Nothing to be ashamed of. Just a way to get better.

Do try to learn theory, though. You'll never regret it.

[kcw]

If you say learning a song by reading tablature is cheating, well that's just dumb.

If you're good enough to play by ear, that's great. I'll mail y'all gold plated guitar pins which can serve as a medal.

Secondly, that kind of talk makes folks sound really snobbish.

CJT

So can I have those gold plated guitar pins?

Basically it all depends on what you want to do with guitar. If you just want to play around use tabs. If you wish to perform start to get to know the sound of the notes on the fret board. This takes a long time. Like a couple years of playing. It really helps if your improving solos or jams over a rythm guitar.

Its not a cheat if you cant or never have been able to do it by ear. And it doesnt take that long if you know what your doing either. Maybe two or three hours a song.

Dont try and make yourself tab by ear if you cant or arent experienced enough yet. It just gets your extremely irritated.

I dont mean to sound like a snob just because I can tab by ear its just a skill I have. Just like some people on this board know theory and others dont.

[MattyTrane]

whoever made that post about being a real guitarist, is a poser and a dick.

way to be rational

[filmdude100cms]

i thought so.

[hayter]

Thanks, you guys. Sort of made me feel better about not being able to recognize music by ear... yet!

[i like tictacs]

One way i practice my ear training is playing in bed with the lights off. I play songs completely in the dark ,forcing myself to get familiar with the tones and thus using my ear to find out where I am on the neck.

[MattyTrane]

Question: Why do kids "cheat" by using tabs?
Answer: B/C tictacs touches himself (and his guitar) at night.

[You_Enjoy_Myself]

One way i practice my ear training is playing in bed with the lights off. I play songs completely in the dark ,forcing myself to get familiar with the tones and thus using my ear to find out where I am on the neck.

Ha, I do the same thing too. I played Neon over and over in the dark, until finally I didn't have to look anymore.