How to play anything by ear: 1. Learn your scales 2. Play along with your favorite songs That's pretty much it. With practice, as you start playing along with your favorite songs, you'll "feel" what key a song is in. The key to all this is to "know your scales"!!! Playing in a band where you had to follow Grover Washington Jr on "Sacred Kind of Love" will accelerate that too 😁
Well that's good to hear. I'm trying to relearn saxophone, but I never knew how to play by ear (and had horrible sense of pitches and notes), and the 2nd time I didn't even bother to learn the names of the notes, just played them, so I'm hoping to learn.
I wish I had special abilities to see into the future, but I think it is just that as a subscriber, I got an early notification? Nigel might be able to clarify.
getting my first saxophone soon! i use to play the harmonica by ear hopefully I still got it but with the sax. I’ve never played sax before but I cannot wait!!
Actually, learning and playing melodies by ear has always been one of my strengths, on saxophone as well as the other instruments I play. I learn a lot of songs by ear without not even seeing the notation for it; the weakness and challenge for me is the improvisation around a melody line.
Funny story, once I was sitting in band, playing 10 measures without breathing. Well, all of the sudden, I breathed through my nose while playing, and you know what! I circular breathed!
I have not learned to read music despite many start/stop and new year resolutions. But I have the ability to learn a piece by ear and somehow my fingers find the keys as long as I can sing it (badly) or whistle it (very well). I found out that I have such an ability while playing the harmonica at a young age. That was all I could afford then. Then I have enough money to buy a cheap clarinet, and to my surprise, once I worked out by trial and error where the keys were, I was on my way. The I started to learn the saxophones, and I found the clarinet and the saxophone do have rather similar key arrangements. So it wasn't hard to pick up on the saxophone. The trouble is that I need to dig deep to remember the songs as there are so many in my head ! That is the real disadvantage of not being able to read music. However, I believe learning by ear does have an advantage. I am not constrained by the song sheets. I improvise by changing the timing of notes as how I would like it to sound. My neighbour paid me the ultimate compliment by telling me that I sounded rather differently to the people in the saxophone classes her sons went to. I suspect that is because the students follow rigidly the song sheets, perhaps rather too robotically?
I played sax for years but I only read, and I was pretty good at it... but I found myself gravitating towards more modal instruments for improving... but towards the end if my sax years, I did a little improving and I found my mind was thinking much more intricately that my abilities... and I remember a couple of really good jams where guys knew me as a guitarist and they kind of were surprised... but what it was, was I had a rather developed embouchure that I didn't really play the notes I was getting, but rather was just using the keys rhythmically to get me around to different tonalities, but the note was whatever I wanted and rarely corresponded to what I was fingering... so, is that cheating? Lol because I don't think I ever learned those scales, but I was playing them, and the keys were about as important as the ones they put on those kazoos ! Lol not like it matters now... but I was just wondering if that practice has an actual name... and no... not the smartass ones most are wanting to use... lol
I do find your videos are great. After learning the sharp major scales, and move on the flatten scale. I found it very confusing trying to transpose flat to sharp . The tutor I had show me that way, and he gave me Happy birthday to work out in D/scale like this video I work out the notes as you say them. I have another one i have being working on in C/scale Temptation just my imagination and I got stuck at, But it was just my imagination running away with me . Any help will gratefully receive with thanks Glen
Hi everyone. Can anyone help me I have a backing track on Spotify for a track and I can't find which key I should play in to match the backing track. I play alto, any tips on how to determine which key to play in would be great thanks.
Hey Stefan. Your alto key is 3 half steps (or semitones) lower than piano or guitar key, which is how backing tracks are labelled. So if for example your sax music is in the key of A, the backing track needs to be in the key of C (A-Bb-B-C). Hope that helps. I have more lessons on this inside Sax School here: www.mcgillmusic.com
Stefan Jones there will always be a note which would work in every part of a song....try humming it then finding it on the sax that is the root note which is the key of the song.
