JFRocks Ear Training 101 Problem page                                                     Copyright © 2005-2006 JFRocks

This page contains no tabs.  This is a page that contains an Audio lesson in wma format that contains a riff or solo for you to try to figure out using the tips that Jeff gives you as a guideline.  If this is an older problem and already has an answer page there will be no opportunity for you to submit a tab of how you think this problem is played.  If however it is a new problem and has no answer posted as of yet you will be able to anonymously submit a tab of how you think Jeff is playing the problem.  Be warned these are designed to help your ear and are designed to fool you most of the time.  Please don't cheat and do the answers too fast if they are available.  You are only depriving yourself of a great learning opportunity if you do that. 

All content on this page is protected by US copyright and is owned by JFRocks or is used by special permission.  Reproduction or redistribution of any kind free or otherwise is prohibited.  JFRocks content must remain on JFRocks.com and is the property of JFRocks.

Be sure to listen to the whole audio file.  The answer to this problem will have a video and detailed lesson.

Audio

Contains the problem riff or solo to be figured out

Think you know how this problem riff or solo is played ? Or even what effects may or may not have been used.

Problem Tips: 

Problem 3 was fairly easy for most of you as you got a lot of tips from me to point you in the right direction.  Problem 4 here will be a tad bit more difficult.  Not necessarily more difficult to play but you will receive less clues from me.

You will need to watch a few things with this riff.  Below is a list of things you go through.  Think of it as your riff learning check list. 

Also, remember all of these problems / lessons tie together.  Don't forget things you learned in problem 1 or problem 2, when figuring out problem 4.  Don't erase the chalkboard is all I'm saying. 

Check list for figuring out this problem:

1.  Tuning, are there open strings and if so is the tuning flat or standard.  I.e. if you hear an open E string and match it and notice it's an Eb pitch, what does that tell you about the tuning being used?  (not saying it's flat just simply making a point.)

2.  Listen to the riff.  Then when you are learning it just listen to the notes.  Take each note, one at a time.  Double check yourself to be sure you are not hearing the 3rd or the 5th etc. 

3.  Listen for anything you have heard before in other songs.  Maybe a chord hit or a pattern of notes you've heard before.  There may not be any but at least listen for it to try to point yourself in the right direction.

4.  And finally, listen for position giveaways.  I.e. open strings vs. fretted notes.  Wound strings vs. non wound strings.  We've talked about how a wound string such as the 4th string has a certain buzz to it because of the winding vs. how the same pitch on a non would 3rd string sounds.  Listen for open string ring out verse fretted note ring out.  Remember what I've said.  Open strings have there own way of ringing out because of how they vibrate freely when struck.  Where as fretted notes tend to not only sound more muted than open strings but also the player will usually put some vibrato on it that causes the note to fluctuate slightly in pitch.  Something that unless whammy bar is added the open string cannot do per say. 

There are no absolutes here but these are valuable tips.  The number 1 tip I can give you is, Listen to the riff.  Listen for open strings, bends, vibratos, pitches you've heard before and can find instantly.  Listen to it as a guitarist not as a person in the audience or crowd would.