| What do you do when you're in a dark room | | | | So why should I, the author of this article on the |
| bumping into furniture and knocking things onto | | | | benefits of ear training, bring up such a sore point |
| the floor? You may persist with trying to feel | | | | with you? And why are you still interested in |
| your way around for a while, but what about | | | | continuing to read this article? |
| when you can't find what you're looking for? Now | | | | Because deep inside you know that I'm right. |
| you're in trouble. You need to find the light switch! | | | | Having a strong musical ear is what separates the |
| The same thing happens with playing guitar. You | | | | inspired from the mundane. Passively listening to |
| know the feeling. You're jamming to a backing | | | | software or an electronic keyboard play intervals |
| track and you feel empty inside. You feel | | | | and chords isn't going to turn that light switch on. |
| disconnected to the music. You're fingers are | | | | Because the brain can't learn through being |
| blazing but it's the same old stuff. | | | | passive. The brain requires action to stimulate |
| Maybe you feel inspiration for a new song...but | | | | new connections and insights. |
| you can't find the sounds on your instrument that | | | | So how do Masters develop powerful musical |
| you're hearing inside. And secretly you wish you | | | | ears? Through actively singing and vocalizing the |
| could figure out more songs and licks by ear. | | | | sounds. It's called internalization. They sang in a |
| If you're in a band and you want to sing back up | | | | choir or they wrote out music scores by hand |
| harmonies but lack that confidence then you're in | | | | while singing or humming. Most great guitarists |
| trouble. You need to find the light switch. | | | | learned by transcribing recordings of great guitar |
| Where is the light switch? It's inside of you. How | | | | playing onto their guitar. Tedious, yes? But once |
| is it inside of you? And even if it is, how do you | | | | you build up a head of steam it'll take you where |
| turn it on? The answer is Ear Training. | | | | you want to go. |
| Yes yes yes, you say. I know all about ear | | | | You've found that light switch. And the connection |
| training! I even bought courses and software to | | | | from the music to your heart and brain that |
| develop my musical ear. I've taken guitar theory | | | | you've been looking for will be there right in front |
| lessons. But they didn't really work, did they? No. | | | | of you. |