And during the jam, my perception of guitar changed completely, and I feel like I progressed more during the one jam than during the whole year I played guitar
Jamming is one of the most important aspects of playing guitar
great advice, but im in a delema here me out. So i started learning guitar around 5 years old, no tabs no teachers nothing, exactly how you explained. So i have an amazing ear and i can play scarified whoopty do. when it comes to improving, i just don't have it. i am 19 now and every time ill try to jam w my friends i have really no idea what to play...its crazy because im very good! what should i do! i feel like im at a dead end with my guitar playing. help me out guys. thanks!
@CRF450Rider585 Try picking your guitar up on your own, no distractions and just play! If you are good and you understand the way a guitar works then you will come up with something, everyone goes through stages where you find it hard to come up with something, you just have to stick at it. Some of the best songs were written in 20minutes and some take years. What instruments do your friends play and what do you do rhythm/lead? Try changing the way you write...
@CRF450Rider585 Try creating 4 chords, put them together, now is that your verse or chorus? Now try and get a meoldy going using the right sounding scales. What i do sometimes is whistle, hum or sing a melody then transfer it to guitar and work on it. You will find if you make up different melodies on your own then when you come to jam you will use those as a base and work off them. Hope this helped Paul
hey justin Thanks for the video. I have played professionally for thirty years and have been teaching for the last 7 or 8. All your work is right on but this chat about listening is the best. Thanks a lot. Also Thanks for your words about Darfur. You play and live from the heart.
I just want to say that I discovered your website around a week ago and you are an absolute inspiration. Not just as a guitar player or teacher but as a human being.
I see nothing wrong with learning the notes first from a tab or a youtube video. If your ear is good enough, you will be able to hear the mistakes in the tab or the slight variations between slides or whatnot. (ex. intro to enter sandman by metallica. there is a slide in the 3rd intro riff that reads as one note on paper, but a properly timed slide seems to create a different note). Anyways, nothing wrong with learning the notes first then practicing proper tone and timing. that's what i do.
maybe one of the newer garage bluesy-rock bands songs, they're normally fairly simple to play, like next girl, or i got mine by the black keys, or seven nation army by the white stripes
Thanks, Justin. I've always told the same advice to my students about learning things by ear. But I especially want to thank you because of your last comment. I'm trying to make my friends and family be aware of those kind of things and I hope each one of us becomes more concious about the suffering of other human beings. Cheers!
After watching your video , i really had to log in to my account and comment on it . I used to go to websites and find chords for the songs i wished to play , but until i came across this video of yours .
The words which came from you are directly from your heart , you are sincere and you really mean it .I admire you for sharing all your knowledge with us people and even taking time to care about unjust matters in this world. Kudos to you , you have earned the respect of many of us.
what happened there in Africa.. what happened to that woman and what's happening right now, right there. That's unimaginable :(. I have no idea that that is happening right now, I bet a lot of people who don't. what an eye-opener. heartbreaking, appalling.
You're a great man, Every word you said throughout the video, I ATE IT ALL.
GREAT ADVICE. never really thought of it. I'll give the simplest thing a go (:
Transcribing? You're describing "playing by ear". I agree, really essential, and everyone who CAN should try to do it. I've been doing this forever. Still not great at it, but getting there. Hearing the notes/chords in your head, then playing them, and adding/removing things you feel makes it better. If you can hear tones like a short ad on TV and then play it, you're doing it! I think some people can do it better than others tho. Its a real right brained thing. Justin, you ROCK~! Great vids!
Just a tip for anyone. If you are playing along to a song you're transcribing and you are unsure you are playing the right chord. Just move the chord up or down a semi tone and if it sounds like shit, there is a very very high chance you were playing the correct chord. It really helps me a lot.
I want to say: HUGE THANKS for your effort and time and spirit put in those lessons. I have strugled to find a comprehensive course that would help me organize what I already know and what i should know at my level and how to move on... Thanks for inspiring and encouraging! Vivaciously, Monika
Well, if you don't want to jump straight from tabs to ear-only, notebooks are good. They give you information of the key, note duration, general sound etc. You'll also learn how Chords are built on certain keys and what chord progressions are generally used.
Hi Justin. This really important. However I wish you could remake this video in HD audio since it's the most important video you say was ever made. . It's hard to hear your voice well. Thanks so much.
OK I have been playing for quite along time now - too embarresed to say - and have been cheating through getting tabs of the internet and so on. Maybe you could possibly help by posting scales on your site or you tube that we could learn to play by ear as I feel this would be a really basic way to start practising, if you see where I am coming from.
it's true. i watched this vid about 6months ago, and have been trying to play by ear. i used to play by watching video lessons; rarely use tabs, though. hey, there is only 12 notes, right? i just try to get the notes down on the low estring for the progression, then i go and figure out the rest. if u kno the key then u can solo. wish i had a person face to face to teach me, when i started last year.
Excellent point, and Steve Vai said that in the interview. You need to develop the skills to be able to play the things you hear, and the stuff in your head is the source of creativity
So i just started playing and i had a lot of help from your videos. I jump back and forth from the very basics to trying to play solo parts from your lessons and mostly marty schwartz's. You are both different personalities and both of you help me in my enthousiasm to play. I know i will have to start learning transcribing but it almost sounds to daunting to get started :S. Again thanks and also a good message at the end. I will look into it and see what even simple me can do to help.
100% spot on. I started transcribing before learning chords. Iron man with the Top E string LOL. Most times I can hear a song on the radio in my car, and go home an hour later and play some of it. Get the song and notes in your head. I love RUSH and usually put on a CD and blend right in. You cant tell Im playing until I stop. Thanks for the lessons Justin!
But its true that you have to listen to the song that you like a lot. Too Memorize the sound, melody =notes in your head. It will help you to figure out how to play. Tab is good, if you found it difficult to figure out. Use, drop it then play your memory and ear later. Our ears help us to remeber sounds, that are our ears's function. Like Kirk Hammett from Metallica. Its easier for kids today, they have tabs.Even Kirk time didnt had Youtube.So today's kids has many gifts.If it helps, why not?
