The Key To Figuring Things Out
In the end, to become the type of musician you hope to be you must learn to understand the conceptual side of music theory. This is not a subject that is easy to learn. Most theory is laid out in a way that is very dry and out of context to the way the different…
Listen to Gilligan’s Island (Stairway To Heaven)
To play piano by ear is to play with creativity. Click on this rare song to listen while you’re reading this. It’s better than Zepplin, lasts half as long as the original and uses the art of imitation and creative license. The overall affect is for the listener to say “Hey, they ripped the theme…
Three Major A-ha Moments of Independence On The Piano
Recognizing these things are signs you are growing as a musician. 1. Realizing that you can teach yourself; 2. Making the “Play By Ear Discovery” (Get the book in the tab above); and 3. The paradox of knowing all your chords. Always be on the lookout in anticipation of these plateaus and recognize them when…
Just One Missing Piece to Independence
If you’ve played the piano for a long time without being able to play by ear, there’s good news. You are just one small missing puzzle piece away from putting it all together.
Playing By Ear On My iphone
I’ve been playing my iPhone by ear listening to songs as I exercise. The playlist consists mostly of old 45s that say it all in 2 minutes and 56 seconds (to satisfy a 3 minute rule to get radio-play back in the 60s). Every hit was a slick story -start to finish- with stations playing…
Oh Shenendoah and Nat King Cole
There’s much to be said for simplicity when playing piano by ear. We like to overthink what we are doing. Concentrate on the essentials and you too can sound like a million bucks with the right direction.