So how about this then?

This my take on things based upon my current understanding


by rote - playing along with something (perhaps in a group setting)

by ear - being able to listen to something, and play it back unaccompanied

transcription - to listen to something and write it down (perhaps using the instrument to play it back by ear first?)


as for learning from dots, or tab. my view is, unless emulating a specific tune (to either play by rote or replay exactly) that is what on paper it represents a snapshot, which i think COULD represent the exact same an aural snapshot when you "learn it by ear".

its what you then do with it that counts.

once you have the song in your mind, if you play exactly as you heard it that first time you're 'just' replaying it. but if you improvise within it, ditch the bits you dont like, boost the bits you do (or indeed bend it to your style, or what you can play better) then thats the folk process - thats you taking ownership.

(btw this is my first ever post on here and controversy aside, nice to see another west country man on here steve shaw :) )