Many aspiring guitarists want to improve their ear training but aren’t sure where to begin. Often, ear training feels repetitive or uninspiring, which can discourage progress. Fortunately, there are enjoyable ways to enhance your ear training and reap its long-term benefits.
Why Is Ear Training Important?
Ear training offers a host of advantages for guitar players, including:
- Playing songs from memory or by ear.
- Reproducing melodies and chords without needing sheet music.
- Feeling more confident when jamming with others.
- Refining your vibrato and bends to ensure they sound perfectly in tune.
- Enhancing creativity and producing more melodic solos.
Do You Need Talent for Ear Training?
Some believe that having a “good ear” is an innate talent. While perfect pitch (the ability to identify notes without any reference) is rare and often considered a natural ability, relative pitch is a skill you can develop. Relative pitch allows you to recognize intervals and notes in relation to each other, and it’s all you need to enjoy the benefits of ear training.
If you’re eager to improve, here are four fun ways to train your ears and keep the process engaging.
Four Fun Ways to Train Your Ears
1. Transcribe Music You Love (Start Simple)
Transcribing can feel daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. The key is to start with music you enjoy and keep it simple. Try these steps:
- Begin with single-note melodies, such as nursery rhymes or theme songs.
- Practice identifying whether chords sound “happy” (major) or “sad” (minor).
- Progress to recognizing entire chord progressions and their unique sounds.
For added fun, invite a friend to transcribe melodies with you. Turn it into a race to see who can figure out a melody the fastest. You can also experiment by finding the same melody in multiple places on the fretboard, which boosts your fretboard knowledge. Another exciting challenge is to take turns playing progressions common in your favorite music—with your backs turned so you can’t see what is being played. See if you can guess what you’re hearing; it’s a fun way to sharpen your ear.
2. Play Along to Your Favorite Songs
Incorporate ear training into your practice by playing along to songs you love. Here’s how:
- Identify the key of a song, including any key changes.
- Play along with the melody or the chord progression.
- Improvise over the song once you’ve identified the key.
This method doesn’t require perfection. Keep it light and enjoyable, and you’re more likely to stick with it. For an extra challenge, put on your favorite recording and see how much of it you can pick out and play along to. The more you do this the easier it gets
3.Practice Singing Intervals
Singing intervals is a powerful way to improve your ear training. For the most effective practice:
- Play a chord and sing an interval over it to hear how the interval interacts with the chord. This simulates how intervals are experienced in real-world music.
- Practice singing intervals over various chord types to learn the unique mood or feel each interval creates.
- While some suggest associating intervals with specific songs, this method only works in isolation or for passing ear training classes. By practicing intervals within harmonic contexts, you develop a deeper understanding of their musical character.
- After singing an interval, check it on your guitar to ensure accuracy.
This approach helps you internalize pitch relationships and understand how intervals contribute to the overall sound of a piece.
4. Get Creative with Your Practice
Unleash your creativity to make ear training more engaging. Some ideas include:
- Invent a melody in your head and try to play it on the guitar.
- Listen to a song, sing an improvised melody over it, and then replicate it on your guitar.
- Use a backing track to improvise melodies, focusing on phrasing and musicality.
These exercises help you bridge the gap between hearing and playing, making your guitar solos sound more natural and expressive.
Final Thoughts
Ear training doesn’t have to feel like a chore. By keeping it fun and incorporating it into activities you enjoy, you’re more likely to stick with it. Many guitar players naturally develop their ears by experimenting and playing by ear, but deliberate practice can accelerate your progress. Start incorporating these tips today, and you’ll soon notice significant improvements in your guitar playing!
About The Author
Brian Fish is a professional guitarist who has been dedicated to helping other guitar players in Northeast Ohio pursue their musical dreams since 1994. He’s passionate about guiding others on their musical journey! He is the Guitar Playing Transformation Specialist, instructor, mentor, trainer, and coach at Guitar Lessons Geauga.
Brian has also created the fantastic rhythm course, “Ultimate Rhythm Mastery,” which is available at MusicTheoryForGuitar.com.
If you live in Geauga County / Northeast Ohio, Guitar Lessons Geauga can help you become the player you’ve always wanted to be. Click the button below to request your FREE no-obligation trial lesson
