Part 1: Playing by ear

Karen Cuneo Ramirez explains how to play by ear

[@StringsUp58]

For 50 years, I have always relied on my God given ear. As a kid in the 60's, I would listen to my dad play the piano, that's when I realized that musical pitch just seemed to feel so natural to me. To this day, I can listen to a song, find the key immediately, and then after a few times of hearing it, play the song. Most music charts I find to be totally wrong anyway, I always think, how could they not hear that's wrong. So, I could care less about reading charts. My ear is everything to me, thanks dad, R.I.P.

[@chrisw5742]

When you can play by ear you can also write music by feeling.

[@theartfuldodger935]

I am self-taught and learned to play by ear. But I must tell you, a whole new world opened up to me once I realized that I could use my fingers.

[@niramsorn.5607]

+The Artful Dodger What do you mean by that? The position of the fingers?

[@Taichientaoyin]

use those fingers lol

[@michaelhunziker7287]

Well done

[@memoenglish1]

Arthur Rubinstein (a great pianist and composer) once said, 'Play whatever you wish with, even with your nose, but you must sound good'.

[@davidopeyemikareem2148]

The Artful Dodger hmmmmm

[@WhosAGoodDogue]

I cannot read a single not of music. Never been able to grasp it or comprehend it. Even whilst learning music in school, with piano and guitar, I played by ear, asking to be shown what keys to hit, or what strings to pluck. Or, I'd listen for a bit and try and repeat it back to them. When I was 8 years old, I got my first electronic reed organ for Christmas, and to start with, I just ran my fingers up and down the keys until I found the note that matched the song I was listening to. Then I figured out the spaces required to make chords and matched those to the melody at the top end. Many years later and I managed to take music class in secondary school, playing keyboard, guitar, a bit of drums, accordion, as well as percussion (Vibes and Xylaphone). I would play alongside everyone else, in time, and hitting all the right notes, all without being able to read music. Just let me listen to the song we're doing, let me have a tape recording of it and leave me in the practice room at lunch-time to get the hang of it. I had a wonderful music teacher who encouraged me in every way and even at the time, I loved her to bits. Music was my only friend I had in school (I didn't make friends), and every opportunity I got, I headed to the music room, knocked on the staff room door, and asked if I could sit and practice on various things. I was never told no. Nowadays, I just have to hear a song a couple of times, then be able to sing it in my head until I get to my keyboard or guitar. Despite this being over 40 years now, I still make a few mistakes at first, but it still sounds pleasing (to me) at the end. I could not tell you about diminished or augmented stuff, and even reading bar chords fries my brain. I have to be a _''monkey see-monkey do''_ player, or need to go away and learn it the hard way, by figuring out where my fingers need to be. Timing is good, and I have really good pitch. I'm a lucky guy (thanks to my musical parents), and I can pick up almost any instrument, and within a few minutes I can get a decent sound out of it (without sounding like I'm killing the poor thing). My Father could play many things, and also could not read music. My Mother could play classical piano, and she _could_ read music, but tried (and failed many times) to teach me.

[@andreecornforth9370]

You are one fantastic teacher. Not everybody can do it well. Thank you! I haven't played piano for 50 years and thanks to you I'm finding it very easy to start again. (I had forgotten everything, even though I used to give classical recitals when I was 10 - by ear.)

[@dibaudor]

I started playing by ear at 5, Learned from my mother, who also played by ear. In 9th grade I met a jazz pianist prodigy who was classically trained, could read anything and everything. He showed me a few jazz chords that I memorized in every key and also learned the inversions. I spent hours listening to him and other jazz pianists, slowly figuring out what they were doing through trial and error. Started playing professionally after college (Business degree). Learned jazz improvisation by understanding how scales related to chords. It has been over 30 years ago now since I formed my first jazz/pop/funk trio playing with the best local bassist and drummers. I have a decent knowledge of jazz theory, the modes ...etc. through reading books and spending countless hours listing. Today, at 64, still can’t read notation , but can read chord charts. I know over 300 jazz standards and pop tunes, all from memory. Use my own incorrect fingering, but have always been able to play what I feel, be it swing, Latin, ballads funk etc., and still am booked for local gigs. Don’t get me wrong, I have a great deal of respect for those who can pick up a piece and read it and wish I could. My mind never worked that way though, to me it would be like a great artist who painted by numbers. Regardless of ear playing or non ear playing, I think we would all agree that the music one makes should always touch the listeners heart and when it does, it’s beautiful.

