"Roll over Beethoven" questions

Hi Estambre!!

Tricks?  Hmmm.... I guess I have a few tricks for learning a song by ear. You are going to love this, most are based on THEORY!!

1) A song usually (but not always) begins and ends on the Key. If the first note is a G, the song is most likely in G. So I have a good idea where the song is going right away.

2) Songs are usually built on the Major & Minor Relative Chords. So if a song is in G, the other chords will probably be C, D(7), Em, Am, B7. Sometimes the chords will be altered... A or A7 instead of Am for instance. Sometimes someone will break this rule and throw in a chord that doesn't belong. A lot of times this will happen on a "Hook", a very "catchy" phrase in a song. The Beatles loved to do this.

3) LISTEN TO THE BASS!!!- This is probably the biggest secret of learning by ear. I read an article on here where the writer said Bass players (especially in Rock) love to play the Root and 5th. I couldn't agree more.

4) Experience- Most Blues songs will be in E or A. Country likes G, C, and D. There are many exceptions, but you will be surprised how common these Keys are for these types of Music. Rock- E, A, & D are most common. Songs written on guitar are usually in Keys that are easy for guitar players and have lots of open strings. Songs written on piano will often be in C, F, or B flat.

5) I listen to the "Mood" of a Chord. I believe you said you have only been playing 13 months. I bet you can already tell a Minor Chord when you hear it. They are a little sad or melancholy sounding. Dominant Chords are usually bright and jazzy sounding. Major chords are powerful and direct.

So I guess these are my "tricks". Pretty ordinary.

Keep studying Estambre, but figure out songs by ear too. I like figuring out songs like Jingle Bells, London Bridge, Three Blind Mice myself. Listen carefully and see if you can judge the intervals. Great ear training, not Perfect Pitch, but Relative Pitch.

Happy Holidays to you and your Loved Ones-   Wes

Estambre- I went back and read your last post again. You asked for advice on how to play Jingle Bells?

I am not big on Tab, and do not have much time now, but in the next week or so, I will TRY to tab it out for you. I would probably play this song one of two ways.

1) Just play the Chord Progression and Sing over it. I would probably use a 50's Style rythym similar to Jingle Bell Rock or;

2) Chord/Melody- I am sure there are articles on this on Guitar Noise. This is a method where you play the chords and melody at the same time. You usually play a partial chord making sure the last note is the melody note. You do not play chords continuously, but combine them with single note runs. It is hard for me to explain this as I'm not an instructor. If I get some time, I'll tab this out for you. It is a very good method for a solo guitarist.

If I ever figure out how to download off a CD or my computer's Media Player, I'll send you some sound clips. I've tried it, but can't get it to work.

Hey Wes!

That's a different way to understand the 60's, ain't it?
Velvet Underground, mmm
Quite some way away of being concerned about solos. Or maybe the other way around...

I used to play (as a drummer) the Runaway's cover of "Rock and Roll" live. Despite of her education she could just dance to a rock and roll station...

It takes a while until I digest what people write here.
I need a few days to practice what you say.
But I did tab and write the notation to Jingle Bells.
If you can give us some advice on how to play it rock style, it is really welcome.

I also wish you a beatiful Christmas time with your family.

I figured I would change my profile every week or two. Maybe a picture and a line from groups that influenced me. The line from Take a Walk on the Wild Side was actually several years later when Lou Reed went on his own. Any of you young people that think Rap is new should listen to this song. And I can name a few that go back way before that.

Rap ain't new, it's been around a long time. It just wasn't crude before.