You can combine tab and ear listening. Find the note by tab if the song is really hard to figure out by ear or you find it just difficult, then drop the tab when you have found it. But yeah its important that you have listened to the song you want to learn to play a lot,before figure it out by tab, while/during and after.Its easier for a singer. I can sing every song i like, even i dont know a note.But its a lot a lot more difficult for fingers/figure out for guitar than for mouth/vocal
@wildhorse78 I Learn by both tab and ear. I Match the tabs with the sound/notes just to be sure it's correct and sometimes I add in a little bit of licks to the song that sounds good. Sometimes I learn by ear or by mouth. I hum the notes until it gets stuck in my head and then try to play it on my keyboard then transpose to bass/guitar.
Every generations have their own way of learning and producing things and stuff. Guitarist from the old years, 60 and 70 didnt had internet, youtube and it was hard to buy guitar books. So they had to learn by watching directly and listening directly and figure it out by themselves more than today's childs. They are born in a time, modern time. Its gift for them.Comapare getting help by animal,compare to machine today.There r many way to reach the goal,to become a really good guitarist.Not only1
The mans right!!! Use your ears kids.......it's the only way to develop properly as a player. Work out the key the tune is in work out the chord types and scale patterns and if you struggle to do this then you might need some ear training which involves some singing......though you don't need to be a great singer to gain a good ear. You will develop all round as a musician not just as a guitarist. Justin tells it like it is and he's right it is the most important lesson will ever have.
i AM HAPPY TO LISTEN TO YOU AND I AGREE WITH YOU AT THE ZOOMED OUT LEVEL, MANY TERRIBLE THINGS HAPPEN IN THE WORLD. IT DOES NOT EVEN COMPARED TO WACO THE AMERICAN government KILLED PEOPLE FOR LIVING A DIFFERANT WAY OF LIFE, DOES IT HAVE TO BE IN A FUKING MAGAZIN FOR YOU TO SEE, THE REALY TERABLE THINGS ARE NEVER PUBLISHED.
america is not the only one to lie (9 11 waco) every government does it (uk 7/7)thay are more sutle and do it a bit less 7/7 look at some facts before you say "well it was fuking terrorists of course" if you look bbc and shit like that, thay will obveously lie do you think the government would let them tell the truth please dont be a dumb sheep and definatly dont take my word for it FACTS
I AGREE ABOUT DEATH NUMBERS BUT MANY TERRIBLE THINGS HAPPEN IN THE WORLD. IT DOES NOT EVEN COMPARED TO WACO AND STEALING OIL FROM IRAQ THROUGH BLOOD SHED (WAKO) THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT KILLED PEOPLE FOR LIVING A DIFFERANT WAY OF LIFE, DOES IT HAVE TO BE IN A FUKING MAGAZIN FOR YOU TO SEE. THE REALY TERABLE THINGS ARE NEVER PUBLISHED.
sooo trueee!!! to be a good musician is not about knowing all the techniques and be fast n everything, its just about being innovate and play, as he said, out of ur soul. i mean who gives a shit if u can play metallica even faster then they did. their songs are already out there!!! play something nobody's ever heard before that makes ppl think: yeah i can relate to tht sound....... me gusta :)
Two great lessons! One on music & one on life. "Columbine boy" is an example of what is wrong with this world. Keep up the great work, in music and in life. John Lennon would be proud of you!
I can do it easyly, but it takes to damn long to learn an entire song. I'd much rather take the quick and easy route. That's just the way I roll. I learnt guitar by ear, so reading charts et cetera are in themselves a challenge.
you are awesome i def appreciate you helping all of us that are beginers its very nice of you to take up your time to help people iam very greatful ty pam
Forget this being the most important guitar lesson ever, the ending of the video makes it one of the most important videos ever. If Darfur was economically beneficial, our governments would be over there in a shot, as it is, we don't seem to care about anything other than our own backs. This is still going on even if the video is several years old.
Thank you Justin for this very important video. I agree, learning songs by ear is a very "healthy" method when playing guitar. I just figured out how to play Angie by The Rolling Stones only by listening to the song.
hes right it helps alot but dont start off with a bunch advance songs such as vai or jeff beck start off easy i recommend starting out on early punk albums such as the ramones
Is transcribing with sheet music or tab? I know the notes of the fretboard and right now I'm learning to recognize intervals by ear, but I can't read sheet music.
@UNTC321 Oh my God.You are a shining example of a liberal asshole dicktard.Too bad you weren't in the fucking building.People like you made me a firm believer that if the government did the 9/11 thing on purpose it was worth it with assholes like you sharing my same oxygen.You need more than a guitar lesson.Maybe a labotomy.Put the guitar down.You give legitimate guitarists like myself a bad name.
@70goldtop So you are in denial, You've seen building 7 and it's perfectly reasonable for that sky scrapper to fall at free fall accel. The said thing is your too stupid to realize, they did 911 because idiots like you would believe anything they are told. No plane crashed in PA, but you are an egomaniac, that thinks his interprtation of the world is correct. Your really a fool. Prove me wrong.
@UNTC321 No what I was trying to say to you limited moron was if your theory is correct,who cares?90% of society don't take people like you seriously anyway but even if you're right who gives a fuck?The country's totally fucked up because of people like you anyway.
@70goldtop It's not a theory, you programed fuck. The country is fucked because of the 90% who beiieve whatever they are told. No shit those 90% don't take the truth serious, they are in la la land.
Very truthful words there, dude! Fortunately, I learnt to play the guitar by ear since the very start. Never touched tabs and such... Never knew how to read them lolx! So transcribing is easy as pie to me now. Btw nice Jag.
I started transcribing with very simple songs like mary had a little lamb and then started figuring out the chords for simple rock songs with a simple 1-4-5 progression.
