Playing By Ear

How to Practice

1. 1Choose a simple riff or song fragment, preferably from a genre you're familiar with.
2. 2Listen to the fragment several times, focusing first on rhythm and structure.
3. 3Slowly reproduce the fragment on guitar, correcting mistakes and adjusting your playing.
4. 4Repeat until you're satisfied with the result or until the end of the exercise time.

Tips & Techniques

• •Start with simple, single-line riffs - avoid complicated pieces at the beginning.
• •Use technology - apps allowing song slowdown or isolating fragments can be helpful.
• •Sing the notes you hear before playing them on guitar - this helps internalize the sounds.
• •Don't be afraid to experiment on different strings and positions to find the right notes.