Music Article | 5 Core 'Getting Started' Tips For Playing Piano By EarMore Than Articles

5 Core 'Getting Started' Tips For Playing Piano By Ear

When it comes to playing piano, or any instrument for that matter, there are proven guidelines you can follow to minimize mistakes and speed up the process.

While this article mainly focuses on playing an instrument without sheet music ("by ear"), there are rules here that will be beneficial to all types of players.

Tip #1: Understand how music works

One of the biggest myths is that you don't have to understand music to play by ear. You just play. That is the furthest from the truth.

While there are a lot of "gifted" and talented musicians out there that have no idea what they are playing (...they just play by "listening"), this is not the way you want to be. At least if you can help it.

Believe it or not, understanding how scales are formed and how they create chords and progressions is one of the most important things you can learn.

(By the way, major scales are a series of seven unique notes played one after the other. They are the basis of what we call "major keys" and everything is based on them. Chords, on the other hand, are three or more notes played at the same time. These are the combined sounds you hear in songs. And chord progressions are no more than chords going from one to the other --- a series of chords played one after the other).

Scales basically create chords. Chords create progressions. And progressions ultimately create the songs you hear! Understanding "how" and "why" is the difference between an average musician and a professional musician.

Tip #2: Master the patterns rather than memorizing stuff

I always get asked, "How do you memorize thousands of songs?"

The answer is I don't. I understand patterns.

A couple dozen songs may follow the same exact patterns --- so to a regular person, they think I know 36 songs but all I'm doing is playing the same pattern. Yes, the song may be in a different key (there are 12 keys but once you understand scales and patterns, you can instantly play ONE song in all TWELVE keys very easily). The song may have a different melody, but at the end of the day, it will almost always share the same chords and patterns as many other songs.

Tip #3: Learn to listen

Playing by ear is not reserved for geniuses. It's all about listening.

Do you hear tones going up? or down? Does a chord sound happy (perhaps it's a major chord) or sad and serious (minor chord). Maybe it's a scary sound... spooky (diminished chord). How about a blues feel... very soulful-like (dominant chord).

See? All these chords have feelings attached to them. Those that play seamlessly what they hear and feel have simply learned how to unlock their ears.

Tip #4: Become a pro at recognizing intervals

"Intervals," in music, are distances between notes. As simple as that.

There are very small intervals out there like unison, seconds, and thirds and there are larger ones like fifths, sixths, and sevenths. These intervals actually help to name the chords that we play. When you say the name, "major chord," you're actually referring to a particular interval in that chord that gives the chord its main sound quality. The same applies to minor and other chords.

There are different kinds of intervals: melodic and harmonic.

Melodic intervals are distances between single notes, played one after the other. Like "melodies."

Harmonic intervals are distances between notes played at the same time (i.e. - "chords").

Songs contain both melody and harmony so becoming a pro at recognizing both types of intervals allow you to hear the stuff songs are made of! And if you can do that, then it's just a matter of putting this interval with that interval and you get chords and progressions.

Tip #5: Practice and get some real-world experience

You can study, study, study all you want but it won't do you any good if you don't put what you learn into action. Of course, this sounds a little cliche but it's the truth.

Practice doesn't make perfect.

Perfect practice makes perfect. Make sure to practice the right stuff. I've learned in music (and practically in life) that:

1) You can do things right

2) You can do the right things

There's a difference. You can do things right... the WRONG things, right. Focus on the right things and do THEM right and you'll get better, fast. My blog gives you a lot of things to practice (scales, modes, chords, progressions, harmonization techniques, etc.).

In the area of speed and finger independence, Hanon are great exercises. Focus on the right things and do them as best as you can, and you can't go wrong.

Well, there you have it! My five personal tips to getting started the right way. Follow them and you will succeed!

About the Author

Jermaine Griggs is the founder of HearandPlay.com and the author of the best-selling, "Secrets to Playing Piano By Ear" home study course.

If you want to learn music in an easy-to-understand, 'no fancy words allowed' way, you'll love these piano lessons.

Author Profile: jermainegriggs

Other Music Articles