I have read posts (the one on nile about Iron Maiden using minor 3rd intervals etc) and there are a lot of things about using the ear for theory (obviously). Just wondering if there were any techniques to improve this as i have sat for hours playing notes trying to remember them, then try to transcribe a tab to submit only to find a week later that while the chord changes are correct and everything, that i am hearing everything and transcribing it a 5th lower then usual. Are any tips or is it just sitting down and playing stuff until it is drummed into the head.

btw i looked for a topic about this but couldn't find one in the guitar zone, tab requests or in this area. I apologise in advance if my search wasn't thoroug enough and there is some post nestled somewhere.

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check out www.musictheory.net they have good trainers and one is a ear trainer where they will play an interval (together or one then the other or both) and you have to 'guess' the interval

edit: there are some tricks
a 2nd sounds very clashy, a 7th does to but it sounds further apart

one interval is the nbc theme (if you know what that is)
one is the first two notes to the wedding thing (here comes the bride...)
^^ forget which interval it is for both of those

a first is the same note (duh)
probably a few more

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I can recall guitar world or guitar one, one just had an issue out not too long over intervals, they had that same lesson, showed all these popular songs and what interval the use. Like the wedding song, jeporady theme, twinkle twinkle little star, okay I know this is much help unless you have that issue. Just work with your intervals, and identifying their characteristic sound.

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practice simpler stuff then apply your simple knowledge to more advanced stuff.

Random comment number 1 for the day. . . big metal bands also love the inverted minor 3rd sound(Lamb of God. . . if you consider them big. . . and consider that, I believe, it was Willie Adler that didn't know what it is) but it is the same thing as a major 6th. . . . and I didn't listen to LoG past As the Palaces Burn anyways. . . .

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Oh but the whole ear thing. . . You should be able to Identify basic intervals with your ear and then you have the fun of learning stacked intervals(commonly called chords. . . haha). Of course I have a DVD over Harmonic Ear Training(Roberta Radley, Berklee Press) and even in it she admits that it is much easier to figure out how to play a melody by ear than it is to figure out a bunch of chords and shit(especially when you get into all kinds of crazy suspensions and shit). The ear mostly helps you to know which sound you are wanting like how Hendrix would hear something in his head and transcribe it to guitar. I probably haven't helped by this comment or anything but ear training isn't the only part because you could always just sit around and practice it on the guitar. . . All in all it does help but never rely on one aspect of theory too much. .. it will let you down. . . learn as many techniques as possible and you'll find your favorites then you forget them all and they become second nature.

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cheers for your help

about a month in i can guess intervals about 75% right
i know i am bringing up an old topic but

www.good-ear.com is a good place for ear training.

Has all the intervals, scales and chords and even a way to learn if you have perfect pitch

I certainly don't. At the same time learning to read sheet music - this stuff is harder then anything i have tried on guitar!

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thats really hard.

im not gonna get too hung up on it tho, i can still write music etc, it takes time to develop a good ear, and ive only been playing for a few years. just because i dont know somethings a perfect 5th or whatever, i can still wirte a "sad" piece or know what sorta chord to get evil sounds from.

i spose i takes time for your brain to catch up with your hands..lol