Me and my brother both play the piano by ear. I was just wondering.. Can people actually LEARN how to play by ear? Cos I saw it on tv the other day... some kids going to classes teaching the 'play by ear method or something'. I thought it can only be acquired naturally?
2007-01-08 03:06:51 · 9 answers · asked by hit.by.a.durian. 1 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Music
Playing by ear takes on two forms. It normally requires great ROTE memory so you can play the song in your mind over and over while your fingers move across the keyboard and learn the song you are playing. This also requires at least some knowledge of chord structure and scale similarities to play by ear. It's really cheating. I've been doing it for 20 years and people are amazed. It's actually just knowing the chords and hand movements while you have a great MP3 player as a brain.
2007-01-08 03:17:43 · answer #1 · answered by K Man 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think that you can truly teach someone to play by ear. I too can play by ear. I couldn't imagine anyone learning how to do it, or atleast me trying to teach anyone how. But perhaps someone has managed to do so? I would try and look up that method online and see what you find. As far as I know we are just kind of born with some abilities while others aren't. Some people are really good at sports...I'm not...I could never be because I don't have the dedication. Maybe it all comes down to how dedicated you are to learn to do something?
2007-01-08 03:16:40 · answer #2 · answered by afichick 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It can be taught.
One has to start with the major and minor scales.
After a while, one begins to recognize the keys and the chord progressions. Then, one begins to recognize the steps -- full steps, half steps, etc -- in the progression.
I did not have a natural ear for music, but I can now play by ear. I have been playing the flute and guitar for over twenty years, I play professionally, and I play some rather sophisticated, complicated music -- French Baroque.
2007-01-08 03:21:31 · answer #3 · answered by Jack C 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I just wanted to say ... I picked up Guitar Hero once and managed, after a few attempts, to play one of the songs on Medium. I then got kinda bored, put down the controller, picked up a real guitar, turned up my Mesa Boogie amp, and played the song for real. What can I say? It's a hell of a lot more satisfying. Guitar Hero is there to help people believe that they, too, could totally rock out on a guitar if they *really* wanted to. =) It helps with hand-eye coordination, which is cool, but the mechanics of playing are completely different - pick control, finger technique, palm muting, artificial harmonics, learning how to do proper chord changes... it's a lot different than just hitting a plastic button. Do it for fun, but don't do it instead of praciting the real thing. Saul
2016-03-29 16:02:42 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you have a naturally good ear then yes you can play by ear. That's kinda hard to teach someone i would think especially if they have no sense of pitch like my mom :P
2007-01-08 03:10:14 · answer #5 · answered by cavigirl17 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it's pretty amazing that you can play piano by ear. A lot of famous musicians learned this way, including billionaire Paul McCartney.
Whatever way you learn how to play, make sure it's fun.
2007-01-08 03:10:26 · answer #6 · answered by $Sun King$ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They do offer ear training courses at some colleges so I suppose it is possible to teach someone.
2007-01-08 03:19:17 · answer #7 · answered by Neon Ballroom 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have to train your hearing to hear every sound and learn music notes to go with each sound.
2007-01-08 03:12:39 · answer #8 · answered by Pancake 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not developed that is a given gift.
2007-01-08 03:17:31 · answer #9 · answered by Dancer3d 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