Do you "play by ear" or music theory?

[db.]

I'm amazed at the wide range of bassists here - beginners to pro - all great...

 

I was just wondering what people think of someone who "plays by ear" vs. someone who reads music and knows theory inside out. How do you think it affects the approach to bass, and are the "ear" players at a severe disadvantage?

 

Personally, I've met classically trained musicians who can't write a good tune to save themselves, and "ear" players who can naturally write great material.

 

[SA Rios]

I know some theory, but I play by ear. Its not like I'm thinking, "oh, mixolydian would go really nice here" while I'm in the middle of a jam. I just play what sounds good to me.

[bassplayer7770]

I voted combination. I do know some theory, but I definitely haven't mastered theory. When learning cover songs, I'll often start by ear, then I might use some theory to figure out fills. However, sometimes the fills don't really follow theory, so they have to be learned by ear.

 

Does that make sense?

[db.]

I voted combination. I do know some theory, but I definitely haven't mastered theory. When learning cover songs, I'll often start by ear, then I might use some theory to figure out fills. However, sometimes the fills don't really follow theory, so they have to be learned by ear. Does that make sense?

 

Makes sense to me. Sometimes being a bit unorthodox can fit quite well.

[PaulyWally]

 

How do you think it affects the approach to bass, and are the "ear" players at a severe disadvantage?

 

 

IMO, there are advantages and disadvantages to each. By themselves, I wouldn't say one is better than the other. I think the best thing to have would be a mixture of both.

 

Personally, I play through knowledge of theory. I have a piss poor ear, and never was able to find a teacher (on any instrument) that could help me train my ear. And all I really want as a musician, is to be able to internalize a melody/chord/note/etc and be able to play it without thinking about it... or worse, having to first find it on the instrument.

 

Unfortunately, I can't.

[citizenralph]

By ear with a twist of theory.

[wades_keys]

I'm amazed at the wide range of bassists here - beginners to pro - all great... I was just wondering what people think of someone who "plays by ear" vs. someone who reads music and knows theory inside out. How do you think it affects the approach to bass, and are the "ear" players at a severe disadvantage? Personally, I've met classically trained musicians who can't write a good tune to save themselves, and "ear" players who can naturally write great material.

I can't judge other players in general, but I can say that learning theory has helped me greatly.

 

I played by ear for many years - I did learn some basic stuff like the pentatonic scale and the major scale patterns, but I didn't really think in terms of scale degrees.

 

I found that I was forever in search of the right "pattern" to fit the notes I was hearing; worse, I found myself playing "riffs" instead of notes.

[mlwarriner]

strictly by ear. i have somewhere less than zero theory knowledge.

 

i should change that, some day.

 

and i will.

 

some day.

[collinwho]

I pick up songs by ear, but a solid theory foundation makes that a lot easier. I intuitively play certain fills, but if I don't have any ideas, I will play around with chord structures and scales that I learned via theory.

[chubrocker]

I know enough theory to kinda sorta in a way know what I'm doing. I've learned so many songs by ear that some things just make sense to me when I learn/discover the theory piece.

[t3ch]

The only thing I know is that EADG is how it's strung. I couldn't play you a scale (let alone name one) or point out what frets correspond to what notes.

 

Saying I play by fumbling through is more accurate.

[Rowka]

I've learned my theory so I can play by ear.

[Renfield]

Why is there no option for the 5 coloured buttons on my GH controller?

[Renfield]

 

The only thing I know is that EADG is how it's strung. I couldn't play you a scale (let alone name one) or point out what frets correspond to what notes. Saying I play by fumbling through is more accurate.

 

 

This sounds like me.

[txbass68]

I can not play by ear. So, cover songs are difficult. I can usually get close. I know a little theory. I am have just started yesterday as a matter of fact working on theory. Hopefully it will help me out.

[jackcheez]

Mostly by ear.

[phaeton]

 

I voted combination. I do know some theory, but I definitely haven't mastered theory. When learning cover songs, I'll often start by ear, then I might use some theory to figure out fills. However, sometimes the fills don't really follow theory, so they have to be learned by ear. Does that make sense?

 

 

 

This is my approach too. Most stuff I can get by ear, but sometimes I have to lean on the theory to narrow down the possibilities. As 7770 says tho, stuff doesn't always follow the rules anyways, so theory can only be so much help in some instances.

 

I'm trying to learn to read music, at the moment. Seems fairly straightforward so far, I've just got to keep at it consistently so that I'm not forgetting/relearning every 6 months when I pick it up again.

[phaeton]

 

The only thing I know is that EADG is how it's strung. I couldn't play you a scale (let alone name one) or point out what frets correspond to what notes. Saying I play by fumbling through is more accurate.

 

 

 

Seriously? You don't know the notes on the neck?

[Kindness]

I know theory (not as well as some, but better than most) and I have a well conditioned ear. I play by playing. The ear tells me how it sounds and the theory tells me why it sounds the way it does.

 

My ear usually prefers very simple harmony and tells me to play without making use of the extent of the theory I know. I wish more players ears told them the same.

[wades_keys]

A lot of times I'll learn a piece by ear, but then I'll always go back and analyze it to fit it into what I know of theory.

 

This makes things easier for me to memorize and retain.

 

I've found that it's easier for me to think in terms of intervals than notes:

 

For example the fills at the end of "Allright Now" - I prefer to think of that first C# as a major third, rather than just the note C#.

 

This lets me connect the rest of the dots more easily; the lick is major scale based, so I know that the next note is a half step up (the 4th degree).

 

Plus if I have a brain fart, I can always find the major third based on the octave A at the 12th fret (down 1 string, back 1 fret).

[wades_keys]

I know theory (not as well as some, but better than most) and I have a well conditioned ear. I play by playing. The ear tells me how it sounds and the theory tells me why it sounds the way it does. My ear usually prefers very simple harmony and tells me to play without making use of the extent of the theory I know. I wish more players ears told them the same.

 

Theory should never dictate note selections; it should be a guide in service of the ear.

[Renfield]

I hear dead people.

[ThudMaker]

I play by ear with a decent, basic knowledge of theory. Part of my New Years Resolution for 2009 is to increase that knowledge and apply it appropriately to my bass, guitar and mandolin playing.

[dwalmz]

I play by ear for the most part. I know and studied theory and it automatically comes into use when I learn something or am working on an original bassline. I am proud of my very excellent ear skills though as I pick things up very quickly!

[blueyedmule]

I'm with Rowka. I studied theory and sightreading/ear training (SRET for those of you in da know) for two years so that I could put it all together on the fretboard. Theory gives me context and makes those on-the-fly decisions much easier, while the SRET allows me to know what I'm hearing (minor chord, major chord, chord inversions, tension and release) and to properly anticipate where it's going. I'm not the great shredhead I'd like to be, but I think I do pretty well in sit-ins with just about anyone. I attribute this in good part to the theory and SRET background. The other part is spending lots of time playing with people or with cd's or radio or whatever. Sometimes I'll plug in and watch tv and try to figure out ad jingles and soundtrack bits. You only have often a few notes or a few seconds of sound, so it's good eartraining drill and makes tv watching a little less mindless.

 

Don't take an either/or approach to this. It all works together. Theory isn't just a post-mortem analytical tool, and ear training isn't something you have to be in the middle of a show or jam to be able to do. They all come together when you kick out da lights!