Originally Posted by: GuitardedGeezerI've read alot of things that suggest I should be training my ear to hear the scales and such that I'm playing. That made me think that alot of my practice is with no amp. I seem to be able to tell when a string is out of tune, but will practicing with no amp affect my 'ear'?

If you play electric guitar, I recommend that you always practice with an amp, because the amp is half your sound.

As far as ear training goes, try practicing without the amp OR the guitar. Just try singing the scales away from your instrument. Of course, you'll need to check yourself (or give yourself a starting pitch), so keep your guitar nearby or use a keyboard instead. Using a keyboard may help you to visualize the distance between notes (intervals) more easily too.