Learn how to listen

[ LiB ]

There's not much point in listening to all this music if you haven't learned how to listen. Instead of just listening to the overall sound picture, train your ear to single out the instruments from orchestras, groups and bands. Identify the musical families they belong to.

Was that an oboe or a cor anglais solo? Is that a viola or violin playing those low notes? Is he playing a fretless bass guitar or just a regular electric bass? Are those trombones or French horns in that quiet orchestral passage? Is that a tenor or alto saxophone break in that jazz rock number?

These are the kinds of questions you should ask yourself. This is easy in a live situation, but considerably harder with recorded music. Pay particular attention to the way these instruments are played , both in a solo situation and as part of a section. It's also important to understand the comfortable playing range of the various instruments.

[ LiB ]