You Can Learn To Play By Ear – By Kevin Sinclair
By Kevin Sinclair
It is very possible that these natural ‘by ear’ performers even found themselves puzzled as to why learning to read music was so very difficult for them, some not being able to learn how at all. Even though many of them are awesome performers and many others never discover their secret at all.
On the other hand, there are many learned performers, who know their scales by name and type as well as timing, since they put a great many hours into learning each step there is to take when learning to play and instrument or vocalize. Even though it may take many years to learn to be a master of music, you can learn to play by ear.
It is simple really, to learn to play by ear, since anything that you have ever heard is available to play by ear; you just have to learn how to do it. Then all it takes is practice to be perfect, since the more often you do something, the easier it becomes for you to do. First however, you must understand the theory of teaching your ear to understand the musical structures as they are being played is an age old practice. Actually, it is one that you often experienced as a child; before learning to play by lessons, it is something that most people come by naturally. Very simply, playing by ear is an ability to play a piece of music by listening to it continually. You are then able to play a piece of music simply because you have heard it so many times.
Basically, there are three contributing elements of music.
1. The melody is the tune that moves up and down or higher and lower as the song moves forward. You must first become aware of this as it is the first step in learning to play by ear. By mentally defining the boundary of a songs melody, you begin to improve on playing it on your instrument.
2. The harmony of a song matches closely the melody and is the ability of harmonizing or matching up the chords, which supports the melody. For instance, you can harmonize with a melody of a certain key with other keys on the scale that find harmony in association, such as G and C chords in music.
3. Rhythm is then the third element, which supports the beat or timing of a song. Rhythm is normally easier to learn since most people can feel the beat. Basically, there are two rhythm meters, the duple meter and triple meter, which are combined in a great many ways. The rhythm of a song determines whether a song is very slow or very fast.
Keep in mind that while learning to play by ear, it will require practice. However, there are a few tips and tools available while learning to play by ear.
1. Play around with your instrument. Play the notes and listen to how they sound, this will help you identify how notes and stings, keys and frets relate.
2. Learn the scales, as by doing so; you truly do learn your instrument.
3. Learn music theory as this practice enables you to learn the notes and their names.
4. Begin with simple melodies, this is also a great way to understand your instrument.
5. Transpose the songs you hear, as you will begin to develop your ear as well as becoming able to understand the relationship between the chords.
Some of the tools available while learning to play by ear are ear training videos, software and hardware. You should be able to find DVD and CD aids that help in a number of ways while you learn to play by ear. Some of these aids can remove the lyrics of a song, while letting you listen to the music. As you listen to the changing of the sounds as you change chords, you will find understanding in how the chords change in a song you listen to repeatedly.
Just keep a good outlook and try not to become discouraged, it is just a process of learning. If you are committed to the project, you can learn to play by ear.
Kevin Sinclair is the publisher and editor of MusicianHome.com, a site that provides information and articles for musicians at all stages of their development. http://www.musicianhome.com/
Guitar Tablature Or Sheet Music? By Peter Edvinsson
By Peter Edvinsson
Is it necessary to learn ordinary music notation for guitar or is it sufficient to know how to read tabs? Is it worth the price to learn to read ordinary guitar sheets?
This was not very common a few decades ago. Tablature has by some guitarists been considered cheating. Is it cheating or is it a help to have tabs at your disposal?
Personally I have as a guitar teacher experienced many instances when tablature has been a great help to my pupils. however, I would be very happy if young musicians would put more energy into the endeavor to learn to read sheet music notation.
It is a great advantage to have a working knowledge on how to read and understand music scores and the various symbols pertaining to it.
Let’s take a look at the advantages of being able to read guitar music notation:
1. You will be able to play a piece of music the way the composer has intended without having heard it before. This is possible because music notation consists of descriptions concerning the pitch and also the length of the notes and other symbols telling you how to play the notes and performing the music.
2. You will have an enormous library of sheet music from various time periods at your disposal. It is possible to play music written for other instruments as well as music notation doesn’t describe how to play the notes on a particular instrument but more which notes to play. This makes it possible for a guitarist to play violin exercises and vocal scores and so on.
3. You will as a guitarist be able to write and arrange music for other instruments in your band making it possible to shorten the rehearsal time and facilitating the use of more complicated musical arrangements.
4. Being able to read and use sheet music will help you as a composer to notate all your ideas in a way that you will remember and that you easily can share with your friends and others.
Let’s look at the advantages of using 
guitar tablature:
1. Being a poor sheet music reader can hinder your from playing on the level of your techniqal skills. It’s a pity that many guitar pupils play just a few boring sheet music melodies when they could really be playing melodies using the entire fretboard just by the use of tablature.
2. It is very easy to describe chords, licks and complicated riffs with the help of tablature especially if you have audio examples of the music.
3. Tablature notation is still as easy to read even when you use alternative tunings as the tab notation still tells you only how to put your fingers. Using sheet music notation with alternative tunings on the guitar is a bit difficult to say the least.
4. Internet is flooded with more or less accurate tablature renditions of popular riffs, songs and more.
Okey, but what is the best alternative, guitar tablature or guitar sheet music?