When it comes to playing by ear; listening to the recording and attempting to match the notes with the saxophone, which one is easier to internalize -- the alto or tenor? After spending quite some time with both, it seems to me that the tenor is easier to match. Also, it seems that going back and forth between the alto and tenor is not very productive when it comes to practicing to play by ear. What's your opinion? Thank you!
I think if you are going to play both tenor and alto you need to dedicate a fair bit of time to each individually to find your voice on each. Once you get to that point it is easier to move between them.
Hi😁 my bottom inner lip gets super sore, & I was wondering if changing my reed would matter. I use a medium soft. I never used to have a problem when I was younger and played so it’s kind of frustrating.
Thank you Nigel. What I find helpful is to whistle or humb the tune that I am learning, over and over again until that tune becomes embedded in my spirit to the extent that it is almost whistling or humming back at me. Then its a matter of picking up the sax and allow your spirit to play the tune thru the sax. This is not being spooky in anyway. As a Maori living in New Zealand, we strongly believe that music is very spiritual. Tas Collier, New Zealand
Thanks Tas, I like the way you describe it. I think I do a similar thing - it’s all about getting the melody to be a really inside your head. Thanks for checking out this lesson.
Hi Nigel. I have been playing the saxophone for a year now. And all by ear. I listen to a tune on UA-cam and I am able to play it in a few hour's. My question is do i still need to do scales?? I have never done scales. I would really appreciate any help you can give me. Many thanks Pat
Great question Pat. I think scales are just something that will open up more doors for you with your playing. Brilliant to hear you can play things by ear, that's a great achievement. But pushing your skills further with scales will help you to progress not only with your ear but also your finger dexterity.
Hi. We offer memberships in British pounds or US Dollars. Although you can’t pay in Euros, if you subscribe in GBP or USD, your bank will do the currency conversion. Please get in touch if you need any more info here: saxschooL@mcgillmusic.com
Great video Sir. Thanks for sharing. Tell me something though. When switching from tenor to alto do u slightly change your embouchure? When I switch from tenor to alto my alto sounds kind of flat especially the higher notes?
Hi Dave. Good question. I think it’s important to think of each Sax as it’s own instrument and work to get the sound you want on each (as opposed to the same sound in both). Alto has a smaller mouthpiece so will take more muscle control to get a good clear sound. I think you just need to spend some more time to get it sounding right for you.
The real problem with learning songs by ear is that EVERY GUITARIST PLAYS IN CONCERT E MAJOR. I PLAY TENOR. WHY DOES EVERYONE WANT ME TO PLAY IN F# MAJOR?? I DON'T WANT TO CONSTANTLY HAVE 6 SHARPS
Like me, you could be playing alto and end up with 7 sharps or 5 flats if concert is E major. But 7 sharps shouldnt be any different from no sharps, it's a big misconception that there are harder keys to play in...It's just the same intervals from a different starting note.
A replacement. It is so much better than the one on the market that clips to the bell. The thread has worn so I have to tape on the perspex. I suppose I could get it re-threaded.
Every sax has a different size and each will have have a different key. They could make every sax in the same key but then they would have to change the fingering system notation for each sax.
@@danielcohen9637 But when talking to other musicians if your if they’re talking a progression or vamping on a certain chord then the sax player has to then transpose that while the pianist, guitarist and bassist don’t. Or if you play sax and have perfect pitch (I don’t but a friend of mine does) it must be weird calling the note on the sax one thing and the note you hear another. I’m mainly a guitarist and I use a lot of alternate tunings, it would be chaos in my brain and band if I called everything E even though it was C# or A.
@@louderthangod transposing is part of playing a woodwind. The advantage of playing a woodwind is that you can play many different kinds without learning new skills.
@@danielcohen9637 I guess if you do it enough it comes more naturally but how learning the concert pitch notes instead of the transposed notes impede that learning?
@@louderthangod it doesn't but you have no choice when learning a woodwind. It's like playing with a band that plays songs in different keys all the time, you just have to get used to transposing.
