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It is a myth that only seasoned musicians can learn how to play guitar by ear. The thrill one gets from discovering music spontaneously is not a gift reserved for the few. A willing student can incorporate these simple beginner steps to rid themselves of music sheets and tablature.

Practice on the piano keyboard

Beginners and more advanced students should learn to play by ear with a keyboard because it is designed for comfort. You can see the notes you’re playing whereas the guitar is a portable instrument and is much more complicated. So unless you are a skilled guitar player, stick to the intuitiveness of the piano.

Important to skills to nourish

Before you can play by ear you will need to learn to listen properly to music and practice your singing. Listen to the entire song: engross yourself in it and watch how specific parts arouse specific emotions in you. Then sing the song until you can hear and anticipate the melody in your mind. The more you sing, the more proficient you will become at hitting the right pitch. The final skill to learn will be to hit the right notes when you are attempting to play your song. For this, learning a major scale pattern or two will be the perfect aid.

Pick a song in C major

If you are trying to play a song in C major on the piano, you can hit any white key to get the correct note. Pick a song in C major, find the starting note, and then try to figure out the notes that follow by listening to the song and asking yourself if the next note is higher or lower. In no time you will master it, and it will only get easier with practice. Stick with songs in C major until your ear develops.

Play the melody on guitar

In order to learn to play on the guitar, you will first need to be able to play a major scale from memory. Next learn to play the beginning three notes of your song: you can use either music sheets or tabs. Then listen attentively to your song and guess the fourth note by asking yourself if it is lower or higher than the third note, just like in the previous exercise. You can now play the major scale you learned to help locate your notes.

Diversify your majors and scales to find patterns

As you improve your skill level, do not forget that playing by ear means discovering patterns in notes, not relying on muscle memory. Imagine where your desired notes are relative to the scales you learn, not the placement of your fingers on the fretboard. Mastering all CAGED positions will help keep your imagination flowing.

There are many benefits to learning to play guitar by ear, and you have the comfort of knowing that while it may be difficult to pinpoint the location of a note at first, your accuracy will improve along with your ear for music. Surprise yourself by mastering this respected ability and you might find your confidence spills into other aspects of your life.

For the best advice on playing guitar by ear visit How To Play Guitar By Ear for all you need to know.