| Playing by ear is the ability to play a piece | | | | eventually coupled with formal training. Just |
| of music (or, eventually, learn an | | | | like we pick up our language by listening to |
| instrument) by simply listening to it | | | | our parents and subsequently attending |
| repeatedly. The majority of self-taught | | | | school, we can learn music by playing by ear |
| musicians began their education this way; | | | | and later taking formal lessons. |
| they picked up their instrument and began | | | | |
| playing an easy melody from a well-known | | | | So can the average person ever hope to play |
| song, slowly picking out the notes as they | | | | their piano by ear? Maybe not to the degree |
| went along. And even after these musicians | | | | that some extremely talented musicians do, |
| master their instruments or a particular | | | | but anyone can learn enough about the basics |
| song, playing by ear still plays a large | | | | of playing by ear if they learn the following |
| role. | | | | skills: |
| | | | |
| Many pop and rock bands don't play or write | | | | Being able to hear a tune and have a general |
| their songs based on sheet music, they figure | | | | sense of the contour of the melody -- when |
| the songs out by playing by ear. It's even | | | | the tune moves higher or lower as the song |
| common among non-musicians. Ever sit down a | | | | progresses. |
| piano and mindlessly pick out the tune to | | | | |
| "Mary Had a Little Lamb"? What about grabbing | | | | Learning to chart that melody contour either |
| a guitar and suddenly finding yourself | | | | on paper or in their memory. |
| playing the opening licks to "Smoke on the | | | | |
| Water"? That's playing by ear. You're able to | | | | Learning to match the melody to appropriate |
| play part of the song just because you've | | | | chords. |
| heard it so often. | | | | |
| | | | Playing by ear is really a combination of of |
| Playing by ear is a valuable technique for | | | | three factors: |
| many musicians; learning songs based solely | | | | |
| on hearing them is a great way to understand | | | | 1. Using your tonal memory to recall music |
| song and chord structure. In fact, a great | | | | you have heard: |
| number of rock and pop musicians learned to | | | | |
| play their instruments this way. Instead of | | | | 2. Using your ears and fingers to help you |
| picking up a book or taking lessons, they | | | | reproduce what you recall; |
| concentrated on figuring out the notes and | | | | |
| rhythms to a song until it was mastered. Then | | | | 3. Using "melody contour" (the "shape" of the |
| they moved on to another song. And another. | | | | tune), "chord structure" (how to form the |
| Gradually, they learned their instrument just | | | | chords on the keyboard to match the tune), |
| by playing by ear -- and in the process | | | | and "chord progressions" (the path chords |
| learned how to effectively structure a song | | | | take as they move through a song). |
| in that particular genre. | | | | |
| | | | Obviously, the first 2 steps you can take |
| Playing by ear is also beneficial in helping | | | | more or less by yourself -- you can mentally |
| a musician develop his or her own style; | | | | rehearse recalling a particular tune; you can |
| sure, they'll at first mimic the style of the | | | | sit at the piano for hours and through trial |
| song they're imitating, but the amalgamation | | | | and error pick out tunes, chords, and |
| of the music that they're playing by ear will | | | | rhythms. But the real key to playing by ear |
| help them create something distinctive, | | | | is learning how to chart the shape of a tune, |
| something indicative of them only. | | | | learn how to construct chords, and then |
| | | | determine the likelihood of chord |
| Though classical musicians are generally | | | | progressions -- in other words, which chord |
| educated based on tons of music theory and | | | | comes next. |
| sight reading, some methods rely on playing | | | | |
| by ear. The Suzuki method of musical | | | | When you get an understanding of step three, |
| training, for instance, claims that learning | | | | you will be in a MUCH better position to |
| music is the same as learning a language; | | | | understand and profit from steps one and two! |
| it's acquired by years of hearing it, | | | | |