The computer can be a powerful ally, especially when it comes to ear training. There are many wonderful computer programs that can drill you on all aspects of ear training. Some of the most popular programs are Ear Master, Practica Musica, and KAB. These pieces of software are set up to test your ability to recognize scales, chords, chord progressions, intervals, and much more. While none of them are tailored specifically to guitar, that doesn't matter because music is music, and ear training is the same for all instruments.

Sometimes just jamming away with your favorite records can be a great help. Not only will you have a great and steady accompaniment, you'll also be more aware of what keys the songs are played in, and what scales you can solo in.

The computer can also be a great deal of help when it comes to transcribing music by ear. There are programs with the ability to play a CD at a slower speed without changing the pitch. Popular programs are CD SlowDowner, Transkriber, and CD Looper. Older generations who wanted to slow music down had to drop the speed on their record players by one half, but the pitch also dropped one octave. These amazing programs also allow you to loop small sections over and over again to help you narrow down hard parts that need repeating.

Ear training is something that you must study every day. You must make it a lifelong goal. Start now and learn to develop your most important tool as a musician—your ears. All you need to unlock the secrets of your favorite players is good listening.