Learning to play by ear is one of the most valuable skills a musician can develop. It allows you to pick up songs quickly, improvise confidently, and deepen your connection with music. While some players seem to have a natural gift for it, playing by ear is a skill that can be learned and improved with practice.
In this guide, I’ll break down a systematic approach to learning any song by ear, covering essential techniques like analysing the music, slowing it down, breaking up difficult sections, and using tools like the Moises app to isolate or remove the bass.
Step 1: Listen in Depth
Before touching your bass, spend time actively listening to the song. Your goal is to understand its overall structure, harmony, and groove.
• Key & Scale: Is the song in a major or minor key? Recognizing this early helps narrow down the note choices.
Chord Progression:
Even if you don’t know the exact chords, listen for changes. Does the bass line follow the root notes of the chords?
Structure:
Identify sections like verse, chorus, bridge, and any key changes.
Bass Fills:
Are there any tricky runs or embellishments?
Rhythmic Feel:
Is it straight or swung? Are there any syncopations?
A great way to practice this is to hum or sing the bass line before playing it. This helps train your ear to recognise note movement without relying on your instrument.
Step 2: Slow It Down
Most songs are too fast to catch every note on the first listen, especially for complex bass lines. Slowing down the music makes it significantly easier to hear details.
Best Tools for Slowing Down Music:
Tempo SlowMo:
A simple app that lets you slow down audio without changing pitch.
YouTube Playback Speed Feature:
Click the settings gear icon on a YouTube video, go to “Playback speed,” and reduce it to 0.75x or 0.5x.
Moises App:
This app not only slows down music but also isolates instruments (more on this later).
When slowing down a section, play along at the reduced speed until you’re comfortable, then gradually speed it up. Playing something new slowly is always the best way to learn.
Step 3: Break Down Difficult Sections
If a bass line has a fast fill or a complex rhythm, chop it into smaller pieces and learn them one at a time.
How to Tackle a Difficult Bass Fill:
1. Listen to the fill repeatedly:
Focus on the rhythm and notes.
2. Play the first couple of notes:
Get comfortable before moving on.
3. Add one note at a time:
Piece it together slowly.
4. Loop the full fill at a slow speed:
Gradually increase the tempo.
A common mistake is trying to play a difficult part at full speed right away. This often leads to sloppy playing and frustration. Break it down, master each section, and then connect the pieces.
Step 4: Use Moises to Isolate or Remove the Bass
Sometimes, the bass can get buried in a mix, making it hard to hear certain details. The Moises App is a game-changer for learning by ear.
Two Ways to Use Moises:
1. Isolate the Bass:
Hear the bass line clearly without the distraction of other instruments. This helps catch nuances like slides, hammer-ons, and ghost notes.
2. Remove the Bass:
Play along with the full band as if you were in a live setting. This is great for testing if you’ve learned the part correctly.
Upload your song into Moises, tweak the isolation settings, and listen carefully to each note and rhythmic detail.
You can get the Moises app here:
Step 5: Play Along with the Original Track
Once you’ve figured out the bass line, practice playing along with the song. Start slow, then gradually bring it up to full speed.
• If something feels off, go back and check your notes.
• Use a metronome if you’re struggling with timing.
• Focus on locking in with the drummer.
The ultimate goal is to not just play the notes but also capture the feel and groove of the song.
How To Play By Ear - Final Thoughts
Playing by ear is like building a muscle—it improves the more you use it. By actively listening, slowing things down, breaking tricky parts into sections, and using tools like the Moises app, you’ll be able to learn any song with confidence.
Key Takeaways:
✔ Actively listen to the song before playing.
✔ Slow it down using Tempo SlowMo or YouTube’s speed controls.
✔ Break difficult sections into small, manageable pieces.
✔ Use the Moises app to isolate or remove the bass.
✔ Play along with the full track to develop groove and timing.
Keep training your ear, and soon, you’ll be able to pick up songs effortlessly—no tabs or sheet music needed.