Good question. There are more tips in the rest of this Mini Course that will help you with playing in different keys and also identifying non scale notes. Developing your ears is a gradual process so this lesson is a good way to start the journey!
I am sure you are a great Sax payer. However, as a teacher you talk way to fast. It seems like you are talking to people who already know the material.
Well yes he actually is. The way I see it, this video is more for the people who know how to and play the sax more often. It’s mainly for just teaching those that have played for a while a old/new trick. Even tho you CANT teach an old dog NEW tricks, you CAN teach an old dog, OLD tricks. So yeah. I’ve played sax for I think 5 years and this was a nice trick for me. Keep in mind I’m still a junior in HS. I’ve played since 6th grade and have learned a lot from teachers just like this. I kinda went off topic of my side of the argument but still
It's funny. I play piano by ear and I can just 'hear' the next note and 'feel' where to go to get it. Same applied when I used to play sax many years ago. For me it's just an innate sense.
McGill Music Sax School I currently play on a student model Yamaha. I don't know how the upper end models are, but I don't particularly like the one I have now
planeshift man that’s pretty rude At least word it kindly instead of saying “oh he’s totally flat” Be glad he’s providing us with a learning resource for our instruments.
You start of with the with the alto then you turn to the tenor. I'm trying to learn the alto. When you turn and do your presentations on the tenor ~ You lose me !!!
Basically useless. What's the point of singing the note, if you can simply play it on your sax until it sounds right. Then you note which note it is, and you know your interval. A better way would be to pick any random song and try to play that on the sax. Showing how to do it
I think this is an older video and you're not likely to see these comments, but..
WELL DONE! Always kind and nicely explained. So positive
Thanks so much! I’m glad you found this lesson helpful.
How to play anything by ear:
1. Learn your scales
2. Play along with your favorite songs
That's pretty much it. With practice, as you start playing along with your favorite songs, you'll "feel" what key a song is in. The key to all this is to "know your scales"!!! Playing in a band where you had to follow Grover Washington Jr on "Sacred Kind of Love" will accelerate that too 😁
Well that's good to hear. I'm trying to relearn saxophone, but I never knew how to play by ear (and had horrible sense of pitches and notes), and the 2nd time I didn't even bother to learn the names of the notes, just played them, so I'm hoping to learn.
63...and every day is a school day!! Thanks!!.. To further...great concept, I latched on immediately!!
You're a great teacher Nigel. Careful and diligent!
Thanks Graeme, glad it was helpful!
How did you post this 6 days ago when he just got this video out??
I wish I had special abilities to see into the future, but I think it is just that as a subscriber, I got an early notification? Nigel might be able to clarify.
I had to upload this video early - Graeme got a sneak preview!
getting my first saxophone soon! i use to play the harmonica by ear hopefully I still got it but with the sax. I’ve never played sax before but I cannot wait!!
Go for it!
Actually, learning and playing melodies by ear has always been one of my strengths, on saxophone as well as the other instruments I play. I learn a lot of songs by ear without not even seeing the notation for it; the weakness and challenge for me is the improvisation around a melody line.
Funny story, once I was sitting in band, playing 10 measures without breathing. Well, all of the sudden, I breathed through my nose while playing, and you know what! I circular breathed!
Cool.
GaminGeckoPlayz Im pretty sure that’s not how it works.
No ,actuall that kinda is , i know, bc i can do it too. COGRATSCHULARIONSCH!!
wow, that is rich
Jackpot !
Love your lessons they are life savers. Don’t stop making them!
I’m working on finding the alto saxophone notes for Break My Face and this really helped! Thank you so much!
Brilliant, great to hear that.
