I tried for years trying to play by ear but I eventually gave up & started using my fingers instead and quickly improved! 🤣 (My headaches stopped too!)👍 Anyhoo GREAT video as usual
Great video! Like always! 😃😃😃 For me playing by ear is a ability that needs to be trained. I started doing this about a year ago because I didn't want to be so "caught up in the sheet music" all of the time. The beginning wasn't easy, but I've developed a technique that works great for me. This is how I do it: 1. Find out which key it is. It reduces the number of possible notes. And, it makes it easier to figure out if it's a half step or a whole step. 2. Work on the song bar by bar (never do the whole song/solo at once). Yes this takes time, but it`s very effective. 3. Singing helps 4. A looping app / program also helps because you can reduce the tempo and really listen closely. Listen to the measure over and over again until you memorize it, then try to play it note by note. 5. Start with easy songs. At a certain point your ears are able to pick things out. Scott, I'd still love to hear "I Can't Make You Love Me" from you. That would be so awesome! 😍😍😍
I am trying to learn Spain of Chick .I slowed the hardest part and write down the notes.then transferred to sax.I think I will achieve soon .not so easy song but slowing down has made my day.I can sing that fast passage and mostly playing that part .Thanks to my ears and you too .
I mastered playing by ear during one intense summer of practice about 3 hrs/day. Eventually I could readily play any recorded number nearly error free the first time having never heard it before. I accomplished this unencumbered by the concept of playing the next note correctly without know what it is is impossible. This all happened in my first year. I could play stuff that was far far beyond my ability to sight read it. As long as it was within my ability to move my fingers I could play it. I didn't have any Paganini recordings. I felt like I was cheating and thought this would be detrimental to my sight reading progress. So I never let anyone know i could do it. If I were playing in a band next to a good player I could "read" as well with my eyes closed as open by just following the other guy. Weird right? I completed my music education and went on to sight read thousands of numbers in various venues in decades of playing. I avoided playing by ear. Only one time did I ear play for someone. After an upsetting comment to friends wife struggling with a Phil Woods solo she said she would like to see me play this. An odd response because she thought I was an engineer not a musician. I barely knew her. She didn't know I had a couple of decades of woodwind experience. When I reached for the Alto she was taken aback and froze. In a moment I said do you want me to play it or not? She chuckled and then reluctantly offered the instrument but was shocked again when I asked for the neck strap. I played a single note to test the reed and said go ahead. I played what she struggled with easily and error free She tells the story "played like he wrote it". She could not accept that I played this right the first time but it never occurred to her that I heard her try twice so it was really my third time. She challenged me on other numbers on the album which I easily played and then she said I have to have this record. I didn't have it nor had a touched an Alto for 20 years. (tenor and Soprano yes). Determine to destroy me she brought out a recording of her band that was an original composition and never played in public. She said I've got something you can't possibly play. I easily did and we were great friends from then on. She never asked me to play again. Sadly she died of cancer a decade later. Although I'm not a singer, I equate ear playing to singing. A singer and to some extent a violin player has no fixed inherent pitch control system. Where as wind instruments have keys and buttons. A singer has to learn how to produce pitches just by ear. If they are singing without accompaniment the note pitches are up to them. Some singers can do this well and some can't. I think playing by ear is just like singing along except the Sax is your voice. The ear playing skill is the ability to think of a pitch and autonomically and accurately produce it on the instrument. I wonder if skilled singers would be quicker to master playing by ear? Like getting to Carnegie Hall, ear playing just takes practice, practice, practice.
I have been playing for three years now, and started practising playing by ear yesterday. I readmusic fine, and have memorised 12 songs so far.but I often play the wrong notes when I’m performing. Therefore, I hope playing by ear would greatly increase my ability and playing anything on the saxophone. I was really inspired by your comment. Thank you so much😊
Your theory is very usefull to beginner specially to late bloomer musicians who started learning instrument in their 20s but useful also to classical player note reader shifting to pop tunes playing
A song I would really like to play by ear is How Could an Angel Break My Heart. Love your teaching. I am a new sax player, but I'm retired so have lots of time to practice.