[@siresquire9439]

Same thing here more or less: Composing your own from mind is unsettling at first because you end up in a world that feels unnatural because everyones doing it completely different than you but they are almost all the same as each others versions and fingering: After some exposure you realize it hasnt held you back so why change now: How many times have you been jokingly or wrongly accused of `knowing more than you say` because you `get it` musically?

[@dibaudor]

Sir Esquire a few times that has happened

[@siresquire9439]

@@dibaudor As I soon realized ~ there is only one scale: When you practice then can play and sound all the keys in orders and disorders: Identifying notes and chords:

[@Thuyngle]

You are very gifted! Thank you for sharing!

[@gregerlach]

I wish I'd had a music teacher like this lady. I learned next to nothing about music in school because our teacher didn't inspire me. We sat down and wrote notes on a piece of paper and didn't really progress. We never touched instruments and our homework was always something unimaginative like 'Write two pages on Henry Purcell' so we would just drift off to the library and copy something from a book. This how a real music teacher should be. Bravo, greetings from England.

[@maxinehargrove1345]

My music teacher try to teach me rain drops keep falling on my head boring🤨

[@casparuskruger4807]

playing by notes: reading a map playing by ear: knowing the land

[@StringsUp58]

EXACTLY, whenever I look up a musical chart, there's always something that is totally wrong, then I think, how could they not hear that's wrong.

[@LosoIAm]

Wow, that's profound! I am self-taught and I can barely read music. About 20 years ago, I said to a friend that "I wish I could read music, as I can only play (the guitar) by ear." His reply: you have the advantage over people who can read music. I didn't accept his comment as I thought he was trying to cheer me up. Two months ago, I was asked to make a song based on a score chart that someone wrote and sang. But by not sticking to the exact melody but by working out what chords were under the melody, I was able to come up with a song that the person was extremely happy with. I have recently been given a musical score chart to create another song. By sticking to the score - the music was quite lame (no matter how many extra instruments I tried to add and/or adjusted the rhythm). While the person was very happy with the song, I felt that the second song was not quite as nice as the first one (where I added a lot of my own phrasing). Now I understand what my friend meant when he said I had the advantage. Although I can barely read music, I have a reasonably good understanding of music and music theory. Also, sometimes when I hear a particular note or chord in a certain music phrase, I can taste it! Karen, thank you for a great video.

[@whj6dryden]

Burt baccarat

[@whj6dryden]

Burt Bacherach

[@Mario-xr3jo]

Very good and apt comparison! I love it!

[@donna4424]

I was trained as a classical pianist. When I graduated from college, and got my first teaching job in public school, I found myself having to look up the sheet music for Yankee Doodle and Itsy Bitsy Spider. I felt ridiculous! So I immediately worked on playing by ear. I’m in Year #42 of teaching. It’s so great to be able to do both!

[@lindafox1948]

I went for a teaching job in Britain and said on my cv that I had grade 8 and was a good sight-reader and could play by ear and harmonise by ear un any key. Two Welshmen on the panel picked up on the playing by ear part, discarded the rest, and said playing by ear was all very well but now that they had the GCSE, they needed "a little more". When I was young, playing by ear was an absolute no-no. It signified illiteracy. Depending on what kind of music you are aiming for, and that is an extremely important point, you really do need both. Anyone who says learning to red notation will hold them back is making excuses. But I'm a good reader because I can hear ahead of playing it what the next few notes should sound like, then I play them by ear. The two skills are complementary.

[@philantkowicz3833]

Yes it is great to do both. If I'm given a recording of the song I can listen to it and write out the part or at least small pieces of it.

