Playing By Ear I

Just as there are very few people who have perfect or absolute pitch - the ability to name a note just by hearing it - I'm convinced that there are really very few people who are actually 'tone deaf'. I think most of those people who would think of themselves in this way are merely unused to singing or playing melodies. I don't want you to think of yourself in this way, learning to pick out a melody is a skill and can be learned like any other skill.

I've taught people with all levels of musical ability but I'm going to aim this at those who'd describe themselves as not being able to carry a tune in a bucket. So, let's start by finding some simple melodies on the banjo. This is more a matter of ear training than it is one of learning to pick but just like anything else, the more you do it the better you'll be.

Before we get started I want you to get familiar with the diatonic (do-re-mi) scale on the banjo. For most of these lessons these are the only notes we'll be using.

---------0-2-4---4-2-0---------
-----0-1---------------1-0-----
-0-2-----------------------2-0-
-------------------------------
---------------0---------------

You should get familiar with the sound of this scale and where to find these notes, they are the only ones we'll be using for now. Play this scale over and over untill it's second nature.



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