diggerdave - Posted - 09/12/2016:  09:41:18

Is there a way to download the sounds of notes and chords so I can listen and pick it up by ear?

 I made the mistake of using Mando Tabs. They are great to start but all of the jams are done by ear. At first I couldn't understand how people could read music so I learned to read music. Now, when I try to jam I am completely lost. I find myself playing NOTES and not playing MUSIC! When I get into an Irish session they don't use sheet music and pick everything up by ear. I can't even begin to play with them.

I just attended Fiddlehead Jam Camp in New Hampshire. Same there. I was lost. 

Appreciate any ideas. 

Mandodennis - Posted - 09/12/2016:  17:45:58

Everyone learns differently. There is nothing wrong with dots, tabs or ABC's (popular with some Irish players). But "having the tune" is necessary in any case. That makes it music. So at the next jam get the name of the tune, and maybe the key, record it if that is permitted. Then listen to a te recording or a good version and commit it to memory. You should be able to hum/sing/whistle the melody. CHord changes are related to specific noted in a scale of the key. Then pick it out by ear or use the tabs/dots/ABCs to facilitate getting the tune under the fingers.

There are a variety of virtual instrument synthesizers that have sample of notes and chords can be built from them. I don't suggest going that route however. Familiarity with your instrument will be te best ear training you can get. Play a lot and you'l both recognize the notes and chords as well as the string and position. It all caomes in time. Be patient. Have fun. Remember it is called "playing"

Dennis

Mandodennis - Posted - 09/12/2016:  18:57:08

Just to give you an idea of a virtual Instrument of a sampled mandolin, here is an example. youtube.com/watch?v=_Yt6UUVXFB8J

Of course you'd have to have a computer, lots of software, a midi keyboard and such to play the notes and chords.  In the end I do not feel that these sound quite like the real thing.  They are meant mostly for keyboard players that want to compose pieces with a mandolin-ish sound from the keyboard.  That's what is out there.

There's no real good substitute for playing and listening to the real thing.

Dennis