I have not learned to read music despite many start/stop and new year resolutions. But I have the ability to learn a piece by ear and somehow my fingers find the keys as long as I can sing it (badly) or whistle it (very well). I found out that I have such an ability while playing the harmonica at a young age. That was all I could afford then. Then I have enough money to buy a cheap clarinet, and to my surprise, once I worked out by trial and error where the keys were, I was on my way. The I started to learn the saxophones, and I found the clarinet and the saxophone do have rather similar key arrangements. So it wasn't hard to pick up on the saxophone. The trouble is that I need to dig deep to remember the songs as there are so many in my head ! That is the real disadvantage of not being able to read music. However, I believe learning by ear does have an advantage. I am not constrained by the song sheets. I improvise by changing the timing of notes as how I would like it to sound. My neighbour paid me the ultimate compliment by telling me that I sounded rather differently to the people in the saxophone classes her sons went to. I suspect that is because the students follow rigidly the song sheets, perhaps rather too robotically?
Great instruction Nigel! After 1-1/2 years playing sax, always wanting to hear more!
Brilliant!
Thanks for this. Makes sense !
I played sax for years but I only read, and I was pretty good at it... but I found myself gravitating towards more modal instruments for improving... but towards the end if my sax years, I did a little improving and I found my mind was thinking much more intricately that my abilities... and I remember a couple of really good jams where guys knew me as a guitarist and they kind of were surprised... but what it was, was I had a rather developed embouchure that I didn't really play the notes I was getting, but rather was just using the keys rhythmically to get me around to different tonalities, but the note was whatever I wanted and rarely corresponded to what I was fingering... so, is that cheating? Lol because I don't think I ever learned those scales, but I was playing them, and the keys were about as important as the ones they put on those kazoos ! Lol not like it matters now... but I was just wondering if that practice has an actual name... and no... not the smartass ones most are wanting to use... lol
I do find your videos are great. After learning the sharp major scales, and move on the flatten scale. I found it very confusing trying to transpose flat to sharp . The tutor I had show me that way, and he gave me Happy birthday to work out in D/scale like this video I work out the notes as you say them. I have another one i have being working on in C/scale Temptation just my imagination and I got stuck at, But it was just my imagination running away with me . Any help will gratefully receive with thanks
Glen
thank you for this helpful lesson.
Actually, your singing is better than mine, and I like to sing. Great lesson. Thanks!
Ha! Cheers.
That’s an awesome saxophone 2:22
This video is very helpful i think this video should be shown to all inspiring musician!
Awesome!
Very useful lesson. Thanks!
Dude, you sing just fine, I was singing with you, and I am a fabulous singer
Great information!
Hi everyone. Can anyone help me I have a backing track on Spotify for a track and I can't find which key I should play in to match the backing track. I play alto, any tips on how to determine which key to play in would be great thanks.
Hey Stefan. Your alto key is 3 half steps (or semitones) lower than piano or guitar key, which is how backing tracks are labelled. So if for example your sax music is in the key of A, the backing track needs to be in the key of C (A-Bb-B-C). Hope that helps. I have more lessons on this inside Sax School here: www.mcgillmusic.com
Stefan Jones there will always be a note which would work in every part of a song....try humming it then finding it on the sax that is the root note which is the key of the song.
When it comes to playing by ear; listening to the recording and attempting to match the notes with the saxophone, which one is easier to internalize -- the alto or tenor? After spending quite some time with both, it seems to me that the tenor is easier to match. Also, it seems that going back and forth between the alto and tenor is not very productive when it comes to practicing to play by ear. What's your opinion? Thank you!
I think if you are going to play both tenor and alto you need to dedicate a fair bit of time to each individually to find your voice on each. Once you get to that point it is easier to move between them.
I know people who have never seen a scale nor a sheet of music and can play piano like a professional. I'm sure knowing them helps.
Very nice teacher video, I would like to know which mouthpiece is the one you use on the high saxophone, thanks
Thanks! I'm playing a Theo Wanne "Gaia" mouthpiece on my alto sax - it's a size 8.
Thank you!
I can't find the ear training 101. Did you remove it?
thanks
Hi Nigel...how do you fix a loose fitting neck?...
Replace your cork. That's the wrapping around the neck
Hi😁 my bottom inner lip gets super sore, & I was wondering if changing my reed would matter. I use a medium soft. I never used to have a problem when I was younger and played so it’s kind of frustrating.
get some rizla smoking paper and fold it in half a couple of times and stick it over your bottom teeth
Play lip out, it produces a better tone and your lip will thank you.