[@alan4sure]

I took piano lessons briefly as a teen. The teacher was getting me to play Red river valley by sheet; I began picking out the melody and the teacher corrected me because I had it wrong, not the actual notes, but half notes/dotted half notes etc... the duration of the note. I said we had the record and I knew the song went the way I was playing, not the way the sheet said it went. So in other words, I didn't even need the sheet and wasn't really paying attention to to it much either. However, I was told to play as per the sheet, not the way I knew it from an actual recording. I quit lessons shortly after, and so glad I did. Instead I learned guitar by ear. My ability to remember a melody easily has served me so well the last 50 yrs and I never had to carry around or buy sheet music for everything I wanted to play. That has been a heck of an advantage over the years. I pity the ones that need sheet music to play anything. It's like needing a recipe for everything you cook, a map for everywhere you go, instructions for everything you do... I don't understand why anyone needs to be TAUGHT how to play be ear. I used to think it came naturally to everyone...apparently not though.

[@douglasolivas1977]

This was so helpful. What a great teacher. I was just playing some Christmas music by ear last night and pictured Ms. Ramirez there with that grin as she's listening for the right tune. Good to see she's still contributing. ..looking fwd to seeing more of all her videos! Thanks for what you doo -from Denver!

[@martaluciacamachobello6620]

Karen you are an adorable teacher....I am a 61 years old woman and my dream is play the piano. I got the keyboard...and amazingly I am following you....let see was happen in future. Thank you!!!💖

[@ree9124]

Marta Lucia Camacho Bello wow I am the same age with the same dream!

[@RobertFairweatherMusic]

how's your playing?

[@frankreid3583]

Marta Lucia Camacho Bello @

[@marjoriesutton1547]

Tt

[@drichmond-perry-kelly-iver5955]

How's IT GOING?? 🤔🎹

[@rogercook58]

I have been into music all of my life. I just turn 60 years old. I stared taking piano lessons when I was in the 4th grade. I took it for 2 years, but I never got out of the first grade book. I learn fingering, values of notes, lines and spaces. That was it. Fast forward 3 years later. I took up band in the 8th grade. I started with the Tuba. When all said and done, I learn how to play all Brass instruments by the time I graduated. In between I never gave up on learning the piano. I picked up pointers from here and there. Some bad habits to. Lol. I learn how to play by ear by watching other people play. Fast forward to now. I am glad I did, because I am a songwriter and the only way I put my tracks down is by ear. No, I do not take the time to write out each instruments note for the instrument I am laying down. I have a Mr76 Ensoniq keyboard, with a 16 track sequence on board. I've had it since 1997. I love it. Yes it is an advantage to know how to play by ear. Lol

[@caroleadams5050]

As a retired piano teacher, I can tell you the advantage of reading notes. I also play the harp, and I can play by note reading and by ear. BUT in order to play by ear, you first have to know what the song sounds like. But when you READ music, you can learn wonderful music you've never heard before. its a great adventure, and I would prefer that over just ear playing. It opens many more doors to great music you would never otherwise find, just playing by ear.

[@DBCisco]

So how much sheet music do you buy that you have no idea what it is until you play it ? Blindfold shopping ?

[@pianosenzanima1]

@@DBCisco you can hear the music in your head just by seeing the scores

[@jbblenman4490]

I am very grateful for the lessons given on playing music by ear. After many years of learning I must say music. Due to your tution enable me to do quite a lot on the piano.Thank you so much. I AM FOUR SCORES AND COUNTING.

[@djnoy842]

Ultimately, it's great to be able to read sheet music AND play by ear

[@repentbelieve1]

Your teaching is refreshingly wonderful! As an ear player only, I used to feel our way of playing was not quite acceptable to the orthodox note players. My first piece at 3 years old was "Silent Night." I was attracted to the "tall" black keys, and all my life (now 75) have dwelt most comfortably in the key of "F sharp" in the vernacular of the orthodox folks. So now, I have composed, performed and published on my youtube channel, music for 65 Psalms of the King James Bible. When I record and sing the music, I use my keyboard synthesizer to transition into my voice range for that song without ever leaving my comfy "F sharp." I have also developed a method of music notation based upon "When the music goes higher, you move toward the right, and when it goes lower, move to the left." Thanks for your delightful lesson!