If you can figure out the first chord of the progression it should be easier after that, take it or leave it.
I've been trying your advice now for a few days trying to figure out the song Welcome to Buckethead Land by Buckethead but I can't figure it out. Do you think the song might be too hard for me? If so what song do you think I should start with? I've been playing for about a year now but I have no idea what chords he is playing. It's very confusing. Gonna keep working at it though.
@Rosarydragon .... if you are new at it...start with something easier ;o) ...let's say if one can't figure out to hear out a simple thing at first won't be able to do difficult stuff ^^
I see your point. However, that song motivates me to continue on even when its tough. I'm not giving up. I'm not gonna try doing the solo but I want to figure out the rest. This isn't the only song I'm working on though.
like what you said at the end Justin.heard this is an old vid but what you said at the end was cool.We all need to wake up to what is going on in the world.I wouldnt bother asking the government for help.Lets face it,Their priorities lie with controling the world by creating war!War generates massive profit for their masters.They are true terrorists.Oil and money hungry evil men,soz went on a bit there,but American leaders have a lot to answer for,peace and good lesson,great guitarist
Hi Justin, I just came across this video and enjoy all your videos but what you said at the end was brilliant, yes we should be doing something anytime something like this happens in this world, hopefully one day we can all live in peace. Thanks
I am a christian and proud. I also dont care what anyone says or thinks about what I believe. Nor do I care what religion YOU are. I will not like you any more or any less due to your religion. Obviously A main goal of many religions is to spread the word, but when your doing it in a condecending way, nothing will be accomplished. THAT INCLUDES ATHEISM, CATHOLOCISM, JUDAISM, AND ALL OTHER RELIGIONS INCLUDING MY OWN; CHRISTIANITY.
Justin, I luv the lessons, man. But isnt what you're talking about here essentially ear-training? It was an elective when I did my music-business degree, now that im learning guitar I wish I wouldve taken the class.
it is nice to see that there are people like you in the world,not only with teaching guitar,and passing on your knowledge,which would be a waste and all for not if you didnt,but a true humanitarian as well,keep up the good fight!
Top tips from the friendly lesson master! and what is more a moral/political message that actually means something. Sent a shiver down my spine. Keep up the good work mate.
I'm going to kill somebody because of the goddamn seal or whatever the heck it was at the end because it freaked me out like hell while i had the volume up and wasn't.. looking.
Anyway, seems quite okay. Wish you best of most (definatelly not all, because there are things you wouldn't ever want to be best at) things.
And I really want to get my hadns on that jag in the back >:)
@baadshepherd Riight. Thanks for the info. Still it had scared the living shit out of me back when i wrote the comment xD Oh and thanks again, sincerely this time, no sarcasm included, that really taught me something about fauna :P
I agree with you 100% but the problem here is a LOT of bands now days don't use standard tuning for there guitars so if someone new to guitar tries to learn it by ear they might try to find that sound and never find it because the guitar is tuned different.That was the mane problem for me when I was first learning.Because 90% of the music I listen to there guitars are tuned different so I had to use tabs to learn the songs I want to play.But your right it is a skill you REALLY NEED to learn.
Playing by ear will always be the best method. To be able to hear any song within your skill level and play along straight away makes it all worth while. Though I think if you want to play a piece exactly like the composer intended, sheet music is a must.
acquiring the fundamentals by learning the chords and location of keys on the neck make the big difference in hearing those notes and knowing what you are hearing and applying it to any instrument. learning to hear will also open up the door to many other genres of music and fonder appreciation for all music. very good to hear a player encourage other players to take it to that level of learning the instrument. keep it up.
Hello Justin, im 16 years old and i just wanned to thank you big time for teaching me things about music that changed my way of playing and also thinking, (better then before) your lessons is the best! take care,
iv done quite a lot ov reserch on thease matters! and as far as i can tell its western goverment and corpret intrest involment that gets thease things going! we have allways divided and and robed the people of africa,
Hi Justin, could you do lessons on songs from the Judds? There's no lesson on any of their songs and you would be the only one to teach them in the way that it should be played. I've learned so much from you. I'm really grateful to you for the lesson on Tears in Heaven. I've been trying to learn that song for such a long time. You've made that a success story. You're awesome!
Good on you mate. Not only are you a great guitar teacher, but you are also a good human being. Putting yourself out there, sticking your head out, that is a noble act and one worthy of reciprocation. How did these people in Darfur get to become so hateful that they would enjoy such atrocities? Because if they didn't enjoy them, they wouldn't be so creative... Maybe they should play more guitar... but I guess they can't afford one. Know what I mean?
@kevinlification nope but it makes it alot easier. Scales are the most important, because once you find the key note of the song, you can find the scale that goes with it. Which will help you determine where all the other notes are. Once you find a root note, building the chord is easy. it has to be a Major/minor, dominant 7th, augmented, suspended etc.
Once you know the key and the scale you can guess the chord progression. and learn the song in a matter of minutes.
but we cant play police for the whole world. and who could say about our acts that we are doing the right thing or not; we could be bad guys, who want to do good things but instead we are making all worse. this is a dilemma. sry 4 bad english. :D
U r a very good human being...definitely ll see wat we can do....
sowhatim 1 day ago
found this bout a week ago and i didnt have my guitar with then i forget dudes name and couldnt find this. found it finally
sdm41084 4 days ago
ID really like to sort out that shit in Africa. But I don't know how. How do you get through to the devil?
mastyer0fReality 4 days ago
I practiced guitar for a year before my first jam
And during the jam, my perception of guitar changed completely, and I feel like I progressed more during the one jam than during the whole year I played guitar
Jamming is one of the most important aspects of playing guitar
PLAY WITH OTHER PEOPLE!
