Will transcribing music improve my ability to play a song by ear?

Yes, transcription is a very useful tool in developing what you want. Transcribe with the purpose of better understanding songs by ear. Transcription is a skill which can be practiced many ways.

1. Is it better to read music or play by ear?
2. Does transcribing music get easier?
3. Is playing songs by ear a talent or a skill?
4. Why is it important for musicians to transcribe music?

Is it better to read music or play by ear?

With it's more lose, improvisation style, learning to play by ear allows you to find your technique. Secondly, most people master individual songs much faster by learning to play by ear. There's no theory to slog through, which means you will be able to get right to it and play your favourite songs out right away.

Does transcribing music get easier?

As you develop your ear training, it should become easier to recognize specific musical constructs. Most of transcribing these parts is just to recognize the key of the song and what is musically occurring. This will get easier with practice, as you learn to recognise more and more common constructs.

Is playing songs by ear a talent or a skill?

As explained above, playing by ear is an impressive skill. But it's important for more than just showing off and convincing people you're “naturally musical”. It's important to learn to play by ear because it gives you real freedom on your instrument.

Why is it important for musicians to transcribe music?

1. It lets you record what you hear. Whether it's pencil on printed manuscript paper, entering notes into Finale, or using the piano roll in Logic, being able to set down the notes you heard accurately empowers your music creation and manipulation.