Wondering what the community's thoughts are on using EM5 with an instrument you do not play. That is, is ear training independent of the instrument sounding the notes?
I play guitar (hobbyist, self taught, no theory really) and am planning on taking up the piano in the next 2 years. I am wondering 1) if it will be much more difficult to make progress with ear training with EM5 in "piano mode" having no actual piano or piano playing skills at this time 2) if i were to master this in "piano mode" and never actually take up piano, will the guitarist in me look back on the effort as wasted, terribly inefficient, other, and 3) from the perspective of some of the pianists, what are some of advantages or disadvantages of ear training from the piano perspective before getting started with actual hands on instruction.
Multiple perspectives on any/all of the above greatly appreciated.
joel
Ear training with your non-primary instrument
Moderator: Quentin
Hi Joel,
It is common practice to teach ear training with a piano in conservatories and music schools. Classes are often composed of students playing various instruments, but ear training is usually done by singing (a lot) and listening to piano patterns.
Practicing with guitar sounds and interface can be helpful for guitarists, but generally the aim is to get to know how pitches sound together (melodically or harmonically), no matter what instrument is playing them. I think it is more a question of comfort than anything else. Something you might want to try is to do sessions with piano sounds, then others with guitar sounds, then maybe a third instrument.
You also need to remember that one of the most useful aspects of ear training is to help you play with others and interact with them. In a group setting, it is rare that all the members of the group play the same instrument. Your ear would have to interpret sounds played by a keyboard, a bass, rhythms played by drums, tone sung by a vocalist, etc.
It is common practice to teach ear training with a piano in conservatories and music schools. Classes are often composed of students playing various instruments, but ear training is usually done by singing (a lot) and listening to piano patterns.
Practicing with guitar sounds and interface can be helpful for guitarists, but generally the aim is to get to know how pitches sound together (melodically or harmonically), no matter what instrument is playing them. I think it is more a question of comfort than anything else. Something you might want to try is to do sessions with piano sounds, then others with guitar sounds, then maybe a third instrument.
You also need to remember that one of the most useful aspects of ear training is to help you play with others and interact with them. In a group setting, it is rare that all the members of the group play the same instrument. Your ear would have to interpret sounds played by a keyboard, a bass, rhythms played by drums, tone sung by a vocalist, etc.
- Because in Music, We're All Ears... -