Don't just sit at home and learn songs
KakashiDominates 4 days ago
justin what the hell are you doin? please dont use your popularity in guitar lessons to spread political issues. thats just outta place !
anuar1978 4 days ago
great advice, but im in a delema here me out. So i started learning guitar around 5 years old, no tabs no teachers nothing, exactly how you explained. So i have an amazing ear and i can play scarified whoopty do. when it comes to improving, i just don't have it. i am 19 now and every time ill try to jam w my friends i have really no idea what to play...its crazy because im very good! what should i do! i feel like im at a dead end with my guitar playing. help me out guys. thanks!
CRF450Rider585 6 days ago
@CRF450Rider585 Try picking your guitar up on your own, no distractions and just play! If you are good and you understand the way a guitar works then you will come up with something, everyone goes through stages where you find it hard to come up with something, you just have to stick at it. Some of the best songs were written in 20minutes and some take years. What instruments do your friends play and what do you do rhythm/lead? Try changing the way you write...
ARapidLurch8788 5 days ago
@CRF450Rider585 Try creating 4 chords, put them together, now is that your verse or chorus? Now try and get a meoldy going using the right sounding scales. What i do sometimes is whistle, hum or sing a melody then transfer it to guitar and work on it. You will find if you make up different melodies on your own then when you come to jam you will use those as a base and work off them. Hope this helped Paul
ARapidLurch8788 5 days ago
AAA+++ right on excellent instruction and chops : )
althedj 6 days ago
He sounds like Austin Powers
impertTV 1 week ago
Hey Justin,
Just discovered your site. I'm going to spend a lot of time there. Your a great teacher!
anishmathew7 1 week ago
hey justin Thanks for the video. I have played professionally for thirty years and have been teaching for the last 7 or 8. All your work is right on but this chat about listening is the best. Thanks a lot. Also Thanks for your words about Darfur. You play and live from the heart.
andoanderson51 1 week ago
444444th!
MrBethpheonix 1 week ago
I just want to say that I discovered your website around a week ago and you are an absolute inspiration. Not just as a guitar player or teacher but as a human being.
ScottPhot88 2 weeks ago
i liked the lesson from 9:45 to 9:50 lol........kiddin!! resppect for justin!!
nkd254 2 weeks ago
been watchin justin alot... but noticed the tattoo on his left arm just now lol!!
nkd254 2 weeks ago
I see nothing wrong with learning the notes first from a tab or a youtube video. If your ear is good enough, you will be able to hear the mistakes in the tab or the slight variations between slides or whatnot. (ex. intro to enter sandman by metallica. there is a slide in the 3rd intro riff that reads as one note on paper, but a properly timed slide seems to create a different note). Anyways, nothing wrong with learning the notes first then practicing proper tone and timing. that's what i do.
mpp2d 2 weeks ago
this was very inspirational. i am now going to play around looking for sounds on my guitar all night long.
jaylinthompson1122 2 weeks ago
Thank you justin ..... i wanted to know some easy songs to transcribe ...... any advice people ???
piyush10793 3 weeks ago
@piyush10793 any song you like that's simple..
maybe one of the newer garage bluesy-rock bands songs, they're normally fairly simple to play, like next girl, or i got mine by the black keys, or seven nation army by the white stripes
crazygeek777 2 weeks ago
@crazygeek777 im first starting with some good old nursery rhymes and poems and recognizing chord progressions ........ thank you for your reply :)
piyush10793 2 weeks ago
thank you man ....fuck all the dislikers ....hahahaha
MrShredshred 3 weeks ago
Thanks, Justin. I've always told the same advice to my students about learning things by ear. But I especially want to thank you because of your last comment. I'm trying to make my friends and family be aware of those kind of things and I hope each one of us becomes more concious about the suffering of other human beings. Cheers!
JusticieroDeLaMuerte 4 weeks ago
Sir ,
After watching your video , i really had to log in to my account and comment on it . I used to go to websites and find chords for the songs i wished to play , but until i came across this video of yours .
The words which came from you are directly from your heart , you are sincere and you really mean it .I admire you for sharing all your knowledge with us people and even taking time to care about unjust matters in this world. Kudos to you , you have earned the respect of many of us.
DataInvalid 1 month ago
This is the man
Vinix30 1 month ago
what happened there in Africa.. what happened to that woman and what's happening right now, right there. That's unimaginable :(. I have no idea that that is happening right now, I bet a lot of people who don't. what an eye-opener. heartbreaking, appalling.
You're a great man, Every word you said throughout the video, I ATE IT ALL.
GREAT ADVICE. never really thought of it. I'll give the simplest thing a go (:
dianejazlyn 1 month ago
I write all my music from my stomach, must be why all my music is about pizza and hamburgers.
Likeyoucare 1 month ago 2
Transcribing is just starting to click for me after 20+ years. It's very cool when it happens, and well worth the time.
woodenvibration 1 month ago
SEXY POSE
BootyLikeBeyonce 1 month ago 3
I agree 100%
WhiteNacho 1 month ago
Greatness
kanunubtol 1 month ago
thankyou for the great advice
donottawaguitar 1 month ago
Transcribing? You're describing "playing by ear". I agree, really essential, and everyone who CAN should try to do it. I've been doing this forever. Still not great at it, but getting there. Hearing the notes/chords in your head, then playing them, and adding/removing things you feel makes it better. If you can hear tones like a short ad on TV and then play it, you're doing it! I think some people can do it better than others tho. Its a real right brained thing. Justin, you ROCK~! Great vids!
jack002tuber 1 month ago
Just a tip for anyone. If you are playing along to a song you're transcribing and you are unsure you are playing the right chord. Just move the chord up or down a semi tone and if it sounds like shit, there is a very very high chance you were playing the correct chord. It really helps me a lot.
