PART 1: Single notes
Level 1: Open strings
This section gives you practice at matching notes that aren’t too close in pitch. The six open strings are quite widely separated in pitch and with a little practice can be easily recognised.
The self test consists of a series of notes corresponding to the six open strings played in random order. The notes are played slowly at first but with gradually increasing speed. You have to find the correct string on the guitar before the next note is sounded.
Don’t worry if you hit a wrong string before the right one. Use that to guide you to the correct string. As long as you get to the correct note before the next one is sounded it’s a pass.
Self test: Find the notes sounded on any of the open strings.
open strings
How did you do?
1 – No problem – too easy
2 – Very well. I got most of them correctly and in time.
3 – OK but quite a few mistakes.
4 – Not so well. A lot of mistakes, especially at the higher speed.
5 – I’ve no idea. I don’t know if I was hitting the right string or not.
What to do.
1 – Too easy, It’s not your starting level. Move on to level 2
2 – Well done. Move on to level 2 - but come back sometimes if you feel you could do with some extra practice at this level.
3 – Keep at it. Also try listening without the guitar and try to imagine which string is being played. As there’s no way to know if you’re right or wrong, it takes the pressure off. Pressure can be a two-edged sword, forcing you to develop quickly but at times hindering your development by stopping you listening correctly.
4 – Keep at it and also play your open strings one by one and listen to the quality of the sound. Try to sing the note that you hear. This will give it more of an identity in your mind.
5 – Go back to the tuning demo in part one. Get someone or an electronic tuner to check that your guitar is actually in tune. Play the correct strings on the guitar along with the notes from the tuning file. Listen to the quality of the sound. When the notes are the same there is a unique resonant quality that different notes can’t produce. Play it again and again until you can learn to recognise that resonance. Then try it on the test file.
Level 2: Single string - open to fifth fret
This takes you to the next level of difficulty. Notes within the first five frets (including the open string) are played on a single string and you have to find them before the next one is played. Again the speed starts of slow but increases gradually.
This gives a choice of six possible notes as did the last test – but this time the notes are closer together and harder to tell apart.
There are three tests each representing different pitch ranges from the high first string, the mid range third string and the low sixth string.
You may find your ear works better in one range than in the other but it’s just a matter of focus and practice to bring your level up in all pitch ranges.
Self tests: Find the notes
String 1 – open string to fifth fret
String 3 – open string to fifth fret
String 6 – open string to fifth fret
How did you do?
1. No problem
2. Quite well. I could match most of them
3. I missed quite a few especially at the faster speed.
4. Not well – I couldn’t be sure whether I had found the right notes or not.
What to do
1. Your ear is sensitive to pitch differences even when the notes are close together. Move on to the next level.
2. Move on to the next level but come back and practice more at this level
3. Keep at it. Guess the note – wrong guesses will help you find the right note.
4. Keep at it. Try to sing the note both as you hear the test note and again as you play the guitar note.
Level 3: The full range – all strings to 12th fret
This section presents pitches all over the fretboard. The choice of notes is greatly expanded. The sound you hear is a sustained synth sound rather than a guitar synth. This is to give you time to find the note on your guitar while the sustained note is still sounding rather than have it fade out. Again don’t worry about guessing wrong notes –Use them to guide you up or down to the correct fret.
Also bear in mind that with this self test, the correct note can usually be found in several positions on the fretboard.
Self test: Find the notes sounded anywhere on the fretboard up to the twelfth fret.
All strings to twelfth fret
How did you do?
1. Very well. I could match all or most of them
2. Quite well – but some mistakes
3. I missed quite a lot especially at the faster speed
4. Not well – I couldn’t be sure whether I had found the right note or not.
What to do
1. Single pitches in isolation are no problem for you. Now you need to move on to the next level where you will hear related pitches in rhythmic groupings.
2. Move on to the next section 'melodic phrases' but come back sometimes and practise more at this level. Especially if you find the next level difficult.
3. Keep at it. Even if you’re not sure, take a guess. Wrong guesses will help you find the right note.
4. Keep at it. Try to sing the note both as you hear the test note and again as you play the guitar note. You may be able to slow it down in your media player. (e.g. Windows Media Player 9 has this function)