Have you ever listened to a song and wished you could instantly play its melody on your guitar—by ear? Good news: you can! This easy-to-follow guide will teach you how to figure out song melodies on the fly, using Hey Jude by The Beatles as your go-to example.

Whether you’re a beginner guitarist or sharpening your ear training skills, these steps will help you master the art of melody detection.

What You’ll Need Before You Can Figure Out Song Melodies

Before diving in, make sure you have:

• A solid understanding of major and minor scales (in at least one position).

• Familiarity with note names along your guitar fretboard.

Step 1: How to Figure Out the Root Note of a Song Melody

The root note is the melodic “home base” of a song. Here’s how to find it:

• Listen closely and hum the note that sounds like a natural ending.

• Pause the song and try to continue singing it solo. What note do you instinctively land on?

• Test a few options. Most notes will feel unresolved—until you hit the true root note.

• Hey Jude Tip: Try humming the final note of the verse—does it feel like a full stop? (Hint: answer at the end.)

Step 2: Figure Out If the Melody Is in a Major or Minor Key

Once you’ve got the root note, it’s time to determine the tonality—major or minor:

• Major: Sounds bright, happy, uplifting (common in pop, rock, reggae).

• Minor: Sounds emotional, moody, introspective.

To be sure:

• Play both major and minor chords based on your root note over the track.

• The correct chord will “click” with the melody. The wrong one will sound off.

• Example: Try both F major and F minor over Hey Jude. Which one fits?

Step 3: Use Scales to Figure Out Song Melodies on the Guitar

With the key locked in, use the matching scale as your melody map:

• Play the scale up and down while listening for the melody’s opening notes.

• Once you spot the starting note, follow the logical path—melodies often flow predictably within a key.

• If the song stays in one key, you’re golden!

Case Study: Hey Jude by The Beatles

Let’s break it down:

• Root Note: F

• Key: F Major

• First few melody notes: C, A, A, C, D, G…

Once you start recognising these patterns, learning melodies becomes second nature.

Why You Should Learn to Figure Out Song Melodies by Ear

When you learn to figure out song melodies by ear:

• You improve your musical memory.

• You jam more freely with other musicians.

• You rely less on tabs and more on intuition.

• You gain the confidence to compose your own solos and parts.

Want to dive deeper? Click here to read our full guide: “The Top 4 ear Training Tips”

Final Thoughts: Train Your Ear, Boost Your Skills

The ability to figure out melodies by ear is a powerful skill. It helps you:

• Jam with others more fluidly.

• Understand songs faster.

• Build confidence in improvisation.

With consistent practice, you’ll be picking up melodies on the fly in no time.