ZeppelinFloydRoses 1 month ago 2
vry useful
sharminaparikh 1 month ago
Hey Justin! cheers for helping me achieve RGT Grade 6 Distinction 92% couldnt have done it without your vids Mate! ;)
scotcheese 2 months ago
Hi Justin,
I want to say: HUGE THANKS for your effort and time and spirit put in those lessons. I have strugled to find a comprehensive course that would help me organize what I already know and what i should know at my level and how to move on... Thanks for inspiring and encouraging! Vivaciously, Monika
moonpiepirate 2 months ago
Great video brother. You are right on target I believe.
ncboy65 2 months ago
Well, if you don't want to jump straight from tabs to ear-only, notebooks are good. They give you information of the key, note duration, general sound etc. You'll also learn how Chords are built on certain keys and what chord progressions are generally used.
Huqe 2 months ago
6:39 hafta hafta hafta
DJsquib 2 months ago
i kept looking at your tattoo. i thought it was a microphone (•̯͡.•̯͡ )
niaiserieeeeee 2 months ago
Comment removed
vsmcax1007 2 months ago
Great advice from a good guy
markspencer1203 2 months ago
cool
94Cioppa 2 months ago
What a guy.
thejohnjohnny123 2 months ago
Hi Justin.
I agree with everything said by Miguel in the previous comment.
Thanks again for all your help and very valuable advice. Your amazing.
Craig.
themillsyboy 2 months ago 23
Hi Justin, I wish to express my congratulations and admiration for you.
Congratulations for being such a good teacher and having the wisdom of giving such good advice as in this video (Your words here are pure gold).
Admiration for expressing publicly yr human empathy with people who suffer.
I wish there were many many people like you in the world. Then, the world would be a much better place to live. Kind regards from Spain. Miguel.
miglage 2 months ago 35
they wasnt learning songs from tabs becouse there was no tabs back then -.-'
Przybysz14 2 months ago
Thanks for the great lesson. Feel terrible on hearing the story at the end. Agree with you,,, ashamed to be human. Uma S , India
nir785 2 months ago
Hi Justin. This really important. However I wish you could remake this video in HD audio since it's the most important video you say was ever made. . It's hard to hear your voice well. Thanks so much.
Robert Reekers
voorzitterairchips 2 months ago
Fender Jag in the BG.Nice.
ceira7 2 months ago
lol, with that video name, i expected to be rick roll'd....
rohalin 2 months ago
That story you told at the end was appalling. I am shocked and saddened.
woodmeista1982 2 months ago
OK I have been playing for quite along time now - too embarresed to say - and have been cheating through getting tabs of the internet and so on. Maybe you could possibly help by posting scales on your site or you tube that we could learn to play by ear as I feel this would be a really basic way to start practising, if you see where I am coming from.
iloveplanetrock 2 months ago
Justin,
Y U 'SO' AWSOME? :D
AYJeGenesis 2 months ago
it's true. i watched this vid about 6months ago, and have been trying to play by ear. i used to play by watching video lessons; rarely use tabs, though. hey, there is only 12 notes, right? i just try to get the notes down on the low estring for the progression, then i go and figure out the rest. if u kno the key then u can solo. wish i had a person face to face to teach me, when i started last year.
21ryrunner 3 months ago
Excellent point, and Steve Vai said that in the interview. You need to develop the skills to be able to play the things you hear, and the stuff in your head is the source of creativity
IndighostOfficial 3 months ago
it would have been great having these lessons when I was a kid however theres no replacement to listening to music
j0nnyism 3 months ago
So i just started playing and i had a lot of help from your videos. I jump back and forth from the very basics to trying to play solo parts from your lessons and mostly marty schwartz's. You are both different personalities and both of you help me in my enthousiasm to play. I know i will have to start learning transcribing but it almost sounds to daunting to get started :S. Again thanks and also a good message at the end. I will look into it and see what even simple me can do to help.
tillaart36 3 months ago
Your totally right man...Excellent stuff x
steviehat1 3 months ago
bloody excellent. listen to him. he's right!
LeondalePhotographer 3 months ago
100% spot on. I started transcribing before learning chords. Iron man with the Top E string LOL. Most times I can hear a song on the radio in my car, and go home an hour later and play some of it. Get the song and notes in your head. I love RUSH and usually put on a CD and blend right in. You cant tell Im playing until I stop. Thanks for the lessons Justin!
warrockbites 3 months ago
sure this is the most important lesson ever, makes sense.....tks 4 sharing
michaelnoardo 4 months ago
But its true that you have to listen to the song that you like a lot. Too Memorize the sound, melody =notes in your head. It will help you to figure out how to play. Tab is good, if you found it difficult to figure out. Use, drop it then play your memory and ear later. Our ears help us to remeber sounds, that are our ears's function. Like Kirk Hammett from Metallica. Its easier for kids today, they have tabs.Even Kirk time didnt had Youtube.So today's kids has many gifts.If it helps, why not?
wildhorse78 4 months ago
You can combine tab and ear listening. Find the note by tab if the song is really hard to figure out by ear or you find it just difficult, then drop the tab when you have found it. But yeah its important that you have listened to the song you want to learn to play a lot,before figure it out by tab, while/during and after.Its easier for a singer. I can sing every song i like, even i dont know a note.But its a lot a lot more difficult for fingers/figure out for guitar than for mouth/vocal
wildhorse78 4 months ago
@wildhorse78 I Learn by both tab and ear. I Match the tabs with the sound/notes just to be sure it's correct and sometimes I add in a little bit of licks to the song that sounds good. Sometimes I learn by ear or by mouth. I hum the notes until it gets stuck in my head and then try to play it on my keyboard then transpose to bass/guitar.