My opinion is that you can use tablature as much as you want but I recommend you to really learn to read sheet music notation because of the many advantages you will reap from it.
If you start by learning the names of the notes on the frets of the guitar you have already gained an important skill that will help you as you start to learn the notes on a music score staff.
Peter Edvinsson invites you to download your free sheet music, guitar tabs, ebooks, music lessons and read his music blog at http://www.capotastomusic.com
Guitar Lesson: Fretboard Education – By Peter Edvinsson
By Peter Edvinsson
Do you really know the name of the notes on your guitar fretboard? You can learn the notes well and in a short time if you put a little energy into the project!
It will really help you as a guitarist if you know the names of the notes on your guitar. Let’s see some of the benefits you reap from learning to know your guitar:
learn to play sheet music notation as you already know where to find the notes on your guitar. The only remaining task is to learn the names of the notes on the sheet music staff.
2. You will find it much easier to understand chords and remember chords as you easily can see where to put your fingers to play the required notes.
3. It will be easier for you to understand guitar lessons on the net or in guitar instructional books as you understand an important part of the language used in guitar instruction.
We will start with something you can learn as your first task if don’t already know this. It is to know the names of the notes on the open strings of your guitar. An open string is a string not pressed down by a left hand finger.
The first string with the highest pitch on your guitar is normally tuned to an E. If you press down the twelfth fret you will find an E one octave higher. I will now give you the names of the open strings beginning with the first string:
E B G D A E
You can practice the names of the strings by playing the strings from the sixt string down to the first and back at the same time saying the names of the strings aloud or in your mind.
An easy and effective exercise to use to learn the notes on the fretboard is to concentrate on one note at a time trying to find the note on all the strings beginning with the sixth string.
Let’s start with the note E. On the sixth string you will find it on the open string. Can you spot the E on the next string? This exercise will also help you develop your ear.
Listen to the E on the sixth string and press down a finger on the fifth string and slide it until you will find an E on this string. As this is not a test but an article I will tell you that you will find an E on fret 7.
On string four you will find an E on fret 2. On string three it’s on fret 8. On string 2 on fret 5 and on string one on the open string.
Now you can practice the E notes by playing one string at a time from the sixth string down to the first and back again until you can do it automatically.
Do the same with the note G for example trying to find the right fret by listening. On the sixth string you will fing G on fret three. Of course the notes will be found in different octaves and this will be a great exercise to hear the notes and recognize them by listening.
There are many more exercises you can use to learn the notes on the fretboard. The message is that you will learn the notes on the guitar fretboard in a short time if you make a conscious effort to learn them.
Peter Edvinsson invites you to download your free sheet music, guitar tabs, ebooks, music lessons and read his music blog at http://www.capotastomusic.com
Guitar Lesson: Can You Be Your Own Guitar Teacher? – By Peter Edvinsson
By Peter Edvinsson
There must be a reason for having a 
guitar teacher! Otherwise, why do so many people pay money to this type of people? Let’s see why it could be a good thing to have a guitar teacher. A good guitar teacher will…
1. … help you set goals that will make you become the type of guitarist you want to be.
2. … give you a decent amount of homework to practice on your level of competence that will help you progress in a sound and solid way.
3. … will give you a deadline to work towards that will help you get on with the work.
4. … will be honest with you and will spot your weaknesses as an aspiring guitarist and give you exercices to work on that really will help you to advance.
5. … will help you progress as a guitarist by learning you to play in a relaxed way and with a correct posture that will not hurt your hands and your body in any way.
6. … will teach you and motivate you by example. It will be a guitarist that loves to play and can arouse enthusiasm in you for the guitar by just being around.
7. … will like you and help you feel confident in what you are doing and he will also help you like yourself and believe in yourself and your capacity to become a good guitarist and musician.
Will you be able to find this type of guitar teacher and will you be able to afford paying for this for a sufficient time in order to really progress?
My opinion is that nothing compare to having a really good guitar teacher. If you can find such a person and pay for lessons it is my advice that you do this.
Just an example from everyday life…
…I know by own experience that it can be a hard time choosing a hairdresser. This type of person can really change your look in a way that you do like or do not like. But hair will grow and you can find someone else the next time.
But, how do you find a guitar teacher that really will help you. Trial and error? Maybe, but I guess that the best way is to listen to other good guitarists. In other words, recommendations.
Well, if you decide to be your own guitar teacher for now, what can you do? There are a few mistakes I would like you not to make that are very common when you try to teach yourself:
1. Don’t play too fast! When you listen to your guitar heroes you will probably feel inspired to play like they do. However, the best way to really progress to a really fast player and also a good musician is to practice within the bounds of your present technical skills.
2. Don’t change exercises to often. When you give yourself homework to practice on it is important to stick to an exercise long enough to really reap the benefits from it. This will happen when your fingers are programmed to play the exercise without problem and you have committed the musical application to your long-term memory.
It will also help you to read about guitar playing in magazines and on the internet. Another very good aid for you as an aspiring “Teach Yourself To Play” guitarist is to buy some recommended guitar instructional books and instructional DVD’s that will give you some of the benefits of having a good guitar teacher.
