Essentially, I learned how to play the guitar almost totally by ear. Sure, I got a couple of chord books and even a few jazz instruction books but mostly, all I did was grab the chords in the books that I felt were essential to accomplish what I wanted to do.

Beyond that.... I would simply go in my room, shut the door, turn on the radio to the top 40 pop music station and play along with the songs. This was in the days before the vast majority of musicians tuned to A-440 so I was out of tune on quite a few songs. Maybe it was me because all I used to tune was a pitch pipe. Not the best or most accurate way to tune.

But playing something you know, or something you have only heard a few times, or better yet, have never heard, and playing along with it is one of the best ear trainers you can have. Having had some piano lessons that tended towards the theory side, really helped in understanding where a song might be going next. This came in handy when I was asked to play the guitar at a singing function party for a church group as a teenager. It's challenging at first but the more you do it the easier it becomes. So much so that when I was asked to jam/set in with a band at a gig, and at the time I was a rock and roller, while the band was country, I was able to play along with confidence and even took a large number of the solos because that's what they really needed. At the end of the jam/gig, they asked if I wanted a job and I went on to play with them. Several weeks later, the rhythm player and singer skipped town and we found ourselves at a gig with the singer and rhythm guitarist gone. I had to fill both lead and rhythm on songs that I was hardly comfortable with. My ear training again provided me with the tools to pull off that gig and many more that followed. Our band backed a few Nashville stars and again.... songs that we didn't play but needed to provide a believable backing track for the star. One said he wished he could take us on tour with him...... still waiting on that phone call.

On the flip side, I've known some really amazing sight readers. Several of the church piano players could sight read keys with 4 and 5 sharps and flats. Played it like they had been playing it all their lives. But ask them to jam in the key of A on a 1,4,5 progression and they'd look at you like you were speaking Klingon. They had no clue and were totally unable to jam.

Ear training is critical to a well rounded player. Like has been said.... " turn on the record player "

Last edited by Guitarhacker; 02/13/22 06:52 AM.
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