IFR blog > Practice tips > Developing your ear > Understanding any piece of music by ear
How to practice difficult movements in Exercise 1

I'm wondering about the trombone? The image you use of the notes being connected as one long chain doesn’t really fit with the trombone because the notes are not evenly spaced. Do you have any suggestions?

Demo of exercise from Understanding Begins with Listening

This is a demonstration of the singing activity from the chapter ‘Understanding Begins with Listening’ from Improvise for Real. It's the first step to learning to recognize both chords and melodies by ear.

High and Dry

If you ever struggle for inspiration in your composing, check out this beautiful song that Radiohead created with just three chords from the major scale.

Yesterday

The Beatles song "Yesterday" uses just two chords from outside the major scale. These two chords give the song its exotic touches making the melody so much more beautiful and memorable.

Wild Horses

The chord progression to this ballad by the Rolling Stones contains two fascinating sounds that are worth studying.

Rocket Man

Elton John was a master of the most subtle details of Mixed Harmony.

Like a Rolling Stone

When you think of the bluesy rock sound of this Bob Dylan classic, it's hard to imagine that the entire song is made from just the seven notes of the major scale.

Knockin' on Heaven's Door

Bob Dylan's beautiful ballad uses the "backwards" movement through chords 1, 5D and 2-.

I Won't Back Down

This entire song is made from just the four chords that we study in IFR Jam Tracks Level 2: Pure Harmony Essentials.

Hallelujah

This classic by Leonard Cohen not only uses the most important chords in our musical system, but even talks about them in the lyrics!