It is easy to feel overwhelmed with all the information you can find about guitar playing. The comfort is that you will learn best by giving yourself a few things to work with at a time and focus on this homework with concentration, playing the exercices slowly having patience in your ability to grow.
Peter Edvinsson invites you to download your free sheet music, guitar tabs, ebooks, music lessons and read his sheet music blog at http://www.capotastomusic.com
Learning to Play Acoustic Guitar For the Beginner
The very first step toward 
learning to play acoustic guitaris to develop confidence and to destroy that “I can’t do it” mentality. Your biggest obstacle in your acoustic guitar playing is not going to be money, time, or the absence of a good teacher. The biggest obstacle is going to be you. You are your own worst enemy. Once you learn how to tame the negativity inside, you will be that much closer to becoming a good acoustic guitar player.
Frustration is normal during the learning process. Learning anything new is not meant to be easy. Resistance is what helps us grow. So the next time you are working on a scale, or chord progression, and you find yourself fumbling or messing up, don’t throw down the guitar with frustration, instead welcome the challenge and have patience in it.
YOUR FIRST GUITAR
Buying a first guitar is an important step for the beginner guitarist. You should have a good understanding of the acoustic guitar as a whole as well as a good idea of what your goals are as an acoustic guitar player. By educating yourself in these areas, you will be able to make an intelligent purchase that can provide you with years of enjoyable playing.
There are two kinds of 
acoustic guitars that you can purchase and they are your classic or nylon string guitar and your steel string guitar. One is not necessarily better than the other as it is really a matter of personal taste, but each guitar does have its own unique feel and sound. The classic or nylon guitars produce a round or dull tone, where as the steel string guitars are much different, producing a bright tinny or metallic sound. You will certainly develop your own preference the longer you play, or like many guitarists, you will enjoy using both. Only time will tell.
Another thing you will have to consider is the body style of your acoustic guitar. Acoustic guitars come in a variety of different body sizes from small to jumbo. Each size has its own distinct sound. Smaller body guitars have more treble and midrange sounds and are much easier to hold. Lead guitarists tend to favor smaller body guitars because they tend to have a more balanced sound to them and are easier to make out when playing with other musicians in a band. Your larger body guitars have more bass and are more difficult to hold. The only way to really know what body style is right for you is to try one out for yourself. Your best bet is to find a guitar that you are comfortable holding and playing. Guitar playing is challenging enough in the beginning and you do not need any added difficulties.
Guitar quality will differ depending on the model and brand. Sometimes two instruments of the same make and model can differ as well. It is therefore important to try out as many guitars as possible within your price range. It is also recommended that you bring along an experienced musician when you go guitar shopping. An experienced guitar player will be able to better judge the quality of a guitar.
Buy the best guitar that you can afford. Many of the guitars that sell for under $100 are poorly made for the most part. If you cannot afford to spend more, then save up and wait until you can. A well made guitar will be easier to play, more appealing to the eye and more responsive. If you enjoy playing your instrument more, you will then be more inspired to play. You can find a fine beginner acoustic guitar for under $500. Some brands to look into are Seagull, Martin, Yamaha, Fender and Ibanez to name a few. You may also want to look into the used acoustic guitar market. You may be able to find some real gems out there at great prices, but you have to be very careful with used guitars. Make sure you take an experienced guitar player with you if you decide to buy a used guitar.
LEARNING & PRACTICE
There is probably no substitution for a good guitar teacher, but it can be rather expensive over time, so many guitar players are left with no other choice then to learn on their own. For those of you who may not be able to afford a professional instructor right now, below are some guidelines for helping you get the most out of your practice time.
Practice as many days out of the week as you can for at least twenty to thirty minutes, more if possible. The more often you play the faster you will learn. Be careful not to overdo it though and take breaks of course. Your brain can only absorb so much information before it needs a break and your hands and the rest of your body need time to recuperate as well. When you practice do not rush through any of your exercises. Twenty minutes of quality focused practice is much more effective than an hour of sloppy practice
Study Your Instrument
Take some time to learn more about the parts of your acoustic guitar. Learn about how it is constructed and how all the parts work together to produce those beautiful sounds that you hear.
Learn How to Tune Your Guitar
You can find free step by step guides online for tuning your acoustic guitar. Make certain that you spend time learning how to do this. Purchase a guitar tuner at any local music store and practice tuning your guitar with the guitar tuner. When you begin to develop a better ear, try tuning it without the guitar tuner. Then use the guitar tuner to check and see how accurate your ear was. This will help you develop a good ear.
Learn the Right Posture
If you are accustomed to just grabbing your guitar and sitting down to play in any old position, then you are at risk of injuring yourself and developing bad playing habits. Make sure you understand the correct way to sit and hold your instrument for optimal performance.
Learn Your Chords & Scales
Learn as many different chords and variations of the same chord that you can and practice your scales. This will give you a well rounded familiarity with the frets on the guitar and it will build up strength in your fingers and hands.
I hope this article has helped with your acoustic guitar learning. Keep a positive attitude and practice! Before you know you will be playing acoustic guitar like a pro. I wish you well. God Bless.
