Hi every one! I'm pretty new here and I don't really know what I'm doing. I mainly want to improve my ears to write more interesting chord progressions and being able to pick up on what I'm listening to. Would you veterans say that this is something that is achievable?
I have seen a lot of improvement already since I used to be completely clueless. But at the skill level I'm at right now I don't really have much use of it in practice. Im curious at approximately what TPI you guys think one starts becoming good enough to apply listening skills to real music? Just so that I have some kind of milestone to aim for. Because at the moment it feels like an impossible journey.
In my experience, at a minimum recognizing all 12 intervals up/down/harmonically as well as being able to sing them is what’s needed to start approaching real music. Those 4 exercises will easily get you 5k tpi diamond level (or much higher).
But the spectrum is pretty huge from “oh, i think that was a fifth there, but i’m not totally sure” to “I hear/identify all scale degrees in a melody right away and also hear the bass line movement as well with 100% confidence”
Hearing what you want to is totally achievable, if you are willing to spend a bit of time and effort you will be amazing! Giving a TPI value for ears able to hear what you want is basically impossible, but something to aim for would be to try to pass one level a day (at least, if it was easy try the next one) and you will see amazing progress. I also recommend trying out some of the Olympics contests, as some of them are better than the games IMHO. Starting ToneGym is the best thing I ever did to improve my ear, but isolated from actual practice on your instrument, it is just fun games, I recommend training as much as you can here without sacrificing other music practice. Transcribing especially will help you see where to practice and give you a good meter as to how well you are transferring these skills. Keep it up!!! You will improve!!!
it depends on what you mean by real music. doing exercises here definitely help you a lot but they're only supplements, you have to do the real music to get any actually improvement. Just like drinking vitamins and proteins wouldn't actually make you stronger, they only speed up the progress. you have to hit the gym and do exercises to become stronger.
and just like physical exercises and sports, it depends on the field of music you want to do. if you do orchestral then listening to orchestral instruments (strings, woodwind, brass etc) would be more useful than something like guitar. if you want to sing then you have to do vocal exercises. if you want to do improvisations on your instruments then you have to learn licks, phrases, articulations of that particular instrument. if you like RnB or Jazz then learn the chord progressions of that genre.
Regarding your goals, I'd say transcribing the songs you like would greatly improve your skills. it might take a while and it might not be 100% accurate but as long as you do it, you'll only get better. If it's too daunting then just transcribe a small phrase of 1 instrument then slowly add up the amount and complexity. It'll work both your pitch recognition and rythmic skills.
Congrats! But that 'FINALLY' after being here for... 2 weeks? maybe 4? might be bitter for those who actually struggle (me included, long ago) to get there...IMO. Great performance, though, but you already know that.
I want to start a poll regarding the lack of the bass clef in games and contests. I will have a post here and in the ToneGym cafe, respond to either. I have a ticket open on this issue and want to get other users input as well. Ticket https://tonegym.co/support/ticket?id=OUPOBPNWW8N
A multi-instrumentalist with a passion for building instruments, arranging, and mixing, balances an impressive array of talents from piano to woodworking, all while aiming to push his musical boundaries and inspire awe in others. @Benjamin Jack is this month's ToneGym Hero
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