Points to Remember:

• A good goal is to be able to play whatever you can sing (or hear in your head). Mastering intervals is a great first step.

• "If you can't sing it, you can't play it!"

• You want to sound like you're "singing through your instrument."

• Before learning to play a melody (or lick), on the guitar, listen to it until you can sing (or hum) it.

• Very few people are truly "tone deaf." However, some people are not good at "matching tones." If you're one of these, a vocal coach may be able to help you.

• In order to learn the intervals, you must be able to "match tones."

• It's helpful to think of songs that start with a given interval. (For example, "Here comes the bride" is an interval of a fourth.) Search "songs beginning with intervals" on the internet to find more examples.

• Play and sing these interval exercises (ascending and descending), until you fully assimilate them. Listen for intervals in the melodies you hear.

• My example is in the key of C, but of course you should do the exercises in other keys, as well.

• There are lots of "ear training" tutorials on the internet if you look.