[@jrmunroe4024]

Wow, so deep and precise. But explained so even a beginner could understand it. Thank you

[@jwd0808]

I learned to play the violin at an early age by ear. Later when I learned to read and eventually compose music, that initial ear training came in handy.

[@rossco289]

Thanks Karen for this video. I've been playing guitar for 55 years plus years varied styles from strict dance tempo in bands, cabaret, covers, swing, recording studio, (vinyl recordings), jazz etc. I refer to chord charts re the jazz idiom getting the complicated break down chords that Jazz guitar players have to use until I get them in my head mainly with unfamiliar tunes. I have always played by ear, couldn't buy written music let alone find somebody to teach back in the little country farming town where I grew up. I played with a prominent Jazz man who read from his laptop, he asked another musco, ''how does he play without reading, he never reads was the reply. Another time a guitarist who played with The Joe Loss Orchestra in London, and was a backing guitarist for some of the prominent British pop artists could only play what was written. This man has been a friend of mine for over 50 years and still is, He's 90 years old and swings " Sweet Georgia Brown" but struggles with 3 to 4 chord tunes by ear. If you're unfamiliar with the tune but recognize a pattern, then you somehow will know what will fit, improvise, make it work, play from the ear, include some heart and soul. My advise learn to read well but play by ear. Share the joj. Like your humour Karen thanks again.

[@theBamaJammer617]

I have played by ear for 50 years. I have played with many bands, in many venues, and recorded over 400 songs. I have found that note readers cannot fluidly play with with ear players since they normally cannot improvise.

[@rogercook58]

I second that my brother. Lol

[@annerwin2932]

I have been playing by ear for 76 years. Fortunately my parents began piano lessons when I was 4 or 5 years old. I think you either have that gift, or you don't. End of story.

[@trumpsahead]

Reading music is necessary for big band playing, and reading leads to Writing which is also important to a well rounded musician. Playing by ear is modern and always more fun because its spontaneously creative. I've played flute, guitar, piano, violin, and trumpet. Trumpet is favorite. You "make" music by ear, and "recite" music by reading. Chopin and Debussy are joy.

[@leonarcher5466]

This is how I did it. I started out playing and composing by ear. I learned how to play sheet music at a high level. Then I dove deep into theory. Then I went back to my ear. Now as a part of my weekly training I practice listening with my ear, I use my sight for sight reading, and of Course I love making mistakes/ creating amazing riffs and chords during improvising....

[@johndeveney3878]

My mother had difficulty playing jazz and blues because she was classically trained as a child

[@nemo227]

When I was playing gigs back int he fifties & sixties the leader of the combos I played in generally carried a book or folder of tunes so that when we got a request to play a certain tune that wasn't familiar to us the leader would check his book/folder and give a very short discussion about what we would do, how we would play the tune. Listening was essential to playing gigs.

[@keithstevenson418]

24 April 2019 Keith Stevenson I am self taught, and play by ear. This talk is good. I must return and listen and learn.

[@st88ify]

what an awsome teacher. You really inspired me and to not want to give up on music.

[@sandraboletchek4608]

You are outstanding as a piano teacher!

[@mrpoolplayer6379]

Ms Ramirez, let me say that you are a very, invigorating music teacher. Your style, coupled with your knowledge, makes learning exciting. It's too bad that I stumbled upon you at such an old age. But I will follow your teachings on KZbin. I'm trying to learn to play Pedal Steel Guitar & I'm sure you will make a difference in my play. I would like to get in touch with you.

[@greg55666]

Music is such a wonderful amazing thing. Usually I watch videos about playing jazz piano. Sometimes I watch a video that analyzes rock and roll. Sometimes I watch a video analyzing contemporary classical music, sometimes videos from a sound engineer, and now this lady plays on an electric organ. And here's what is so wonderful about it, they're all talking about exactly the same thing. It's really amazing. (By the way, I learned to play on a Lowry organ also, took lessons at the organ store in the mall!)

