Playing Piano BY Ear.

Gwenny · 02-19-2004, 03:28 PM

Does anyone here, play by ear? I taught myself how to play piano, and I can hardly play notes. However, I can pick out chords to pretty much any song I hear on the radio, and within 10 minutes learn how to play a song. I know this is a gift from God, but does anyone know what I can do to help further myself in the art of piano/keyboarding player? I don't really have the time or money to pour into piano lessons. Any advice?

ryanspeer · 02-19-2004, 03:43 PM

Hey there, I took piano lessons for 11 years and had a REALLY hard time learning to play by ear at first, so consider yourself ahead of the game already!

If I had ANY advice, it'd be to pick up some music theory books and learn your basic scales (easy to learn stuff), and then some alternate chords. What you're probably playing is just basic major and minor chords, but it'll help alot in terms of musical expression to learn different "voicings" (variations) of chords. Applying them is something that just comes with time and as your ear for music continues to develop.

If you can't afford to go buy many books, chances are that your local library will have a really large selection.

Honestly, there's no other way to CORRECTLY learn everything else you want/need to learn without consulting music theory books.

Best of luck!

Saxophone · 02-19-2004, 04:30 PM

I'm learning to play by ear on piano as well. I find applying what I know from all the other instruments I play really helps. I think in intervals and semitones etc to get the song I want to play right. Besides that I am a newby at this too.

smhatahy · 02-20-2004, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryanspeer

Hey there, I took piano lessons for 11 years and had a REALLY hard time learning to play by ear at first, so consider yourself ahead of the game already!

If I had ANY advice, it'd be to pick up some music theory books and learn your basic scales (easy to learn stuff), and then some alternate chords. What you're probably playing is just basic major and minor chords, but it'll help alot in terms of musical expression to learn different "voicings" (variations) of chords. Applying them is something that just comes with time and as your ear for music continues to develop.

If you can't afford to go buy many books, chances are that your local library will have a really large selection.

Honestly, there's no other way to CORRECTLY learn everything else you want/need to learn without consulting music theory books.

Best of luck!

i took lessons for 8 years and i never liked reading music, i always just prefered playing by ear, which was kind of a waste of 8 years =\. My advice is just keep experimenting stuff on tha piano. Buy books on scales and chords, practice playing song you hear on the radio and stuff.

Jozeca · 02-21-2004, 05:53 PM

I enjoy both playing by ear and reading music - and I do both in piano lessons (I do it in my own and with my students).

Try to keep yourself from getting stuck in ruts. Lessons have helped me break out of this, but you can do it yourself to. Just really listen to your style when you play, then try something different.

Jonodude · 02-22-2004, 03:21 AM

I think of myself more of a note-reader on the piano. I can pick out notes, melodies, chords... (I'm better at finding notes than chords) but I think I have more of a talent for reading music, especially sight-reading.

I think either way is fine. It's good to know how to at least read and write music so you can share your music with others.

I don't really think it's a matter of "learning" to play "by ear", but more of training your ear to recognize notes.

snizzle · 03-05-2004, 08:22 PM

yea, so i fiddled around on piano for a while (basic melodies, right hand stuff, blah, blah) and then decided to start to get serious. So i fiigured out chords like they were talking about above and that's pretty easy. My problem is trying to get back into written music, i play mostly by ear or by chords and ad lib and play around and stuff. Umm, i read music fairly well, it's just that my playing ability is above my reading ability. So watch out for that if you're learning to play by ear...

ChristInMe88 · 03-16-2004, 10:37 AM

I play using a number system for the notes... being 1 is the first note (or chord) in every scale... like in G:

G=1
A=2
B=3
C=4
D=5
E=6
F#=7...

and then common chords for the key... like in C:

C=1
Dm=2m
Em=3m
F= 4
G=5
Am = 6m
B = 7

Anyone get where I'm coming from?

MrCrabby · 03-17-2004, 02:45 PM

Yeah, I understand what you're talking about.
I learned to play by ear, and I've made up my own theory system kinda like that.

nckcool_11 · 03-18-2004, 03:23 PM

ive been playing piano for 8 years. i can play by ear, but its hard for me to get on the right key. what i can do is that i know one note, and can work of that. i.e. i know middle c. then if someone asks me to sing a note, i can just work off of middle c. it works pretty well. also try listening to a song and then picking out the melody on piano, or just signing it over to yourself so u get how it goes. i think all it really takes is tons of practice, b.c. my brother has been playing for like 12 years and has perfect pitch. hope i helped.

nckcool_11 · 03-18-2004, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChristInMe88

I play using a number system for the notes... being 1 is the first note (or chord) in every scale... like in G:

G=1
A=2
B=3
C=4
D=5
E=6
F#=7...

and then common chords for the key... like in C:

C=1
Dm=2m
Em=3m
F= 4
G=5
Am = 6m
B = 7

Anyone get where I'm coming from?

by the way, the B is b diminished i think. hehe

ChristInMe88 · 03-18-2004, 08:20 PM

...I've never had to do a B diminished...hmmmm

nckcool_11 · 03-19-2004, 09:52 AM

yea its wierd. if i remeber right its just a stander chord but with the last two notes brought down a half step each. i.e. a C chord (C,E,G) and a C diminished (C,Eb,Gb).
Also if u care this is an augmented (C,E,G#) wow thats a crappy sharp

snizzle · 03-20-2004, 06:51 PM

ya, just a quick run through of most of your basic, every day chord shapes:
These will be in C, but obviously they apply to whatever.

Major - C E G (1st, 3rd, 5th)
Minor - C Eb G) (1st, 3rd down a half step, 5th)
Sus4 - C F G (1st, 4th, 5th)
Sus2 - C D G (1st, 2nd, 5th)
M2 (major second) C D E G (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th)
Major 7th C E G B (1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th)
Minor 7th C E G Bb (1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th down half step)
Augmented C E G# (1st, 3rd, 5th up a half step)
Diminished C Eb Gb (1st, 3rd down half step, 5th down half step)

This is how they'll look on paper (as guitar chords or somethin)
major- C
minor- Cm
sus4- Csus4
sus2- Csus2
M2- C2
Major 7th - Cmaj7
Minor 7th - Cm7
Augmented- Cº
Diminished- Cdim

ummmm, i think that may be about it. There's a LOT more you can do with chords, but these are just the basics that you'll probably run into. Just wanted to kinda expand on NckCool and others. Ummm, not entirely sure about everything, go ahead and correct if neccisary. Oh, btw...what would a raised 3rd and 5th be (C F G#) *thinks about it* ewwww, that would sound like crap, it's probably nothing....anyways, that's my 2cents

*EDIT* thanks a lot!

That looks a lot better than
one of these ->*

ChristInMe88 · 03-27-2004, 03:47 PM

Okay...I played around a lil bit and now I see what y'all mean about the diminished 7th note. BTW... The degree sign ( º ) can be done with the combination Alt+167. In other words, hold down alt and using the number pad, (not the numbers above the letters) press 167. If done correctly, it should look like this: º

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