Playing By Ear

Are there any techniques that can help me w/ playing by ear - I'm interested in playing gospel/church music. ANY help will be greatly appreciated.

Playing by ear is the opposite of learning to play the piano. You cannot sit down at the piano as a complete beginner and just 'ear' your way through it. It would certainly help to read a music theory book or two. Remember this chord progression: I IV V. Its been the norm for 400 years. Thats why I like to play Renaissance and Baroque music. Its the real thing.

I would never say that. Playing by ear is not a prerequisite to playing the piano, but knowing how is a good thing.

Once you learn a few chords, learn a bunch of songs, you will start to hear repeated patterns, and when you hear a song, you will be begin to hear the familiar harmonic colors, and various devices used in a given style of music, and your hands will go right to them. But it takes a lot of time. Learn a lot of chords, and a lot of music, and listen to how songs are put together.

Patrick L.

Thanks for you guys that replied . .but just to let you know . .I have played piano for 4 years so I'm not a COMPLETE begginner. . . and I also play 2 other instruments (clarinet, sax) so I'm not new to the whole music thing . .so if you'd like to explain something in a little more detail . .I'm sure I'd be capable of understanding. Thanx!

Not to mention all of those fantastic blues and jazz pioneers who couldn't read a lick of sheet music, but set the world on fire with their music!

Gospel music typically relies on just a few standard chords. If you get used to hearing these chords so you can associate the fingering with the sound automatically, you're most of the way there.

For example: play a IV-I cadence (i.e., from the bottom, C-F-A to C-E-G). That's your basic 'amen,' but it shows up all over the place in gospel tunes. Practice it in all keys until you can't mistake it. Listen to some songs and notice how many times you can recognize that pattern when you hear it.

Then do the same process with another pattern that catches your ear. It may take some time to pick out the notes the first time, but if you really get familiar with it you'll immediately know what to do next time you hear it.

Another technique you can develop is interval training. Practice sight-singing so you know what each interval sounds like. (If you don't know how to sight-sing, the choir director at your church should be able to help you). Taking the same process in reverse, you'll be able to figure out what interval you are hearing, and play it.

Like anything, it takes time to get good at it.

Now that you put it that way, you have a good point. Thanks

Hi,

I think 'Playing by ear' is usually recognized by weak or incorrect harmony in various places in a song, which comes from inadequate preparation. It will probably take as long to develop skill in 'playing by ear' as it would in learning how to read music, but of course, once you have that skill, you can apply it widely and impressively. Unless you have a GIANT talent like Errol Garner and some others, you will probably have to use the technique most famous composers and musicians use, who seem to play extemporaneously so easily - - work - - work - - work ! !

Chuck

I would listen, and try to emulate(transcribe) simple melodies without music. It can be a sax, vocal or trumpet tune(slower tempos are good at this point). Single lines at first-the harmonies will come later. If you find it difficult, do it one note at a time. Remember, you're not playing by ear 'till you train the ear. Just pause the cassette or CD after the 1st note...when you get it, move on to the 2nd note, and so on. This takes a lot of patience, but it is also rewarding. While learning the sax in high school, I picked up this album by Stan Getz , and was captivated. I ended up transcribing the whole Jazz Samba album(yup, vinyl) Umpteen scratches later, I got it and never forgot it

cheers

Rick Hollett