Re: [Harp-L] singing ability

[gonz1@xxxxxxxxxxx]

John, 
When I first started out playing I was strictly an "ear player". This was because I didn't know how to read or write music...yet. Learning to play by ear is a learned skill just like everything music related. As an undergrad I had to take ear training classes to develop that part of my music abilities. It's not a "gift" that some have and some don't, it's a skill that has to be developed over time so don't get frustrated. 


If you have to start from square one, do it. Hum or sing the simplest melodies you can and try to play them in first position on your harmonica. I don't care if its jungle bells, twinkle twinkle, it doesn't matter because even the simplest of melodies are there to teach your ear about intervals that your ear needs to hear right now. Intervals like perfect fourths, C-F and perfect 5ths, C-G. Take it a step at a time. If you have to work on the same melody for a week do it. It'll come. But sing everything that is familiar to you. Besides, if your getting frustrated, then the learning is taking place anyway. 


Always play everything in first position when you do this. It will help your second position playing anyway. If you're looking at tabs when you play stuff get away from it. It will become a "crutch" to you after awhile especially when your trying to improve your ear. If were reading music, that would be different. But do your best to do this strictly by ear. Best of luck to you. 


kind regards, 
Roger Gonzales 

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Dekker" <jdekker@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> 
To: "harp-l" <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx> 
Sent: Friday, November 26, 2010 1:39:17 PM 
Subject: [Harp-L] singing ability 

It has been my observation that most good instrumentalists are at least decent singers. That is, they can carry a tune and voice what is in their heads. I suspect that this ability is directly related to being able to play by ear, that is, to play a song after hearing it a few times, without reference to written music or tabs. 

In my case, I can't sing a lick, and cannot play anything by ear to save my life. I can play melodies by reading the tabs, but have great difficulty in remembering or memorizing the tabs, and so cannot play the melody of a given song without reading the tabs. 

My question is this: is the ability to play by ear a natural talent that you either have or you don't, or can the ability be learned, and if so, how? After six months of serious effort, I can play single notes well, and bend them fairly well, but I am getting frustrated by my lack of ability to play anything without having the tabs in front of me. 

Any help or suggestions will be greatly appreciated. 

John