How Common is Playing by Ear?

[Captain Jim]

Originally Posted by rllink

Sometimes I hear a familiar chord progression, maybe a riff that I've done before, a melody line that's familiar. Sometimes not and then I have to find it somewhere and see what's going on. But let's face it, if a song is in a twelve bar blues progression, a half way proficient guitar player should be able to hear it and jump on. Same with a half dozen other common progressions.

I never learned to read music; playing by ear was how I started back in the 60s. That should give you an idea of how long I've been playing. I'm thinking with a bit more work, I should be able to get myself to... half way proficient.

It's an old joke, but I'm an old guy: when asked if I play by ear, I generally respond with, "No, I use my fingers." (rimshot)

[rllink]

Originally Posted by Captain Jim

I never learned to read music; playing by ear was how I started back in the 60s. That should give you an idea of how long I've been playing. I'm thinking with a bit more work, I should be able to get myself to... half way proficient.

It's an old joke, but I'm an old guy: when asked if I play by ear, I generally respond with, "No, I use my fingers." (rimshot)

Yes, I'm an old guy too. But I learned to read music in fourth grade. But even though, I seldom find circumstances where the ability is handy. I mean, you quoted me but I wasn't talking about reading music. One doesn't need to read music to play guitar. But because you bring it up, I'm saying that reading music isn't hard to learn. In case you want to.

[rick-slo]

Originally Posted by Su_H.

I also like to add that Mozart composed his last few compositions while being stoned deaf.

You're thinking of Beethoven, and yes that was amazing.

[Su_H.]

Originally Posted by rick-slo

You're thinking of Beethoven, and yes that was amazing.

My bad, Rick. Thanks for the correction.

[Tuch]

simple answer: if you [manage by 'practise']..from the onset..to learn to play by ear=you learn to eg: 'Solo' note playing especially etc by 'improvisation.'..to 'play a solo on the fly'..
Those that learn to 'sight' read etc..can read musical notation etc can 'play' but can lack 'improvisational skills' that is 'acquired' over time ... and is a 'requirement' when 'to instantly play on the fly' with other musicians etc.

many of those self taught by ear,learn solely by 'improvisation' etc.and by 'memorisation' etc.They maybe lack knowledge of EG: Musical Theory etc..but can play with 'proficiency and fluidity etc.
For some who can[taught]to sight read etc with 'fluidity' etc. have advantages yes! but...take the sheet away,freeze!..they can be musically restricted.They cannot 'improvise on the Fly!in comfort .There lack of 'improvisational skills' soon become very 'apparent' etc.
The self taught by ear only player has to learn,to sharpen his 'audible' skill from the onset etc,.learned by the ongoing 'practise' of =Repetition and by 'memorisation' of !etc,audible reliance etc,he has too...he relies upon it for 'improvisation'100%.

One can learn to read music notation to fluidity etc & know musical theory etc but it won't make you a better player without combining the 'audible' practise of too etc.

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by Mandobart

…So for my question - is this common? Do most people need notation/tabs/lesson to learn a new song? Do others learn by ear?

Hi Mandobart

I taught fingerstyle (intermediate and advanced) for 40 years, and in all that time I only had 3 students who could read music. And I proceeded to teach them without notation, or TAB.

Playing by ear benefits people who know the notes (and many players know note names without being able to read charts).

Part of the challenge for chart/score readers is finding scores of the music they want to play. There are still far more great fingerstyle pieces without scores than with. And the newer the piece, the less likely to have scores.

[KevWind]

Originally Posted by Su_H.

I also like to add that Mozart composed his last few compositions while being stoned deaf.

So that would be like consuming so much wine he could no longer hear ? Like a wine coma composition


In answer to the OP, I don't know how common compared to reading notation or tabs, I suspect probably more or less equal . But other than (chord diagrams) I basically learned by ear, and still do not use tabs or notation. But then again I seldom attempt a direct note for note rendition. Nor do I play finger style

[capefisherman]

Originally Posted by _zedagive

I search all over the internet trying to find someone playing by their ear with no success. Saw guys playing with their teeth, nose, toes, but not even one with their ear, so I think it's not common at all. And, if that's what you're looking to do, I say go for it dude! Could be a guitar game changer.

Ha! Thanks for the smile of the day!!!

Gene

[MakingMusic]

Originally Posted by Nymuso

I suspect it's more common among the self taught, vintage players such as myself who learned by repeatedly lifting and replacing the phonograph needle.

This is so true. Lift and replace, lift and replace. Sometimes it took a few people to figure out the lyrics.

[JonPR]

Originally Posted by Su_H.

I also like to add that Mozart composed his last few compositions while being stoned deaf.

Apart from that being Beethoven not Mozart, the expression is "stone deaf".

To be "stoned deaf" is either a really nasty public punishment ("Ow! that one went right in my ear!") , or an unfortunate - and unusual - result of over indulgence in illegal drugs...

Beethoven was certainly profoundly deaf at the end of his life, but it's surprising how much you can hear via vibration, eg by putting your ear against a piano. Evelyn Glennie is a world-class percussionist who has been deaf since the age of 12.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evelyn_Glennie

[Andyrondack]

Well that was truly inspirational.

[Su_H.]

Originally Posted by JonPR

Apart from that being Beethoven not Mozart, the expression is "stone deaf".

To be "stoned deaf" is either a really nasty public punishment ("Ow! that one went right in my ear!") , or an unfortunate - and unusual - result of over indulgence in illegal drugs...

Beethoven was certainly profoundly deaf at the end of his life, but it's surprising how much you can hear via vibration, eg by putting your ear against a piano. Evelyn Glennie is a world-class percussionist who has been deaf since the age of 12.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evelyn_Glennie

Jon, as always, you are full of knowledge. Thanks for the correction.

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by MakingMusic

…Sometimes it took a few people to figure out the lyrics.

Hi MM

And then we still got some of the wrong! There are endless debates about Loo-eye Loo-eye album lyrics (Richard Berry's Louie, Louie). And sometimes the people who 'wrote' the lyrics 'CHANGED' them when they recorded them!

It was a good day when album liners began including them. Interestingly copyright laws often preclude them from videos.

More cultures around the world have been teaching music without notation than with (even in these modern times the practice persists).

One of the things which drives playing by ear is the speed with which people are learning, performing and then discarding pop music. Faster than scores are produced.

[Chipotle]

Ok, who else has done this... you're covering a song, but no matter how many times you've listened to the lyrics you can't figure out a few words. None of the lyrics you Googled up make sense either. So you just sing some random syllables that sound kinda like the original but aren't even words.


... And nobody ever notices.

[The Bard Rocks]

Among the people I play with, I am virtually the only one who uses notation. Although I have taught myself to also play by ear, I find notation much easier. I rarely play complex involved music, mostly folky stuff.

I got one gig playing a musical because I was the only guitarist the promoter could find who could read music. Then I got the music and it was in bass clef! What the hey? I never learned to read bass clef as no instrument I ever played needed it - not even the BASS clarinet I played in college concert band.