AverageJop25 2 months ago
Every generations have their own way of learning and producing things and stuff. Guitarist from the old years, 60 and 70 didnt had internet, youtube and it was hard to buy guitar books. So they had to learn by watching directly and listening directly and figure it out by themselves more than today's childs. They are born in a time, modern time. Its gift for them.Comapare getting help by animal,compare to machine today.There r many way to reach the goal,to become a really good guitarist.Not only1
wildhorse78 4 months ago
Excellent advice and great teacher!
danielltaylor 4 months ago
The mans right!!! Use your ears kids.......it's the only way to develop properly as a player. Work out the key the tune is in work out the chord types and scale patterns and if you struggle to do this then you might need some ear training which involves some singing......though you don't need to be a great singer to gain a good ear. You will develop all round as a musician not just as a guitarist. Justin tells it like it is and he's right it is the most important lesson will ever have.
posthumous5 4 months ago
The problem is he never actually teaches to be able to listen and translate, nor here or any of his other vids
MehdiGlz 4 months ago
@MehdiGlz go to the website justinguitar(dot)com and when you're there search the transcribe section ;)
MetalUpYourAss20101 3 months ago
Empire of the summer moon
Pluckyxo 4 months ago
i AM HAPPY TO LISTEN TO YOU AND I AGREE WITH YOU AT THE ZOOMED OUT LEVEL, MANY TERRIBLE THINGS HAPPEN IN THE WORLD. IT DOES NOT EVEN COMPARED TO WACO THE AMERICAN government KILLED PEOPLE FOR LIVING A DIFFERANT WAY OF LIFE, DOES IT HAVE TO BE IN A FUKING MAGAZIN FOR YOU TO SEE, THE REALY TERABLE THINGS ARE NEVER PUBLISHED.
122amsterdam 4 months ago
good guitar advice but separate your videos .
guitar advice------------Africa
122amsterdam 4 months ago
america is not the only one to lie (9 11 waco) every government does it (uk 7/7)thay are more sutle and do it a bit less 7/7 look at some facts before you say "well it was fuking terrorists of course" if you look bbc and shit like that, thay will obveously lie do you think the government would let them tell the truth please dont be a dumb sheep and definatly dont take my word for it FACTS
. THE REALY TERABLE THINGS ARE NEVER PUBLISHED.
122amsterdam 4 months ago
I AGREE ABOUT DEATH NUMBERS BUT MANY TERRIBLE THINGS HAPPEN IN THE WORLD. IT DOES NOT EVEN COMPARED TO WACO AND STEALING OIL FROM IRAQ THROUGH BLOOD SHED (WAKO) THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT KILLED PEOPLE FOR LIVING A DIFFERANT WAY OF LIFE, DOES IT HAVE TO BE IN A FUKING MAGAZIN FOR YOU TO SEE. THE REALY TERABLE THINGS ARE NEVER PUBLISHED.
OUR government
. THE REALY TERABLE THINGS ARE NEVER PUBLISHED.
122amsterdam 4 months ago
sooo trueee!!! to be a good musician is not about knowing all the techniques and be fast n everything, its just about being innovate and play, as he said, out of ur soul. i mean who gives a shit if u can play metallica even faster then they did. their songs are already out there!!! play something nobody's ever heard before that makes ppl think: yeah i can relate to tht sound....... me gusta :)
twictae 4 months ago
The last part really made it the most important lesson ever thumps up
ClassicCollege 5 months ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
talk about raving on,, come on,,, just cut to the chase mate.. boring...
stevethebassman100 5 months ago
Fuck, sunshine really does shine out of this mans ass.
c0rnblakes 5 months ago
Great.
Tekhazai 5 months ago
Two great lessons! One on music & one on life. "Columbine boy" is an example of what is wrong with this world. Keep up the great work, in music and in life. John Lennon would be proud of you!
chubs901 5 months ago
I can do it easyly, but it takes to damn long to learn an entire song. I'd much rather take the quick and easy route. That's just the way I roll. I learnt guitar by ear, so reading charts et cetera are in themselves a challenge.
acousticgrooven 5 months ago
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1234gnrslash 5 months ago
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1234gnrslash 5 months ago
the baby on the fire part just completely disturbed me :(
Thanks for the lesson i guess...
xheartshapebox 5 months ago
you are awesome i def appreciate you helping all of us that are beginers its very nice of you to take up your time to help people iam very greatful ty pam
TheBlackdiamond88 5 months ago
thank you so much... you remind me of my art teacher... you have helped me alot. so thanks
plaid4ever 5 months ago
Forget this being the most important guitar lesson ever, the ending of the video makes it one of the most important videos ever. If Darfur was economically beneficial, our governments would be over there in a shot, as it is, we don't seem to care about anything other than our own backs. This is still going on even if the video is several years old.
shearerson 5 months ago
thanks a ton justin.man, i cant quantify how help your lessons have been
mow468 5 months ago
Thumbs up if you thought some of the discussions below were totally irrelevant to the video.
TheSpydera 5 months ago
Thank you Justin for this very important video. I agree, learning songs by ear is a very "healthy" method when playing guitar. I just figured out how to play Angie by The Rolling Stones only by listening to the song.
Thanks!
IPlayLoudGuitar 5 months ago
how can people dislike such lessons?
tapanjeet88 5 months ago
stop being a guitar hero guitarist is what hes saying
jabez36 5 months ago
did Pride and Joy in 5 days on my third song
JDXticy 5 months ago
hes right it helps alot but dont start off with a bunch advance songs such as vai or jeff beck start off easy i recommend starting out on early punk albums such as the ramones
Z0S0The0utrider69 6 months ago
so true.
nivk08 6 months ago
A great guitar player and caring about suffering in the world. It's what the musician is all about.
bin1127 6 months ago
Is transcribing with sheet music or tab? I know the notes of the fretboard and right now I'm learning to recognize intervals by ear, but I can't read sheet music.
gageman70 6 months ago
shut up
MrFatherfoley 6 months ago
How about the genocide in the Middle East? All started by the 911 lie.
UNTC321 6 months ago
@UNTC321 You are a fucking goof.Get a life and stop bothering people.Genocide should be performed on assholes like you.
70goldtop 5 months ago
@70goldtop I was looking for a guitar lesson and got bullshit propaganda. If you fell for the 911 lie your a fool. Building 7? Stupid dip-shit.