[@christophertsiliacos8958]

Great Video! I am a note reader that is of the treble [G] clef. Of the instruments that I play, I play four instruments strictly by ear: the diatonic harmonica, the diatonic Romanian alto pan flute, the chromatic slide whistle, and the Native American flute. The two most important prerequisites for me when playing by ear are: 1) to be totally familiar with the piece of music, and 2) know the FIRST note in which the song begins. When these two requisites are accomplished, playing by ear for me is easy and fun. The key signature in which I hear the song is not important. For example, I heard a hymn that I was completely familiar with, and immediately transposed it from the key of Ab major to the key of G major, barring accidentals, on my diatonic harmonica. The same was true when playing it on my diatonic pan flute and chromatic slide whistle. 😊 ♫

[@Taichientaoyin]

love this woman, will be watching all her videos

[@squizza28]

Whenever you see a jazz pianist play, they often have just one sheet of the song in front of them. That's just to get them through those first few bars. Then they're off on their improvization trip, playing by ear! And it sounds better because it's so spontaneous and fresh.

[@joannechisena8832]

you can play any instrument once you know how to produce the tone you are looking for. i've been doing this since i was five. so that makes it 50 years that i've been playing by ear. if i can hum it, i can play it. simple as that!

[@prebooomer]

Yes! if I can HEAR it, I can play it!!

[@darkalligraph]

Amazing teaching! I am self taught for 2.5 years. For the first few months I simply memorised the notes, but eventually my dad taught me the basics of playing be ear. Now I can play just about anything on the spot, and the amount of freedom it gives is incredible. 8:23 The difference between this way of teaching and my father and I's method lies in the treatment of keys. I don't care which key a song is in, I think about chords in relative terms instead. I think you should be able to play a song after hearing it in the key it's in, and then be able to transpose to any key after that.

[@tpmm1]

I am so fortunate to be able to play by ear and from music. And what I learn to play from music, I usually remember entirely in the end. That is very handy with long organ scores. 😃

[@EasyEarTraining]

Nice suggestion of how to start playing Christmas carols by ear, perfect for this time of year!

[@Mr59coconut]

She is a great teacher. 👍👍

[@philantkowicz3833]

Beautiful instruction by the way. I have both a Bachelor's and Master's degree in music. I was fortunate to have a percussion professor who was classically trained but also liked jazz/pop music. When juries came at the end of each semester someone on the jury would call out a simple tune like "play Jingle Bells" and they would draw from a hat to determine the key. We were all given a list of simple tunes to learn how to play by ear. I took lessons on drum set and play in a band and was usually given just a recording of the song to learn from. I have been playing for over 50 years and still use both the written part and play by ear.

[@richardprince5758]

Love Her,wished She had been my music teacher

[@Mikexception]

Thank you to tall me that I am playing by ear:). Not realized that term for all years. Anything You said is true. I wrote such lists right from begining. Made few approaches to notes but realized that with sheets I will be more limited and will need much more time to learn play. Playing by ear gives a wide range of possibilities in improvisation and creativity. Bad side is that one never can say it is fixed done, always some sort of fear that it always is only a step toward something more. That is why almost all melodies I repeat in new arrangements year by year. With sheet it could be fixed permanent.

[@jfn467]

Playing by ear + being good at sight reading = EPIC WIN!

[@mikewellwood1412]

+ being able to improvise = icing on the cake. :-)

[@laracaillenoble]

30 seconds watching you and i love your style already

[@EasyEarTraining]

"If you could only be an ear player or a sheet music player" - fortunately you don't need to choose only one! A nice explanation of the pros and cons of each, and how you can transition from one to the other.

[@manguera9]

the best training for ear development is transcribing songs ,playing the song over and over .Other way is listening a song and raising the volume of the bass of the song that is playing, you brain will get used to attach the root of any chord ,when someone is singing a melody .I practiced playing by ear in the late 70, but when the music become serious in the 80 as i worked as studio session musician recording and others gig that demanded first sight reading, i used to practice sight reading for hours at the time when i was not in the studio..one thing i remember was when i had a show as back up guitar player , the sheet music part went on to the floor...i couldnt play anything..until i picked the music part..that thought me, that i need to memorize the sheet part as much as i can..once you memorize you can play with more freedom feeling ,and with more creation you can play solos in high octave..

