How To Analyze A Hit — Bobby Owsinski’s Music Production Blog

If you really want to understand an audio recording and hear it in a new way, here are a few pointers on what to listen for. I’m going to break it down to a general technique, and then add an additional advanced technique for experienced musicians, engineers and producers, since they already have more refined listening skills.

Always good to practice. In traditional music theory courses of study there’s the part called “dictation” where you learn to write down what you hear, including basic rhythm and intervals. I should remember to run songs through Capo sometimes.

Studio One has a chord track to help.

Logic Pro doesn’t have a chord track anymore, but you can certainly use it to track tempo and pitch.