How to Develop a Good Ear
What do we mean when we say that someone “has a good ear?”
Actually, the term can mean several things. When someone has a
good ear, they can accomplish at least one of the following:
1) they can identify, usually by note name, the various pitches
that they hear, and sing those pitches in tune; 2) they can
identify chords by name; and/or 3) they can identify instruments
or combinations of instruments within a musical work.
Having a good ear is something that most musicians strive for.
Having a bad ear means that you can’t recognize or label the
music you are hearing - an important skill for performers and
composers.
I run a songwriting website, (The
Essential Secrets of Songwriting ), and I know how important
a good ear is. If you are a songwriter, having a good ear is
vital because the best way to improve your songwriting craft is
to listen to the music of the professionals. But if you can’t
really identify what you are hearing, you’re missing out on
opportunities to improve. Throughout my years as a music
teacher, I have observed something interesting and very
important. The marks that my students make in music theory
studies are usually very close to the marks they receive in ear
training. And more than that, I can usually gauge how a student
is going to do in one course by looking at their progress in the
other. For example, students who do well in theory but poorly in
ear training will usually see their ear training marks rise over
time. And students who have great ears but weak theory skills
will generally experience better marks in theory over time. In
other words, music theory and ear training go hand in hand. The
first and most important thing you can do to improve your ear is
to improve your theory skills. Why? When you understand how
music is structured, your ears have a reason for what they are
hearing.
Here’s one good example. In any key, there are three or four
certain chords that work well to reinforce that key, and are
more likely to occur than any other chords. Knowledge of theory
helps you know and identify those chords. So when you are
listening to music and trying to identify the chords you are
hearing, you can focus in the most likely choices. Besides
improving your theory skills, here are some other pieces of
advice for you:
1) Try some of the ear training websites that are out there.
Just do a search for “online ear training” and you’ll find lots
of resources that can help.
2) Try purchasing some ear training software. These days, most
university aural perception programs incorporate computerized
training into their curriculum.
3) Try writing down the melodies that you hear being played.
Transcribing music in this manner actually does not require
strong music reading skills, and you will find that what skills
you do possess will improve greatly and quickly. Take a simple
song, and play it on your CD player a bit at a time, writing
down whatever notes you hear. Even if you aren’t sure of the
rhythms, write whatever pitches you can. If you’re stuck on a
note, find it on your guitar or piano, and then write it down.
This is the best ear training exercise there is!
Practicing your instrument is crucial to becoming a better
musician. But be certain that you don’t neglect your ear!