[@eppiehemsley6556]

You have written too much and said too little. A common mistake. Also a course in English grammar would hold you in good stead. Don't give up.

[@manguera9]

@@eppiehemsley6556 + i only intelligent people understand what i said, so sad you are not

[@JayFunBuns]

i agree, i really like your style of teaching, and you can tell she has a good sense of humour :) keep up the great work !

[@moonoggin]

I love your teaching!!

[@WildPhotoShooter]

The guy busking on the street with his guitar was asked by a passer by "Do you always play by ear" ? He said, "No I sometimes play around the corner. "

What a lovely teacher!

[@TOAST130]

Great stuff. What a great teacher !!! Thank you

[@robfriedrich2822]

Today is one important point, that most music is available as recording, but not printed. I learned both, first I didn't know notes and learned by trying playing by ear. My old piano teacher knew only playing by score, so she forced me learning notes. Now I can both, haven't to remember all songs perfectly, can play songs, that aren't available on paper, can transpose a song or if the sheet is wrong, I can correct them.

[@Taichistretchingspace3479]

You are amazing - from New Zealand🌹

[@tanjinaeva5426]

Why are you so Amazing :-) just listening tp you makes me smile

[@mrgarner4796]

You are delightful! I want to learn more!

[@Chazmon_]

God bless you Karen Ramirez 🙏

[@kevinswilcox]

We need more videos Karen Ramirez!

[@hackbritton3548]

I love jam sessions playing with new people and new songs so ear playing for me is a must. I have known many note readers who could have been much better musicians if they would have learned to not be so dependant on music. Note reading is wonderful in so many ways but I would never give up playing by ear for note playing. But like she says you can do both.

[@theresaandrews8131]

Very charming and engaging teacher.

[@janetdillon3650]

This is very helpful. Thank you

[@joehall4206]

omigosh you are my favorite piano teacher

[@masulsa40]

Thank you! Great job!

[@teresaguajardo6486]

She's awesome 🥰 thank you so much!!!

[@brazilgriller6073]

YOU ARE AMAZING!!!!!

[@danwoodvine5900]

Hi thanks for this. I think was always far better off playing by ear. Quite a few music teachers seemed to want me to read music. I passed about grade 6 piano by reading but it took me ages to work out how to play a piece. In previous generations obviously there was not the technology to record sound or music.

[@george5120]

Playing by notes is labor-intensive. It makes music feel like work, instead of fun.

[@fastlaneprofits]

shes a real good teacher excellent lessons

[@prasanjithtillekeratne4168]

Great teacher ❤

[@roygumpel8415]

I LOve this woman!

[@JeffriAbdullah]

Cuts off early. Great teaching style. Thankyou

[@peggythornton5372]

i play by ear but add improvation to it with patterns of chords, arpeggios, scales, chromatic scales trills tonic, subdominat, dominant and other chords and play in all; scales

[@ToneyLocoTV]

Hi I love your videos, the class atmosphere is amazing!!! I wish you could do virtual class teachings it would be lots of fun 😃

[@hazelvenom88]

I love music, I'm watching your lessons to learn more on my own time, thank you so much, you are so amazing, god bless!

[@wayne-brock7515]

I learn how to play the Bass at the age of 10, by ear. When I was 19 I first learn how to read music. Now I can do both. I'm in my 50s now and still do fine playing by ear.

[@EpicGamer-xn4bg]

That’s wild because I’m self teaching my self how to play by ear and discovering music theory. I know my chords and I’m currently trying to learn how to apply inversions without confusing my self and decorating songs using the circle of fifths and chord variations. But I am also training my mind how to read sheet music and I like to go through the Hanon book and scales to better my articulation, speed, and the scales to help me in music theory.

[@melguevarra1765]

I Agree to this Great Hero Teacher what she explain is perfect and Exactly awesome, Im a rock Guitarist and thank you mum to got some more increase my music idea because ov you mum...