Hey Thomas! That's a great tune to start with as it has a lot of scale movement. It's in the key of D major on the alto. The song starts on the 3rd note of the D scale (D, E, F#, G, A, B, C#, D) and goes up... (1st phrase) F#, F#, G, G, A, A, B, B (2nd phrase) G, G, A, A, B, B, C#, C# That should get you started! If you're looking for some direction in what to practice. Check out my Sax School. www.scottpaddocksaxschool.com
Great tutorial once again! On a side note, the great tone you produce on your alto makes me pick up my own alto more often. I usually play bari. Thanks much, Scott
I am a KEYBoard player I desire to play a SAXOPHONE but I have NO accses to saxophone and there is NO teacher here for SAXOphone but there is ONLY a PIANO-teacher and so , I learned to play a PIANO ins-tead . JULY 8, 2021 at 11:00 A.M. Philippines .
Thanks for this very good tutorial. May I suggest a part 2 on how to place the melody with the rhythm and backing track. This is where I struggle currently with "my way" soung.
Thanks once again for taking the trouble to help us out. I will certainly be putting your advice into practice. I would love to be able to play Hejira by ear..... maybe one day - 😞.
It would be fascinating to learn how you developed your own distinctive recognizable sound, style. Is it still evolving? Who are your major musician influences? Etc.
I have sat down to do this video several times, and it is soooooooo hard to boil it down to just a couple things. I'll put it on the list and give it another try. Thanks!
i follow you...here in romania it's some kind of double toughing...butt fast...over 160 beats...but they use tip of the toung..up one note ..down one note..and they sincronise fingers...its way another technic that you are explenatbone time how to toughing...if you have some time pleas search romanian sax players..and try to figure out and explain how they do
It's in F# major on the alto sax and the first part goes: F# G# A# / F# G# A# / F# G# F# Figure out the rest using your F# major scale: F# G# A# B C# D# E# F# (not the easiest key)
A lot of excellent advices Scott!! As you said, I’ll add this technique part of my practice. Not an special song, but I would like to know how yo identify the change of the cords and which one are in the song 🙏🏽
Think of PICK UP THE PIECES being Fmaj7 and D-7. So almost the whole tune is jumping around those chord tones with a few scale degrees thrown in. F A C E / D F A C (for alto). Also, listen at 75% or 50%, on TH-cam or a looper app.
![ฮักเทื่อสุดท้าย - บอย ศิริชัย [OFFICIAL MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/-1PoPoQ-B-k/mqdefault.jpg)
I tried for years trying to play by ear but I eventually gave up & started using my fingers instead and quickly improved! 🤣
(My headaches stopped too!)👍
Anyhoo GREAT video as usual
Best comment!!!! 😂😅😂😅🤣
I've looked at couple of videos now and I'm inpressed. I plan to sign up
😁😁😁 Looking forward to having you as a member.
Great video, Scott. Like that you explain the steps on “how”. 🎵😍🎷
I just love your videos. Clear explanations nicely explained
Thank you!!!
Great video! Like always! 😃😃😃
For me playing by ear is a ability that needs to be trained. I started doing this about a year ago because I didn't want to be so "caught up in the sheet music" all of the time. The beginning wasn't easy, but I've developed a technique that works great for me. This is how I do it:
1. Find out which key it is. It reduces the number of possible notes. And, it makes it easier to figure out if it's a half step or a whole step.
2. Work on the song bar by bar (never do the whole song/solo at once). Yes this takes time, but it`s very effective.
3. Singing helps
4. A looping app / program also helps because you can reduce the tempo and really listen closely. Listen to the measure over and over again until you memorize it, then try to play it note by note.
5. Start with easy songs. At a certain point your ears are able to pick things out.
Scott, I'd still love to hear "I Can't Make You Love Me" from you. That would be so awesome! 😍😍😍
That sounds like a great process.
