ET-001 • Ear Training Basics

[Cas1086]

I am in stage one and just started going through Grade 0 in the Ear training course. In ET-053, he says “try to remember how you made that interval jump for future attempts but avoid learning the whole melody.” I’m not sure what this means. Could you explain what an interval jump is and why not learn whole melody?

[Damian666]

I'm reviewing my progress on the new site as I'm getting ready to complete the beginner course. I've noticed that ear training basics are now in the white beginner section.

Should I go back and complete these? along with the music theory that's also been added?

Some of the terms e.g. intervals etc inn not really sure on yet, are they really beginner level?

[stitch101]

Ear training has always been part of the Beginner Course. They start in stage 1 lesson BC-118 and continue in ever
stage. Unfortunately most peiole skip these lessons.
Which lesson you choose to do or not to do is up to you. The more you know the more you will understand.

An Interval is the space between each note. E to F is one interval E to F# is two E to G is three and so on.
And yes these are beginner level and easy to understand.
 

[Damian666]

Thanks for the reply and explanation of intervals.

I skipped the JUSTIN ear training exercises and have recently tried to go back to find that the chord recognition lessons don't play.

I'm going to try work my way through before heading to intermediate.

[doudi]

Hey guys!
I just started out with stage 1 of the White module of Beginner lessons, do you guys think I should start learning Ear Training 1 and Music Theory 1 while I am still doing the White module or should I wait until I finish all the beginner stages?
Thanks!

[supbowie]

Hi,

Depends on how much time you want / are able to spend on playing the guitar, I'd say. E.g. music theory is not directly related to playing the guitar itself and frankly, basic theory is not that difficult to grasp. If you're a beginner, your fingertips are probably still soft and hurt a lot, so you could take some breaks and do the ear training etc. Just give it a try and if it's to much you still can learn it later.

[DavidP]

I concentrated on the playing side initially, which included starting to record myself so as to get feedback from the Community.

Picked up the Music Theory, in the last couple of months. And am now busy with Grade 3.  It's a good match with learning the minor pentatonic scale and beginning to use scales to improvise melodies over chord progressions.

Haven't done any ear training, yet. Ear training is most useful when you start to either want to translate what you hear in your head into playing or to transcribe to learn licks and solos.  Until then perhaps not so necessary.

I'm nearly two years in.

[doudi]

Hey guys!
I'm just a beginner who's starting out in the White module of the beginner course.
On the sitemap Ear Training Intro and Grade 1 are found under the White, is it better to finish all 9 stages of the beginner category then begin with ear training, or is it better to learn each lesson as it is mentioned in the sitemap (Grade 1 in white, Grade 2 in yellow...)?
Thanks!

[BobbyJohns]

Hello all,

As a follow up to doudi's query, I would be super grateful for some clarity regarding the correct time to begin the Ear Training grades. I have had a good look through the forums before making this post but sadly couldn't find a clear consensus on the right moment to commence Ear Training within the Beginner's Course.

I'm happy to be corrected if I'm wrong, but from what I can see, the JUSTIN method is currently interwoven into the lesson structure for the Beginner's course at each stage - and I have been following along with this in stages 1-3.

In contrast, the Ear Training grades are not directly interwoven into the Beginners course lesson structure. As a result, the Ear Training lessons do not appear within any of the Beginner's Course stages as lessons, nor do they appear as the 'Next Module' after completing the final lesson within a Beginner's Course Stage.

When one looks at the lesson map page, the Ear Training and Music Theory grades #1 are slotted directly after completion of stage 3 of the Beginner's course.

So... would I be right to infer that Justin intends for us to begin the Ear Training and Music Theory grades #1 at this stage in our learning?

Similarly, when looking over the lesson map, it appears that Ear Training and Music Theory Grades #2 are slotted in after Beginner's Course Stage 6.

Ideally, I'm trying to follow the structure in the way that Justin has intended as I appreciate that he's taken a lot of time to curate the lessons and determine the best time to begin the different elements.

Any help here would be really appreciated and apologies for the lengthy first post!

Thank you so much for any help here

[lecheval]

I'm wondering if someone can help clarify the "figuring out happy birthday" part of the intro to ear training. So far, I've been able to figure out Happy Birthday starting with the index finger on the 5th fret of the G string ( ) like Justin starts with. But when he says to move anywhere on the neck and start with the pinky, he loses me there. If I move and start with my pinky on the, say, 10th fret of G, should I be staying boxed into the frets my hand can reach (10, 9, 8, 7) and just experiment up and down?

I'm only at beginner stage 3-ish, but I know about the minor pentatonic from some hacking around I did as a kid, so I feel like it's messing with my understanding of this exercise. Not sure if it makes sense to start trying to improv Happy Birthday from an arbitrary starting point, but I must not be understanding right. Can anyone help shed some light? Thanks!

[DanniTSI3]

Following but I paused Justin's video on this and I think he shows us the answer so I'm a gonna check that out tomorrow... Will report back

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[DanniTSI3]

In the lesson notes it says not to play on the one string but to move within the closest frets :-)

[jump]

      Hi all when u try and play mellodys bye  ear is there a right or wrong way or is it just if it sounds right it is right

[Johan217]

If you get all the notes right, you are playing the melody. That's what counts most. However to get to the bottom of it, you also have to listen for the subtleties (are you hearing a fretted note or open string, is there vibrato going on etc) and figure out a sensible way to play it (i.e. where you put which finger).

[jump]

              ok thank u I realy apriciate all the answers on my question

[misterlutherman1]

It depends on what your aim is. If you want to play the melody exactly as it is, then there is a definite right way. However, if it sounds good to you, even if you aren't sure of whether you nailed it exactly, then it serves you in that you've learned something new that you like the sound of.

Music is wonderful like this. You can even learn just parts of a melody, then rework them into something else entirely, and it will still be 'right', because you've made something you like the sound of.

I hope this helps!

[supps]

I know i can start to learn what i am hearing, but in the lesson it starts with playing happy birthday from your musical brain.(mine is just know learning the major chords) so i am not familiar with all the notes. would you recommend a certain level of playing or courses completed before diving into ear training?     for example finish all beginner courses? or some of the music theory?

[useDraW]

all of the time.

[Majik]

I would say as soon as you understand what intervals are and how they relate to notes, chords and scales.

Cheers,

Keith

[Hari]

Will i be able to pick songs by ear after Justin's ear training course(all 3 grades)?

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[DarrellW]

Will i be able to pick songs by ear after Justin's ear training course(all 3 grades)?

It will definitely make it easier, it’s a bit more difficult to work out the chords unless you have some theory to back it up. You need the knowledge of scales and chord progressions to be able to transpose with reasonable accuracy.