[@michaelstewart8005]

I am mostly an ear player - never really got on well with written music. Once I have the tune in my head, I can usually play it (Alto Sax and Clarinet)

[@brooke4494]

Intresting video. I just found cause i lost my vision but want to learn the piano. I want to learn cords and play by ear. I will check out for more but 1 cord down lol

[@kerkmohamed1858]

To learn to play music by ear you have to actually learn to control your fingers by your ears. Not by your brain or by your eyes but your ears and that is very tricky. You have to learn to identify each note you hear to which key that particular sound belongs.

[@WhosAGoodDogue]

Now - the best part of this, is that the very first song I learned was _also_ Silent Night. It drove my parents up the wall listening to me playing it over and over again. And EXACTLY the same as you, I was given a few ''how to play..." songbooks (Xmas, Country and Western, well known melodies etc) but would just flick through the Index and see if any names/titles jumped out at me. If I did not know any of them, my mother used to sing a few bars and I'd go ''hey! I've heard that before'' so would now have a basic jist of how it went. I ignored the many, many others in the books that I did not know. I even remember selecting songs on how ''easy'' the music ws printed on the page. If notes were all over the place on lots of levels, I'd think ''sod that...too difficult'', and go seek out lesser challenges (again, remember I am basing my difficulty levels on how the sheet music looks to me). Thankfully, my Father was a Country and Western music fan (as well as Rock and Roll). My Mother likes the classical side of things. So, with a record player, and a stack of Readers Digest boxed collection of various genres, I would skip through many, many songs to find one I liked the sound of. I would like the chord changes in the song first, and only then would I listen to the melody. They lyrics meant nothing to me at the time. If it had a nice tempo, and nice chord changes, then I'd pay more attention to the rest of the tune. Now, with my multi-recording feature keyboard, I can record the bass line, the melody, the fill ins (strings etc) and add the drums, to make it all come together. There are many musicians out there that can REALLY play anything (song wise), and their fingers are just a blur on the keys or strings. I am totally lost keeping up with them. I just play by memory, and if I can remember where to put my fingers and keep good time, then I'm a happy bunny.

[@deronhanson5454]

think that's why it took me so long to learn to read the music-have always played better by ear-have found that as I get older, it takes me a bit longer than it used to, but still play better by ear

[@robertnewell5057]

I love your videos. I would choose to be a note reader because 1 you can memorise pieces and play without the music. 2 You can transition from note reading to ear playing. You have to learn notes from scratch even if you are an ear player (I think - remember, I started as a note player)

[@teresacooperward8680]

I have found my spirit sister. Thank you.

[@2002drumsonly]

I wish I could read music better. Everything I learned was by memory. I play by feel also. Can a musician feel the tune when ties to sheet music? Hats off to those great players and can read. I think not reading is a handicap. Great video!

[@keithmckenzie726]

I have played the piano by ear since I was fourteen. Made a lot of money as a professional and have enjoyed myself along the way. You can never really experience the sheer joy of this wonderful instrument until you have been weaned off the paper. If you can do both you then you have tamed the instrument but no one can truly master it. So, enjoy!

[@pianosenzanima1]

Try Cziffra.

[@bingo1232]

I choose to allow this woman, Karen, (thanks!), to be my Master For Today (MFT). In the past it was Einstein, da Vinci, etc. In the future I will remember her kindness, enthusiasm, creativity, and encouragement. Gotta go.... time to play!!

[@ericgcastile]

Love your classes

[@HjalmarGuitarMaster]

great video/lesson:)

[@michaelwhisman7623]

I play both. By ear is a talent.

[@Moby604]

The key in playing by ear and by notes is finding the key base note by ear on a piano, when you start playing a guitar the first thing to learn is tuning the guitar by ear I guess thats were I learned every thing. I old school by the way.

[@cliffllewellyn7623]

i started playing piano by ear,,,hurts my head though

[@harleykingman]

I TAUGHT MYSELF DRUMS , GUITAR , KEYBOARDS , BLUES HARPS , AND SANG LEAD@HARMONY ALL BY EAR AND HAD MY OWN BAND ON THE ROAD PLAYING PROFESSIONALLY ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES WELL OVER 35 YEARS !!

