Comment by Libidinalecon

I also think it just takes your ears much longer to develop than your fingers on guitar if you start from zero.

Even zero though is highly variable. I have noticed how some children have amazing intonation when randomly singing and some are quite bad.

I think trying to copy Steve Vai would be as valuable as trying to copy the way Lebron James plays basketball. Of course, a ton of practice is involved but these are the supreme outliers in terms of being gifted at their task.

For many new guitar players, I would suspect transcribing lines is like trying to dunk the ball when you are only 5'5". I can transcribe anything on guitar 40 years later but I remember the immensely frustrating experience of not being able to transcribe anything. Reading how all the "greats" would do this. My ears just took a very long time to develop. Like 15-20 years long.

Any ear training was just a demoralizing experience for me because I really started from absolute zero with no ability to hear or sing anything note wise. I can remember all the hours I practiced various modes and scales. They were just finger patterns. It took so long to actually be able to hear them.