Thank you MAESTRO!
cool I'm also playing by ear and know basic music theory it's really help me to find what key I'm listening to. great content.
Nice summary of a really complex process. Great job Scott! 👍🏻
Valuable info as per usual
I am trying to learn Spain of Chick .I slowed the hardest part and write down the notes.then transferred to sax.I think I will achieve soon .not so easy song but slowing down has made my day.I can sing that fast passage and mostly playing that part .Thanks to my ears and you too .
I mastered playing by ear during one intense summer of practice about 3 hrs/day. Eventually I could readily play any recorded number nearly error free the first time having never heard it before. I accomplished this unencumbered by the concept of playing the next note correctly without know what it is is impossible. This all happened in my first year. I could play stuff that was far far beyond my ability to sight read it. As long as it was within my ability to move my fingers I could play it. I didn't have any Paganini recordings. I felt like I was cheating and thought this would be detrimental to my sight reading progress. So I never let anyone know i could do it. If I were playing in a band next to a good player I could "read" as well with my eyes closed as open by just following the other guy. Weird right? I completed my music education and went on to sight read thousands of numbers in various venues in decades of playing. I avoided playing by ear.
Only one time did I ear play for someone. After an upsetting comment to friends wife struggling with a Phil Woods solo she said she would like to see me play this. An odd response because she thought I was an engineer not a musician. I barely knew her. She didn't know I had a couple of decades of woodwind experience. When I reached for the Alto she was taken aback and froze. In a moment I said do you want me to play it or not? She chuckled and then reluctantly offered the instrument but was shocked again when I asked for the neck strap. I played a single note to test the reed and said go ahead. I played what she struggled with easily and error free She tells the story "played like he wrote it". She could not accept that I played this right the first time but it never occurred to her that I heard her try twice so it was really my third time. She challenged me on other numbers on the album which I easily played and then she said I have to have this record. I didn't have it nor had a touched an Alto for 20 years. (tenor and Soprano yes). Determine to destroy me she brought out a recording of her band that was an original composition and never played in public. She said I've got something you can't possibly play. I easily did and we were great friends from then on. She never asked me to play again. Sadly she died of cancer a decade later.
Although I'm not a singer, I equate ear playing to singing. A singer and to some extent a violin player has no fixed inherent pitch control system. Where as wind instruments have keys and buttons. A singer has to learn how to produce pitches just by ear. If they are singing without accompaniment the note pitches are up to them. Some singers can do this well and some can't. I think playing by ear is just like singing along except the Sax is your voice. The ear playing skill is the ability to think of a pitch and autonomically and accurately produce it on the instrument. I wonder if skilled singers would be quicker to master playing by ear? Like getting to Carnegie Hall, ear playing just takes practice, practice, practice.
Can you share your email ID? This sounds very interesting and I would like to clarify something with you
A great read, this totally resonates with me and mirrors my own experience with playing exclusively by ear since picking up the sax three ago.
I have been playing for three years now, and started practising playing by ear yesterday. I readmusic fine, and have memorised 12 songs so far.but I often play the wrong notes when I’m performing. Therefore, I hope playing by ear would greatly increase my ability and playing anything on the saxophone. I was really inspired by your comment. Thank you so much😊
Just my imaganation ( not enought Suprano) I have an alto but have this love for Suprano
best vid on this topic!
thank you, im trying to play the sax solo from kool and the gang "too hot"
I’ve taken x10 solfar singing lessons to help me with my Sax playing certainly has helped me with interval spotting
Great video like always! Thank you Scott!😎
Your theory is very usefull to beginner specially to late bloomer musicians who started learning instrument in their 20s but useful also to classical player note reader shifting to pop tunes playing
A song I would like to play by ear is Keepon Rolling by King George.
A song I would really like to play by ear is How Could an Angel Break My Heart. Love your teaching. I am a new sax player, but I'm retired so have lots of time to practice.
Hey Thomas! That's a great tune to start with as it has a lot of scale movement.
It's in the key of D major on the alto.
The song starts on the 3rd note of the D scale (D, E, F#, G, A, B, C#, D) and goes up...
