20.60Your workflow for a real song

When you want to figure out a song by ear:

Pass 1

Find tonic/key.

Pass 2

Find phrase boundaries.

Pass 3

Find harmonic rhythm.

Pass 4

Hum/find bass line.

Pass 5

Mark tonic/predominant/dominant regions.

Pass 6

Try I, IV, V first.

Pass 7

Add ii, vi, iii where needed.

Pass 8

Identify inversions.

Pass 9

Look for secondary dominants, borrowed chords, diminished passing chords.

Pass 10

Add 7ths/extensions/colors.

This order saves enormous time.