Originally published June 7, 2013, lightly edited for clarity.
A well-developed ear is the highest-leverage skill a bass player can invest in — it lets you hear chord changes, follow other musicians in real time, and learn songs faster. I have always felt it important to never underestimate the power of a well developed ear. Being able to hear your way through the different aspects of playing music on your bass is essential for a successful career. For me it was always a struggle to work on simply because I didn’t enjoy it. I regret not really busting ass on it before I started playing professionally. So my message to you is, if you are not really working on it, it’s time to turn it on. The following video has a couple of exercises to help you get started. Ear training is one of the fundamentals I teach. For structured ear-training work as part of lessons, online bass lessons via Zoom are available.