Thanks Nigel. This was very helpful
Great to hear that Michael. Thanks for watching.
McGill Music Sax School sir I want you to listen to my playing and please suggest to me how I can improve on my playing. Thanks.
Brilliant, and ps, you can sing anyway you like, as this was very inspiring
Thank you Nigel. What I find helpful is to whistle or humb the tune that I am learning, over and over again until that tune becomes embedded in my spirit to the extent that it is almost whistling or humming back at me. Then its a matter of picking up the sax and allow your spirit to play the tune thru the sax. This is not being spooky in anyway. As a Maori living in New Zealand, we strongly believe that music is very spiritual.
Tas Collier, New Zealand
Thanks Tas, I like the way you describe it. I think I do a similar thing - it’s all about getting the melody to be a really inside your head. Thanks for checking out this lesson.
I should move to New Zealand. That makes perfect sense to me. :) You get funny looks singing in the blues town where i live.
Thank you so much! It really help!
Thank you, Brother.
Hi Nigel. I have been playing the saxophone for a year now. And all by ear. I listen to a tune on UA-cam and I am able to play it in a few hour's. My question is do i still need to do scales?? I have never done scales. I would really appreciate any help you can give me. Many thanks Pat
Great question Pat. I think scales are just something that will open up more doors for you with your playing. Brilliant to hear you can play things by ear, that's a great achievement. But pushing your skills further with scales will help you to progress not only with your ear but also your finger dexterity.
@@McGillMusicSaxSchool Thank you so much for getting back to me. I really appreciate it. And thank you for the much needed advice.
thank you so much. it really help!
i want to start lessons but i want to pay in euros and i dont find a way to do it..what to do
Hi. We offer memberships in British pounds or US Dollars. Although you can’t pay in Euros, if you subscribe in GBP or USD, your bank will do the currency conversion. Please get in touch if you need any more info here: saxschooL@mcgillmusic.com
Great video Sir. Thanks for sharing. Tell me something though. When switching from tenor to alto do u slightly change your embouchure? When I switch from tenor to alto my alto sounds kind of flat especially the higher notes?
Hi Dave. Good question. I think it’s important to think of each Sax as it’s own instrument and work to get the sound you want on each (as opposed to the same sound in both). Alto has a smaller mouthpiece so will take more muscle control to get a good clear sound. I think you just need to spend some more time to get it sounding right for you.
Great job 👍
Cheers!
It's starting on an F every time not a d right?
on the tenor I mean, its starting on an F not a g
Tenor is concert pitch alto isn't so then their scales start on different chromatics
@@jpufry oh, boy...that sucks. :p
I have thought about this before,...
The real problem with learning songs by ear is that EVERY GUITARIST PLAYS IN CONCERT E MAJOR. I PLAY TENOR. WHY DOES EVERYONE WANT ME TO PLAY IN F# MAJOR?? I DON'T WANT TO CONSTANTLY HAVE 6 SHARPS
That’s definitely one of the challenges as a saxplayer.
Like me, you could be playing alto and end up with 7 sharps or 5 flats if concert is E major. But 7 sharps shouldnt be any different from no sharps, it's a big misconception that there are harder keys to play in...It's just the same intervals from a different starting note.
@@saxstephens unless it's piano...worse yet, keyboards are a lot easier to slip. off the sharps n flats. Piano has more grab on the keys. :)
Wonderful😍
HI, any idea when the Sound Reflector will be back on sale?
Sorry, I’m not making those at the moment. Are you looking for a replacement or your first one?
A replacement. It is so much better than the one on the market that clips to the bell. The thread has worn so I have to tape on the perspex. I suppose I could get it re-threaded.
Great to hear you’ve been enjoying it. I have been so busy with my Sax School that the Sound Reflectors have been left behind!
i also want to lear thiiiis, i was so insecure to my seniors because they are so good on that thing
Do you sell saxophone...am from Ghana
Sorry, no. We don’t sell saxophones.
