Re: Playing by Ear

["d.m.fairweather" <dmf273@xxxxxxxxx>]

Patrick, I understand what you're saying about analyzing the intervals, but how do you
relate that to the harp?  Have you got every interval in every key corellated with a
physical location on your harp?  And are you thinking about all that stuff while you
play?  Or is it subconscious?

- --- "traume@xxxxxxxx" <traume@xxxxxxxx> wrote:
> I'm a lousy chromatic player, but I can play just about any 
> well-behaved melody on first try.  Sometimes in group jams that need 
> a little structure, I'll play the melody note-for-note for my 
> instrumental break - that way everyone knows when the break is over 
> so they can start singing again.
> 
> I think learning the mechanics of playing the instrument (i.e., being 
> able to go right to the note you need) is the easy part.  The hard 
> part is getting your mind around the tune, and figuring out those 
> needed notes while playing.
> 
> There are basically two approaches to figuring out a melody by ear: 
> 1) relative intervals and 2) absolute scale degrees.
> 
> Using the relative intervals approach would produce something like this:
> 
> C, unison, up fifth, unison, up major second, unison, down major second...
> 
> The absolute intervals approach, for the same song:
> 
> 1 1 5 5 6 6 5
> 
> The song is Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, and I prefer to use the 
> second method.  After thinking about music this way for years, I've 
> started to hear the characteristics of the scale degrees.  The 3rd 
> scale degree for example is unmistakable.  I just can't hear Jingle 
> Bells without thinking "3 3 3..."
> 
> The absolute scale degree method also helps me with figuring out the 
> starting note.  It's easy to hear the perfect 4th at the start of 
> Amazing Grace.  But I hear, "5th scale degree --> 1st scale degree." 
> So in the key of C I know to start on G, whereas others might start 
> on C and unintentionally play the key of F.
> 
> If I weren't so familiar with Hava Nagila (meaning I've actually 
> analyzed the score) I probably wouldn't get it on first try.  The 
> starting note could be thought of as the 5th scale degree of a minor 
> scale, but I definitely don't hear it that way - I hear it as the 
> 1st.  But As Time Goes By is a piece of cake, and I'm not saying that 
> to be boastful.  It's very straightforward: 3 4 3 2 1 2...  3 5 4 3 2 
> 4... etc.  Then I just have to deal with rhythm.  But if I can sing 
> or whistle it, I can play it.
> 
> Patrick
>