ShawnKirkpatrick - Posted - 03/03/2011:  19:01:17

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I'm trying to learn a new song to play at my churches talent show, but iv never really learned a song by ear on the banjo just the guitar. Banjo is a little but harder than guitar in some things. But how do you learn a song by ear? Thank you

beegee - Posted - 03/03/2011:  19:23:03

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Get the melody in your head
identify the chord progression
identify the licks, break it down in small sections
put 'em together

eagleisland - Posted - 03/03/2011:  19:31:32

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quote:

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Originally posted by beegee

Get the melody in your head
identify the chord progression
identify the licks, break it down in small sections
put 'em together

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Let me try to say the same thing in even fewer syllables:


Listen to the tune til you puke (-1 syllable)
Map the chords (-4)
find the licks, one by one (-7)
play it (-3)

I said it in 15 fewer syllables. But Beegee's advice couldn't have been more on the money.

5stringpicker2 - Posted - 03/03/2011:  20:47:38

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Listen,Listen,Listen! Get the song in your head know it note fer note b4 you translate it to the neck.

learn Chords! Find the Chord s is it G C G D G or is it G C D G it could be G D G C D G

Figure the licks! Is it a Forward with a 1/2 reverse then a Box Lick or Is it a reverse With Forward/Reverse Forward and a 1/2 Box Lick

& Pick! Practice the song til you know it back and forth and you can play it in your sleep

(I )===='---<::)

Texasbanjo - Posted - 03/04/2011:  05:43:43

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Or, another way would be to:

Listen until you have the melody in your mind and can sing/hum it.
Then try to pick out just the melody. Figure out the chords. When you have that down, then you can add licks where appropriate (like at the end of a musical phrase) and rolls, slides, hammers, etc.

If your songs is made up of only a bunch of licks strung together, you may be missing the melody completely.

Just my thoughts.

steve davis - Posted - 03/04/2011:  06:22:39

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Listen to the song 2 measures at a time.
Hum each note and find each note on the banjo.

When you know the key and chords,the note choices become more predictable.

A song usually is constructed around just 2 or 3 different ideas.
You'll start to see similarities and repetition which will simplify things,greatly.

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Edited by - steve davis on 03/04/2011 06:28:11

RB-1 - Posted - 03/04/2011:  06:26:35

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Adding to Steve's advice:

Slow it down to at least 1/5th of the tempo and listen for every individual note, until you can hum them one by one.
Find these on the neck, then practice, gradually building up speed, until perfect........

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Edited by - RB-1 on 03/04/2011 06:27:33

minstrelmike - Posted - 03/04/2011:  08:14:51

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I start with the chords. Most of the melody notes come from chord notes.

I usually try to get the melody on the 1st string up and down the neck using different chord placements, G at 0,5,9 or 12th frets. Then I work it into something down-the-neck.

How do you learn a song on guitar?
I teach the same way on banjo even tho most people think strumming chords on a banjo is stupid. I think it is the _first_ thing to do when learning music and the first thing to try when learning a new song or trying to get a new rhythm.

Kemo Sabe - Posted - 03/09/2011:  21:18:04

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quote:

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Originally posted by ShawnKirkpatrick

I'm trying to learn a new song to play at my churches talent show, but iv never really learned a song by ear on the banjo just the guitar. Banjo is a little but harder than guitar in some things. But how do you learn a song by ear? Thank you

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Here are a few thoughts for a sample song : Will The Circle Be Unbroken -

hangoutstorage.com/jukebox.asp...D%3D19919

...here we go: I IV I V I in the key of G: G...C...G...D...G - LISTEN for the chord changes [0n the AUDIO PLAYER - click on 'repeat' so you will have a continuous loop of the song without having to start it over and over]. (1) Use this song as a 'rhythm track' and strum along with the chord changes (2) Pick just the melody notes (3) Play rolls with the chord changes (4) Now combine the melody notes from (2) with the rolls from (3) as you listen to the 'rhythm track' ..put a little more emphasis on the melody notes (5) Add a slide or two and/or other slurs (6) Add a kick-off, licks, ending lick... Enjoy! OK! ...Now, let's do another song.......

Hope this helps someone. Phil

BTW Shawn - good luck at your talent show!

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Edited by - Kemo Sabe on 03/09/2011 21:31:26

David Cunningham - Posted - 03/10/2011:  04:48:44

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I google the chords and then play it and sing it until my wife is ready to throw up. Then I begin adding melody lines and she goes shopping.

Brian T - Posted - 03/10/2011:  08:39:07

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This is interesting, I'd like to accomplish the same thing.
However, I'm not looking forward to the puke-part.

wb4yal - Posted - 03/10/2011:  09:23:57

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Thanks guys, I am taking notes here also. As for the throw up part, I will try to skip that.

1moretime - Posted - 03/10/2011:  17:56:38

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All the above is right on. I follow the same learning pattern to the extreme of humming the tune in my sleep (as reported by my wife). Also, I vigorously play "air banjo" in the truck to help decipher chord progressions, while listening to my new song while driving (not recommended). Then I download some back-up tracks and 'get after it !!. It sure feels good when it comes together. Great luck.

mikey5string - Posted - 03/10/2011:  19:20:44

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dont listen to the song at all. you dont want it to spoil your creative interpretation.

find a tab of the song on the internet. try to find one with no chords. chords are for guitars and appliances.

play through the tab. the goal is to try to play it as fast as possible. if you miss a few notes or measures here or there dont worry, your fast playing will make up for any mistakes.

once you can play it to the end one time through without slowing down.

move on to a new tune

repeat.

;)