[Saxguy899]

Hello, i want to learn to play a song by ear. I have just played songs from sheet. I will of course practice on saxophone as much as possible. On rest days should I do this on piano aswell? will learning to play by ear on piano help me playing by ear on sax?

 

[1saxman]

Definitely. Particularly in recognizing the intervals and scale positions of the melody notes as well as the chords behind the melody.

 

[buddy lee]

Step one- can you sing the song?

If the answer to step one is yes, then you can play it. Sing the pitch, play the pitch, repeat until your ear is amazing.

 

[bokagee]

In music school it started with recognition of intervals, i.e., sing a major 6th, it sounds like the first 2 of the NBC tones; sing the first 3 notes of Bali Hai, the first and third tones are a major 7th. Once that's down pat, while you're listening or earballing you recognize the intervals from pitch to pitch and play them. After awhile, you hear a melody for its structure and just do it.

Or something like that.