Improving your ears for identifying chords

[aznricey]

Hello, I know basic theories, but i'd really like to know if there're any good ways or theories, source to help me better identifying chords.

And also how to improve myself as a rhythm guitarist when all you're giving are chords and lyrics.

Im largely dependent on tabs and covering what the original does, but can't seem to connect theory with what I want to do as mentioned above.

[scooteraz]

IDK. I try to figure out the melody, then figure out the key from the melody. I assume the song is usually in a major, or relative minor mode (sometimes I'm even right), and try to work out the chords from there. Sometimes, I'm even successful.

Or, I go to the internet and try to find chords and or tab.:wasntme:

[Kitty]

Howdy aznricey. Welcome to the board.

If I understand correctly, you want to be better able to tell what a chord is just by listening?

When I was first learning how to identify chord progressions by ear, I listened for the bass note first. The bass doesn't always play the root note of the chord, but at least it's a good place to start.

After a while you begin to recognize the patterns, the chord families, the "extras" such as an added 2nd or suspended 4th, whether it's a minor chord, etc. etc. But that just comes from listening and trying over and over.

If you can stand it, I would suggest getting a bluegrass CD and playing along by ear. It's good ear training and bluegrass progressions are usually easy to follow with just 3 chords or maybe a minor thrown in. Plus bluegrass bands are usually fairly simple instrument-wise without a lot of drums and other stuff to get in the way, and bluegrass songs are typically written in guitar-friendly keys.

After you get good at picking out those progressions by ear, try something a little more complicated.

At first it might seem impossible but once the key turns in your head, you'll improve by leaps and bounds.

This process will also improve you as a rhythm guitarist since to best way to improve is to play, play, play with others. It's very different from just playing on your own.

Kitty

[Hooligan]

I went to my friends home one night and he was to help me with "Happy Day" He is an amazingly talented guitar player. He listened to the song for maybe 20 or 30 seconds and knew the song like he'd been playing it all his life, even the riff at the beginning. I was blown away... He says to me, "Matt, it's pretty simple 1,4,5 rock and roll."

He could see the confused look on my face. He says, "All I need to know is the key, from there just play the chords that make up the 1st, 4th and 5th notes of the key. "Happy Day" happens to throw in an extra Am in the bridge, but other than that he nailed it. If I remember right that song is in C which translates into C (1st..root), F(4th) and G(5th).

[BuckyB]

He's right. I, IV & V will get you most of the way there on most songs, even all the way there on a whole lotta songs. It helps to know that in a major key, the II, III and VI chords are generally minor. As far as bass notes, if you can tell that a chord is not the same as the bass note, then it's probably what is called an inversion. That means that either the 3rd or the 5th is being used in the bass instead of the Tonic.