Learn by ear or via tab? Which is best for you?
Hi folks,
I began playing harmonica by trying to copy licks from Sonny Terry, the only blues cassette I had at the moment. And there's nothing more enjoyable than hearing an awesome lick off a song and trying to repeat it.
I've been doing the lessons on this site for awhile now and realize that now I feel like I'm leaning more on the tablature and less on actually listening to the song. Once I've really learned the song, I don't need the tab and can play note for note as well as find freedom in improvising.
I feel like there is a nice happy medium of being able to look at tabs and "get" the song in some way just as there is a way to learn a song by using the slow-downer and taking it apart and transcribing piece by piece.
I'm curious to hear everybody's thoughts on how they first learn a song and really feel like they know it. Which approach feels better for you?
(This is also taking for granted that you actually spend enough hours working on the song, breaking it down and practicing over and over until you're comfortable playing it without stopping with your eyes closed, that is).
Thanks all!
My process is by ear first, then ill use my favorite software for slowing down (transcribe), and if i m having difficulties with a certain part, ill just search the web.
The most common mistake i see with people learning with tabs (not just harmonica related) is that they rush it and don't take the proper time to listen and feel the songs they are learning.
You cant transcribe music feel, its important to listen even if you have the notes in front of you. learning by ear will always be an important factor for music. its a must.
Tab and notation are both ways of describing music, but of course, the sound that comes out is what matters.
Ear is certainly the best way into playing and also iof judging the result.
But along the way, you may need either physical information such as hole and breath played, tongue technique, etc., and that's where tab can help.
You may also need to know the actual note names involved if you're working out harmonies. That's where notation can help, although you can know note names and even complex music theory without actually reading music.
It's all just down to tools. I wouldn't shun any of them; they can all be useful at certain times.
As a lefty guitar player using a right hand string orientation reading guitar tabs is an acrobatical mental feat to do. Basically, I gave up on guitar tab years ago for that reason as you can imagine. What's exciting for me as a newbie in the harp world... there is no left hand right hand tab for harp (that I'm aware of).
This puts me on a level playing field with everyone right from the gate. this is exciting for me, because it was always a struggle with guitar tab! The other bonus is that there is no special order, price gouging or or limited availability in the harp world when it comes to orientation... what a relief!
That said, I have been so used to playing by ear, I'm looking forward to incorporate tab (as well as by ear method) for learning new techniques and licks!
Cole
Research has shown we have different learning styles and get more out of one approach than others. This is not to say we get nothing one way and everything another. Personally, I find I save a lot of time if I use tabs as a reference when I listen to something I'm trying to learn - if they are available! If not, then Slow Downer or Transcribe are invaluable to me. The phrase by phrase break down videos in the lessons here are great for me!
David's lessons and tips semm to involve all ways so we can use what works for each of us. Tabs, slowed down audio tracks, tunes broken down by phrase, tips to hum or sing before you play, etc. To me that says, lots of ways to learn but we have use those techniques that work best for each of us!
Bottom line to me is, if all I've got is the audio from a cd then listen, hum, slow down, gradually sped up and repeat at will! And then repeat some more. But I'll go for as much help as I can get, whatever it is!
I just want to keep enjoying this learning stuff.
Thanks all for your thoughts on this. I've been using the slow downer and breaking things down by ear much more--wish it had been around when I started playing years ago!
Since I do theatre, I equate reading tab to "learning lines". And there's always interpretation in how lines are vocalized, which is why different actors can do drastically different Hamlets. And you eventually have to get "off book", which is more than just memorizing.
I find which ever way I learn, repetition and practice is the key till you get that sound/song you are looking for from inside your head and out through your harp.
I learn best by ear, because it forces me to figure out what's going on myself, which develops the ear, and it gets committed to memory better.
When learning new music, I get it into my ear by learning to sing it first. Only when I can do that do I pick up my instrument.
I agree totally. I find that I have to force myself to go from tab to actual playing and if I stick solely to the tab then I fail to make that leap to memory and then being more impromptu. Sometimes during a difficult chorus I just listen to it and then play it.