Originally Posted by
Robert
Start transcribing chords and chord progressions, and solos and licks.
That is how I improved my ear. I would rewind on the tapedeck a million times, playing my guess at the chord each time. You start with one note, then 2 notes (major/minor 3rd), then 3 notes (minor/major 7th), etc. This is a really great thing to do. After some time, you'll actually be able to hear a more advanced chord and know what it is. For example, I can immediately hear a 7b9 chord or Maj7#11, because I've both transcribed and played them a lot. I could not do that after a couple of years of playing heavy metal.... because all I learned back then were power chords!