UNTC321 5 months ago
@UNTC321 Oh my God.You are a shining example of a liberal asshole dicktard.Too bad you weren't in the fucking building.People like you made me a firm believer that if the government did the 9/11 thing on purpose it was worth it with assholes like you sharing my same oxygen.You need more than a guitar lesson.Maybe a labotomy.Put the guitar down.You give legitimate guitarists like myself a bad name.
70goldtop 5 months ago
@70goldtop So you are in denial, You've seen building 7 and it's perfectly reasonable for that sky scrapper to fall at free fall accel. The said thing is your too stupid to realize, they did 911 because idiots like you would believe anything they are told. No plane crashed in PA, but you are an egomaniac, that thinks his interprtation of the world is correct. Your really a fool. Prove me wrong.
UNTC321 5 months ago
@UNTC321 No what I was trying to say to you limited moron was if your theory is correct,who cares?90% of society don't take people like you seriously anyway but even if you're right who gives a fuck?The country's totally fucked up because of people like you anyway.
70goldtop 5 months ago
@70goldtop It's not a theory, you programed fuck. The country is fucked because of the 90% who beiieve whatever they are told. No shit those 90% don't take the truth serious, they are in la la land.
UNTC321 5 months ago
@UNTC321 Easy does it columbine
70goldtop 5 months ago
@70goldtop More proof your an idiot.
UNTC321 5 months ago
Very truthful words there, dude! Fortunately, I learnt to play the guitar by ear since the very start. Never touched tabs and such... Never knew how to read them lolx! So transcribing is easy as pie to me now. Btw nice Jag.
5oulPower 6 months ago
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5oulPower 6 months ago
genuine video from a genuine guy.
matimaui 6 months ago
I started transcribing with very simple songs like mary had a little lamb and then started figuring out the chords for simple rock songs with a simple 1-4-5 progression.
If you can figure out the first chord of the progression it should be easier after that, take it or leave it.
authenticalaskan76 6 months ago
listen to what the teacher has got to say !
KingCrimson82 6 months ago
thanks justin... but wtf was that at the last second of the video lol
datboicuz 6 months ago
I've been trying your advice now for a few days trying to figure out the song Welcome to Buckethead Land by Buckethead but I can't figure it out. Do you think the song might be too hard for me? If so what song do you think I should start with? I've been playing for about a year now but I have no idea what chords he is playing. It's very confusing. Gonna keep working at it though.
Rosarydragon 6 months ago
@Rosarydragon .... if you are new at it...start with something easier ;o) ...let's say if one can't figure out to hear out a simple thing at first won't be able to do difficult stuff ^^
RustyPease 6 months ago
@RustyPease
I see your point. However, that song motivates me to continue on even when its tough. I'm not giving up. I'm not gonna try doing the solo but I want to figure out the rest. This isn't the only song I'm working on though.
Rosarydragon 6 months ago
damn i guess i cant start out transcribing "surfing with the alien" :( o well thanx for inspiration Justin "cheers" from Texas!!!
Senlocc 6 months ago
thanks this video really brought back insight on how music should be learned and how it was shown to me as a kid
mackpost17 6 months ago
like what you said at the end Justin.heard this is an old vid but what you said at the end was cool.We all need to wake up to what is going on in the world.I wouldnt bother asking the government for help.Lets face it,Their priorities lie with controling the world by creating war!War generates massive profit for their masters.They are true terrorists.Oil and money hungry evil men,soz went on a bit there,but American leaders have a lot to answer for,peace and good lesson,great guitarist
SilentChant1 6 months ago
mx tabs , got it cheers justin
mickeyfinn80 6 months ago
Hi Justin, I just came across this video and enjoy all your videos but what you said at the end was brilliant, yes we should be doing something anytime something like this happens in this world, hopefully one day we can all live in peace. Thanks
13COU 6 months ago
100% Correct...and yes..takes years for some of us to develope..even with daily playin.
musicmatty67 6 months ago
what relation do the top comments have to this video about transcribing...?
TheWarmWalrus 6 months ago
I am a christian and proud. I also dont care what anyone says or thinks about what I believe. Nor do I care what religion YOU are. I will not like you any more or any less due to your religion. Obviously A main goal of many religions is to spread the word, but when your doing it in a condecending way, nothing will be accomplished. THAT INCLUDES ATHEISM, CATHOLOCISM, JUDAISM, AND ALL OTHER RELIGIONS INCLUDING MY OWN; CHRISTIANITY.
gkshead 7 months ago
Justin, I luv the lessons, man. But isnt what you're talking about here essentially ear-training? It was an elective when I did my music-business degree, now that im learning guitar I wish I wouldve taken the class.
Cheapcars305 7 months ago
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Cheapcars305 7 months ago
great work!!!!!.....you are awesome!
TheGrimDazzle 7 months ago
Hes not wrong
hockings1 7 months ago
you're a good man Justin, thoughtful and generous, thank you very much for these lessons :)
Nafopwnstar 7 months ago
Actually i watched like 20 seconds and then i started jamming on guitar while this video runned in the background xD
MovieGuru45 7 months ago
it is nice to see that there are people like you in the world,not only with teaching guitar,and passing on your knowledge,which would be a waste and all for not if you didnt,but a true humanitarian as well,keep up the good fight!
pearlhandle36 7 months ago
eres un crak justin, eres un maldito crak!
santiverdi 7 months ago
thank you justin for your advice
\
ruthesh24 7 months ago
Top tips from the friendly lesson master! and what is more a moral/political message that actually means something. Sent a shiver down my spine. Keep up the good work mate.
itsvivax 8 months ago 5
I'm going to kill somebody because of the goddamn seal or whatever the heck it was at the end because it freaked me out like hell while i had the volume up and wasn't.. looking.
Anyway, seems quite okay. Wish you best of most (definatelly not all, because there are things you wouldn't ever want to be best at) things.