(1st phrase) F#, F#, G, G, A, A, B, B
(2nd phrase) G, G, A, A, B, B, C#, C#
That should get you started!
If you're looking for some direction in what to practice. Check out my Sax School. www.scottpaddocksaxschool.com
Great content Scott.
Stating the obvious, that notes are not random is an important ah-ha moment for me. Thanks!
That's a pretty common problem. Once you narrow down the scale and the chords it gets a lot easier!
Big video Thank, want to learn ‘soul power 72’
Great tutorial once again! On a side note, the great tone you produce on your alto makes me pick up my own alto more often. I usually play bari. Thanks much, Scott
Thanks!
I am a KEYBoard player I desire to play a SAXOPHONE but I have NO accses to saxophone and there is NO teacher here for SAXOphone but there is ONLY a PIANO-teacher and so , I learned to play a PIANO ins-tead . JULY 8, 2021 at 11:00 A.M. Philippines .
Scott, great lesson, thanks!
Thanks for this very good tutorial. May I suggest a part 2 on how to place the melody with the rhythm and backing track. This is where I struggle currently with "my way" soung.
Great tips Scott I will definitely practice this so I can get it.
Such a great video! Any tips on getting harmony by ear on the sax?
Thanks once again for taking the trouble to help us out. I will certainly be putting your advice into practice. I would love to be able to play Hejira by ear..... maybe one day - 😞.
Nice one ! That was helpful.
Great video. Thank you.
It would be fascinating to learn how you developed your own distinctive recognizable sound, style. Is it still evolving? Who are your major musician influences? Etc.
I have sat down to do this video several times, and it is soooooooo hard to boil it down to just a couple things. I'll put it on the list and give it another try. Thanks!
"Sorrow Long Day" from a game soundtrack been trying to play it for years
Perfect timing! Lol
👍👍
Great video Scott 👌
Thank you Guroo ❤️🙏🇳🇵
A song I would like to play by ear is Train by King George.
When learning a song, do you suggest trying to learn by ear or use sheet music?
I've been trying to do this following Michael Wilbur (moon hooch).. I think he has a few more fingers and an extra lung...
I want to learn Black by peal jam
i follow you...here in romania it's some kind of double toughing...butt fast...over 160 beats...but they use tip of the toung..up one note ..down one note..and they sincronise fingers...its way another technic that you are explenatbone time how to toughing...if you have some time pleas search romanian sax players..and try to figure out and explain how they do
I wanna learn Bibanke by Asa 😭🙏🏾
It's in F# major on the alto sax and the first part goes: F# G# A# / F# G# A# / F# G# F#
Figure out the rest using your F# major scale: F# G# A# B C# D# E# F# (not the easiest key)
@@ScottPaddock omg thank youuu
A lot of excellent advices Scott!! As you said, I’ll add this technique part of my practice. Not an special song, but I would like to know how yo identify the change of the cords and which one are in the song 🙏🏽
So Scott if the root is F sharp , is it an alto F sharp or a piano f sharp ?
Surely its altoF#scale
I usually play by ear, but 2 songs I am having difficulty picking up are "Por Ti Volare" (Time to say Goodbye) and "Pick Up the Pieces.)
Think of PICK UP THE PIECES being Fmaj7 and D-7. So almost the whole tune is jumping around those chord tones with a few scale degrees thrown in. F A C E / D F A C (for alto). Also, listen at 75% or 50%, on TH-cam or a looper app.
I also struggle with pick up the peices. Its a finger buster for me
I will try to slow it down and work on it.
@@ScottPaddock Thank you Scott for always breaking down your videos and explaining what we need to do to get better.Ive learned a lot from your videos
👍
It’s so easy for me to play by Ear I learnt it myself .....But I can’t read sheet music 🥺🥺🥺❤️😂
Check out the course in my Sax School. You'll be able to read music in under a month! www.scottpaddocksaxschool.com
Are you a buddhist? I saw the buddha in the background
Valuable info as per usual