Tip 79: Listen for Patterns in Music
Listen out for patterns in music – or you may find yourself slowly working on a new phrase only to realize it is a phrase you played earlier!
It may just be that this time there is a slight variation. For instance it may now be played on a different instrument, or the tempo may have changed.
Patterns also make playing by ear a lot less overwhelming, as you realize a 3- or 4-minute song may just be two or three sections used repeatedly.