And I really want to get my hadns on that jag in the back >:)
LeetTemujin 8 months ago
@LeetTemujin That "seal" is a Tasmanian devil, it is up there as that is where Justin is originally from.
baadshepherd 7 months ago
@baadshepherd Riight. Thanks for the info. Still it had scared the living shit out of me back when i wrote the comment xD Oh and thanks again, sincerely this time, no sarcasm included, that really taught me something about fauna :P
LeetTemujin 7 months ago
truly amazing video thank you
gratefulDead619 8 months ago
Tablature should be banned, it is the cancer of music culture!
widepass 8 months ago
I agree with you 100% but the problem here is a LOT of bands now days don't use standard tuning for there guitars so if someone new to guitar tries to learn it by ear they might try to find that sound and never find it because the guitar is tuned different.That was the mane problem for me when I was first learning.Because 90% of the music I listen to there guitars are tuned different so I had to use tabs to learn the songs I want to play.But your right it is a skill you REALLY NEED to learn.
skrpirate 8 months ago
Ok, I'll work at this transcribing thing cos' I don't what you getting the hump with me :)
Mrgs1000g 8 months ago
@Mrgs1000g bugger I commented before the Darfur mssge to! Your top bloke Justin..
Mrgs1000g 8 months ago
The problem I have when transscribing is that often I don't hear if it's a chord or a single note. Any tips?
burt2800 8 months ago
Playing by ear will always be the best method. To be able to hear any song within your skill level and play along straight away makes it all worth while. Though I think if you want to play a piece exactly like the composer intended, sheet music is a must.
MrFaulconbridge 8 months ago
acquiring the fundamentals by learning the chords and location of keys on the neck make the big difference in hearing those notes and knowing what you are hearing and applying it to any instrument. learning to hear will also open up the door to many other genres of music and fonder appreciation for all music. very good to hear a player encourage other players to take it to that level of learning the instrument. keep it up.
ike955 9 months ago
Hello Justin, im 16 years old and i just wanned to thank you big time for teaching me things about music that changed my way of playing and also thinking, (better then before) your lessons is the best! take care,
noaOFC 9 months ago 2
i scroll down to look at the comments and see people banging on about religion and war. great
ocmc32 9 months ago
@ocmc32 shit, i feel like a dick now. commented before i reached justin's little message.
ocmc32 9 months ago
iv done quite a lot ov reserch on thease matters! and as far as i can tell its western goverment and corpret intrest involment that gets thease things going! we have allways divided and and robed the people of africa,
spasemonkey05 9 months ago
So true, it's how i learned.
rillloudmother 9 months ago
He really is a genius, in music, teaching and caring about people.
Thanks for all he already done for us.
Keep on Justin, youre work is amazing ;-)
lukatho 9 months ago 13
@justin
what you said is true...i started like that. figuring out each and every note...year passes but the outcome is best sandy
TheEXPERIMENTAL7 9 months ago
ok i get it so please give me Through The Fire And Flames tabs FROM HEARING ;d
hrabia99332 9 months ago
cool man
mrboycom 9 months ago
lØl_i_fÈèl_sö_lOñélY_tÓdÁY
CutieaAndreaan95 9 months ago
learning to transcribe is very rewarding.. so is writing your own music.. or at least trying.. = D.
mo28mabini 10 months ago
Guitar Pro is good though. Ultimate guitar dot com for GP files.
Metallimeister 10 months ago
Hi Justin, could you do lessons on songs from the Judds? There's no lesson on any of their songs and you would be the only one to teach them in the way that it should be played. I've learned so much from you. I'm really grateful to you for the lesson on Tears in Heaven. I've been trying to learn that song for such a long time. You've made that a success story. You're awesome!
faynar1 10 months ago
also, for learning, a great helper is a tempo decreasing software..... always handy!
DarkLionInteractive 10 months ago
the last part was awesome XD
xslashravex 10 months ago
I feel resentment of being human too, although I feel like the only one. Many if not seemingly all are robotic.
av3nger3 10 months ago
Good on you mate. Not only are you a great guitar teacher, but you are also a good human being. Putting yourself out there, sticking your head out, that is a noble act and one worthy of reciprocation. How did these people in Darfur get to become so hateful that they would enjoy such atrocities? Because if they didn't enjoy them, they wouldn't be so creative... Maybe they should play more guitar... but I guess they can't afford one. Know what I mean?
nsn1978 10 months ago
ya hendrix couldnt read music
kirbz01 10 months ago
@kirbz01 but Jimmy Page, Frank Zappa, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani etc could
3star2nr 10 months ago
@3star2nr yeah ok so whats ur point?
kirbz01 10 months ago
@kirbz01 whats yours?
3star2nr 10 months ago
do you need to know a lot of music theory and chords/scales to transcribe?
kevinlification 10 months ago
@kevinlification nope but it makes it alot easier. Scales are the most important, because once you find the key note of the song, you can find the scale that goes with it. Which will help you determine where all the other notes are. Once you find a root note, building the chord is easy. it has to be a Major/minor, dominant 7th, augmented, suspended etc.
Once you know the key and the scale you can guess the chord progression. and learn the song in a matter of minutes.
Even basic theory helps
3star2nr 10 months ago
@kevinlification you don't need to know any. Hendrix didn't know any scales or chords - he learnt by ear.
skint0n0minted 9 months ago
Justin, top man.
Danthehorse 10 months ago
A response
ZzInZaNezZ 10 months ago
Anyone know of a song that is easy t transcribe? I would appreachiate
ZzInZaNezZ 10 months ago
@ZzInZaNezZ
you might try: green day "prosthetic head", "good riddance (time of your life)" or possibly offspring "gone away"
though you might take into consideration that "easy" is a relative term...
jonniebigpants 10 months ago
You're a good man.
Antstomat 11 months ago
jaguar in the background!
pedskon 11 months ago
but we cant play police for the whole world. and who could say about our acts that we are doing the right thing or not; we could be bad guys, who want to do good things but instead we are making all worse. this is a dilemma. sry 4 bad english. :D
K0nsumkind 11 months ago
Hi Justin. Darfur was indeed tragic. I think to be aware of all the violence and horror that take