Ear Training 01 | Basic Tuning and Sine Waves (Patreon)

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Hi Everyone,

This is another series that's been on my mind for a long time and I finally decided to go for it.

This first Ear Training lesson is about how to start tuning by ear using harmonics BUT.... it's so much more!

I got into some fun software experiments with sine waves to show what happens when you tune your guitar. Two nearly identical musical tones will create a beat together, and that beat will get faster or slower depending on if you're closer or farther from being in tune.

If you've been playing for a while, this lesson might clarify some things and help you hear differently. If you feel like you're tone deaf, this is an excellent place to start the absolute basics of training your ears. This lesson is foundational for future ear training lessons so get really comfortable with the homework.

Your homework for this lessons is fairly simple:
1. Tune your guitar with a tuner
2. Play harmonics on low E 5th fret and 7th fret of the A string
3. Listen for the beating (or lack of beating if you're in tune)
4. SLIGHTLY detune your low E string so it's a little flatter
5. Play the same harmonics and listen for that beat
6. Slowly tune your E string back until the harmonics match again

Repeat the process over and over until you have an easier time hearing the beats speed up when you get out of tune and slow down when you get out of tune.

This exercise will work on both acoustic AND electric guitar.

If you start getting the hang of it and you want to contribute to the community forum, try recording some audio (or even a video) of you getting that E string back in tune. If you're struggling with this exercise, post audio or video of you trying this exercise and the community will try to help you figure out what's going on!

Look out for more Ear Training Lessons, coming soon.