[@nemo227]

Martin DEAN . . . Indeed, yes; it's what musicians do but some people don't understand it. Reminds me of an incident back in high school in the fifties. A general school assembly and some visitors came over from a different school and we all performed together. Later, an algebra teacher was heard to remark, "How can all these strangers come together and play without written music?" She may have been a good algebra teacher but she wasn't a musician. Mathematics teachers have their own language, carpenters have their own language, musicians have their own language.

[@WillBravoNotEvil]

Martin DEAN Link? Citation needed. Upload some proof and stop typing in all caps like some ignorant hillbilly.

[@harleykingman]

@@nemo227 AMEN BROTHER !!!

[@eppiehemsley6556]

Bravo William .

[@RenaissanceMan929]

All those instruments?!? WOW, you would have thought you would be good on at least one of them. maybe you should have tried a teacher? Well nobody can blame you for giving up, I mean for 35 years you gave it your best shot. You should have hooked up with my pal Johnny Soul, he knows it all man. He could teach a bird to fly!!!

[@MaryJaneHancock]

I love sheet music. I collect it. Can't read the music. Just love looking at it. Thanks for posting.

[@XxBrittany20xX]

I play by ear. I've been playing by ear since I was 5. I first learned on my own twinkle twinkle. After that I got signed up for piano lessons. But my mom pushed me to hard and it made me want to quit. I took up piano again on my own a year ago and I'm so happy I continued! I figured alot of songs on my own playing by ear! I can't read notes...that's another reason I gave up. I get frustrated trying to read the notes. I get the playing by ear from my dad. He plays by ear. Him and me are the only ones who can play by ear in our family. I didn't know it was a rare talent til my grandma found out I have this talent. She told me what playing by ear is. Makes me feel good, cause I stink at singing, so I'm happy I can at least play piano without a sheet music! 😄

[@XxBrittany20xX]

I got a quarter of the Indiana Jones tune in just a few minutes on the piano.

[@4ujack]

Will you teach me? I want to go to your class.. I have never learned so fast! I LOVE IT! CONFIDENCE and Attitude!!!!!!

[@rahim4411]

Ear Player! Cause I produce and you don't need sheet music when I am making up my own tracks. Plus you have notation now! I had a female tell me she wish she could play like me without having a staff. She can't produce music but when you put a staff in front of her, she is amazingly great. She plays all over the world, but she would like to be a producer. I told her she has to learn how to make up a track, program drums, know how to arrange etc. She looked like that -------> :-O shocked LOL When I told her how much stuff I can do she said forget it. I told her she shouldn't give up, I remember I didn't know anything, practice, practice and more practice over the years. She is shocked at the fact that she couldn't program drums.

[@GatameOne]

I can do both. I use to not be able to read music and then learned. To God be the glory.

[@clawhammer704]

Ear playing is achievable by having enough desire to learn each song by memory.

[@Dragoonoar]

and you definitely will if you enjoy that song. that's practically the reason why many of us chose to play by ear in the first place

[@juliealderson2641]

This is so true...and that's how I play

[@slangman2846]

Really good teacher

[@ikereeves3522]

Easy ear-training exercise: start on any random note and pick out "Happy Birthday", melody only. It will teach you a great deal. Then, when that gets comfortable, harmonize it. All keys.

[@trillrifaxegrindor4411]

playing with notes/theory:gps playing by ear: willing to explore and make mistakes,lots and lots of mistakes

[@zuesincoming676]

It helps to know music theory whether you play by ear or read. If you-know-what theory, you can understand the pattern or chord progression of any song. My piano teacher said that we do not really play by ear, but by sight, as we visualize where I hands have to go in our minds.

[@bitash5577]

You are king of teacher piano❤😍

[@lindafox1948]

Can you play better after listening to that? Or did you find it mostly style and little substance?

[@patricksaxon3983]

I utilize the Nashville number system, listen to the bass notes to help me know what chords to play. Most Nashville musicians play by ear and chart out the numbers and chords. Much easier than sight reading music.