Do you want to learn how to play songs by ear? It’s a fantastic skill that will enhance your connection to music, boost your creativity, and make playing guitar more enjoyable. While it may seem challenging at first, you can develop this skill over time with consistent practice and a structured approach. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you get started.

Step 1: Start with Simple Melodies

To begin learning by ear, choose a simple song you already know well—one that you can sing or hum without effort. Children's songs like "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" or "Mary Had a Little Lamb" are perfect starting points because they have straightforward, memorable melodies.

Trial and Error Method

Pick one string on your guitar and try to match the notes of the melody by ear. Play around with different frets until you find the notes that sound right. For example, if you’re playing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star," you might start by finding the note that matches the word “twinkle” and then proceed note by note. This trial-and-error process helps train your ear to recognize pitch and intervals—the distance between two notes.

Tips for Success

Listen Closely: Sing or hum the melody first to internalize it. Then, focus on one small segment of the song at a time.

Be Patient: It’s normal to feel frustrated initially. Stick with it, and you’ll improve.

Step 2: Move on to Chords

Once you’re comfortable with melodies, you can start working on chords. Chords are more complex than single notes, but breaking them down makes the process manageable.

Find the Bass Note First

The bass note is the lowest note in a chord and provides a foundation for the harmony. To identify the bass note, listen carefully to the song’s accompaniment and try to match it on your guitar. Start with the lowest string (E or A) and test different notes until one aligns with what you hear.

Build the Chord

After finding the bass note, use your knowledge of chord shapes to determine the rest of the chord. For instance, if the bass note is G, the chord might be G major, G minor, or a more complex variation like G7. As your ears improve, you’ll get better at recognizing these subtleties.

Practice Progressions

Songs often have repeating chord progressions. Once you’ve figured out one chord, listen for the next one and repeat the process. Over time, you’ll start to notice common patterns like the I-IV-V, ii-V-I, or I-V-vi-IV progressions.

Step 3: Develop Your Listening Skills

Playing by ear isn’t just about trial and error; it’s about actively developing your ability to recognize musical elements. Here are a few ways to sharpen your listening skills:

Interval Training

Intervals are the building blocks of melodies and chords. Spend time learning to identify intervals by ear. While the traditional way to learn this skill involves associating intervals with familiar songs (e.g., a major second with "Happy Birthday" or a perfect fifth with "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star"), this approach has limitations because those intervals only sound that way in specific contexts. A more effective method is to train your ear to recognize intervals across different chord types and musical settings. This approach makes the skill more versatile and applicable to real-world writing and playing situations.

Transcribe Songs

Choose a song you love and try to transcribe it by ear. Write down the melody and chords as you figure them out. This practice not only strengthens your ear but also improves your understanding of musical structure.

Listen Actively

When listening to music, focus on one element at a time. For example, try to isolate the bass line, melody, or harmony. Over time, this focused listening will make it easier to identify these elements when playing by ear.

Step 4: Make It a Daily Habit

Consistency is key when learning to play by ear. Dedicate a few minutes each day to working on melodies, chords, or listening exercises. Here are some tips to stay consistent:

Set Small Goals: Aim to figure out just a few notes or one chord per session.

Celebrate Progress: Acknowledge your improvements, no matter how small. Each step forward is a win.

Experiment with Different Genres: Exploring various styles of music will expose you to different melodic and harmonic patterns, broadening your skills.

Step 5: Be Patient and Persistent

Learning to play by ear takes time and effort, but it gets easier the more you do it. Your ear will gradually become more attuned to musical nuances, and your ability to recognize notes, intervals, and chords will improve.

Remember, even professional musicians started where you are now. By practicing a little every day, you’ll develop a skill that brings immense freedom and joy to your guitar playing. So grab your guitar, pick a song, and start playing by ear—one note at a time!

About The Author

About the author: Brian Fish is a professional guitarist who has been living in North East Ohio since 1994. He is the head guitar instructor, trainer, and coach at Guitar Lessons Geauga. Brian is also the creator of the awesome rhythm course, “Ultimate Rhythm Mastery,” available at MusicTheoryForGuitar.com.