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Ear Training Exercises

Practice & Mindset Intermediate 1 min read

Updated

A well-developed ear is one of the highest-leverage skills a bass player can invest in — it lets you hear chord changes, follow other musicians in real time, and learn songs faster. For me it was always a struggle because I didn't enjoy it, and I regret not busting ass on it sooner. This post shares a few exercises to get started.

Originally published June 7, 2013, lightly edited for clarity.

A well-developed ear is the highest-leverage skill a bass player can invest in — it lets you hear chord changes, follow other musicians in real time, and learn songs faster. I have always felt it important to never underestimate the power of a well developed ear. Being able to hear your way through the different aspects of playing music on your bass is essential for a successful career. For me it was always a struggle to work on simply because I didn’t enjoy it. I regret not really busting ass on it before I started playing professionally. So my message to you is, if you are not really working on it, it’s time to turn it on. The following video has a couple of exercises to help you get started. Ear training is one of the fundamentals I teach. For structured ear-training work as part of lessons, online bass lessons via Zoom are available.

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