I still don’t get why the notes of a saxophone are different from that of a piano. C on guitar is C on piano but not on a sax.
Every sax has a different size and each will have have a different key. They could make every sax in the same key but then they would have to change the fingering system notation for each sax.
@@danielcohen9637 But when talking to other musicians if your if they’re talking a progression or vamping on a certain chord then the sax player has to then transpose that while the pianist, guitarist and bassist don’t. Or if you play sax and have perfect pitch (I don’t but a friend of mine does) it must be weird calling the note on the sax one thing and the note you hear another. I’m mainly a guitarist and I use a lot of alternate tunings, it would be chaos in my brain and band if I called everything E even though it was C# or A.
@@louderthangod transposing is part of playing a woodwind. The advantage of playing a woodwind is that you can play many different kinds without learning new skills.
@@danielcohen9637 I guess if you do it enough it comes more naturally but how learning the concert pitch notes instead of the transposed notes impede that learning?
@@louderthangod it doesn't but you have no choice when learning a woodwind. It's like playing with a band that plays songs in different keys all the time, you just have to get used to transposing.
I'm a beginner, and I was wondering how you would play it in different keys.
Or figure out the notes that aren't in the scale.
Good question. There are more tips in the rest of this Mini Course that will help you with playing in different keys and also identifying non scale notes. Developing your ears is a gradual process so this lesson is a good way to start the journey!
When I play my saxophone I can’t make a proper note and all I can hear is my actual voice
What do you mean by “your voice”? Your just blowing air into it
Cool
I can do that since I had a recorder, not lying.
Cool, great to hear that Nikhyl. You must have a good ear!
I want to learn how to play the sax but i don't have money
bull. Get a job. Save up. Hunt Ebay. Buy. :) Yamaha YAS 23 or 21 is doable at 500.00 or less in good shape. YTS is tenor, those cost more, i think.
I am sure you are a great Sax payer. However, as a teacher you talk way to fast. It seems like you are talking to people who already know the material.
REPEAT!!! You will get it!! I repeat over and over until I get it!!
Well yes he actually is. The way I see it, this video is more for the people who know how to and play the sax more often. It’s mainly for just teaching those that have played for a while a old/new trick. Even tho you CANT teach an old dog NEW tricks, you CAN teach an old dog, OLD tricks. So yeah. I’ve played sax for I think 5 years and this was a nice trick for me. Keep in mind I’m still a junior in HS. I’ve played since 6th grade and have learned a lot from teachers just like this. I kinda went off topic of my side of the argument but still
It's funny. I play piano by ear and I can just 'hear' the next note and 'feel' where to go to get it. Same applied when I used to play sax many years ago. For me it's just an innate sense.
I'm upgrading to a professional instrument soon, I'm probably getting either a Selmer or a Cannonball
Both great choices. Have you tried the Yamaha horns?
McGill Music Sax School I currently play on a student model Yamaha. I don't know how the upper end models are, but I don't particularly like the one I have now
I think the Yamaha 82Z Custom saxes are great. Very accurate sound and great key work. I play a 82z Soprano.
McGill Music Sax School They're well beyond my price range though. I'm going from around $2800-$3600
Plenty of great options for that money. Happy shopping!
Ok Doky
Play giornos theme.
when he starts singing hes totally flat
I’m not a singer. Thanks for watching though.
planeshift man that’s pretty rude
At least word it kindly instead of saying “oh he’s totally flat”
Be glad he’s providing us with a learning resource for our instruments.
@@glassbirds I guess I'm just really surprised that he's a musician and can't hear himself or something?
You start of with the with the alto then you turn to the tenor. I'm trying to learn the alto. When you turn and do your presentations on the tenor ~ You lose me !!!
Basically useless. What's the point of singing the note, if you can simply play it on your sax until it sounds right. Then you note which note it is, and you know your interval. A better way would be to pick any random song and try to play that on the sax. Showing how to do it
It's for people to get used to it for when they hit altissimo
Cool