Sauron
02-21-2007, 09:04 PM
And so it starts! So that everyone doesn't have to go check the other thread, here is the premise: Each week or so we'll create a new thread in which people can post individual sound clips of riffs for others here to figure out. YouSendIt seems to be a great choice for sending these riffs around. Anyways, you can download the soundclips and try to figure out each riff by ear. Also, you can post tabs in a separate file to the sound clip so that people can check to see if they are right after they've figured out the riff.
I'll throw in a few tips and pointers also for people who have never figured out riffs and licks by ear, or are just looking for some tips:
1. Work slowly... very slowly. You really want to hear the intervals and try to know them before you even have to try them out on your instrument. Work out riffs note by note much slower than they are being played in the recording. This will help you to recognize intervals faster and faster.
2. If it sounds slightly off, it probably is. Test out every single note for possibilities and to just hear what it's interval sounds like, which leads to...
3. Use scales! You've learned them, now apply them! Scales can be a big help for figuring out riffs because it gives you a predefined pattern of notes that the riff probably is encompassed within. But...
4. Be sure to try notes out of scales too! If you are figuring out a riff that seems most definitely in a minor scale, but you can't find a note you hear, step out! Scales are only a guideline for you, you can break out of them to find the notes you need. Most likely, if it sounds good, you are still in a scale, just one you may not know! Always go with what sounds best compared to the recording!
5. Sing! sing! sing! You don't have to be an expert singer to sing a riff outloud to help you learn it. It helps a ton for you to sing a note while you find it. Also, later on, this singing-of-notes ability will come in handy when you want to play riffs you think of in your head.
6. Try and reproduce riffs as close to the original as you can. Use slides, bends, slaps and pops, vibrato and whatever else you can to put the same amount of feeling into the lines as the original player. This will help you develop your techniques so that when making up your own lines in your head, you know where to place these techniques to make your lines sound best.
I'm sure there's many more, but my brain is fried from classes today so I can't really think of any. Feel free to add your own tips and tricks.
Once you learn enough songs and lines by ear you'll be able to recognize patterns in your head really easily without even having a bass in your hands. The best is when you are able to listen to a song and know exactly how to play the lines you are hearing without even having to try them on an instrument.
Remember, practice makes perfect! The more you learn the faster you are at learning new songs. Always try and seek out newer and harder music to learn to constantly test yourself. Put your music playlists on shuffle and just attempt the first song that comes up. Remember you don't have to memorize the song, just work your ear enough to be able to play the lines.
Well that's that, start uploading some sound clips! Once I finish some of my workload tonight I'll splice a few sound clips and post them up.
I'll throw in a few tips and pointers also for people who have never figured out riffs and licks by ear, or are just looking for some tips:
1. Work slowly... very slowly. You really want to hear the intervals and try to know them before you even have to try them out on your instrument. Work out riffs note by note much slower than they are being played in the recording. This will help you to recognize intervals faster and faster.
2. If it sounds slightly off, it probably is. Test out every single note for possibilities and to just hear what it's interval sounds like, which leads to...
3. Use scales! You've learned them, now apply them! Scales can be a big help for figuring out riffs because it gives you a predefined pattern of notes that the riff probably is encompassed within. But...
4. Be sure to try notes out of scales too! If you are figuring out a riff that seems most definitely in a minor scale, but you can't find a note you hear, step out! Scales are only a guideline for you, you can break out of them to find the notes you need. Most likely, if it sounds good, you are still in a scale, just one you may not know! Always go with what sounds best compared to the recording!
5. Sing! sing! sing! You don't have to be an expert singer to sing a riff outloud to help you learn it. It helps a ton for you to sing a note while you find it. Also, later on, this singing-of-notes ability will come in handy when you want to play riffs you think of in your head.
6. Try and reproduce riffs as close to the original as you can. Use slides, bends, slaps and pops, vibrato and whatever else you can to put the same amount of feeling into the lines as the original player. This will help you develop your techniques so that when making up your own lines in your head, you know where to place these techniques to make your lines sound best.
I'm sure there's many more, but my brain is fried from classes today so I can't really think of any. Feel free to add your own tips and tricks.
Once you learn enough songs and lines by ear you'll be able to recognize patterns in your head really easily without even having a bass in your hands. The best is when you are able to listen to a song and know exactly how to play the lines you are hearing without even having to try them on an instrument.
Remember, practice makes perfect! The more you learn the faster you are at learning new songs. Always try and seek out newer and harder music to learn to constantly test yourself. Put your music playlists on shuffle and just attempt the first song that comes up. Remember you don't have to memorize the song, just work your ear enough to be able to play the lines.
Well that's that, start uploading some sound clips! Once I finish some of my workload tonight I'll splice a few sound clips and post them up.