March 28, 2009

How To Play Piano By Ear

Trying to learn how to play a piano by ear can be extremely frustrating for many people, and ultimately futile. However, there is no reason to believe that it cannot be done if enough effort is put into it. When it is done, it will bring a lot of satisfaction in knowing how to play any piece of music on the piano without being limited by sheet music.

A first step in learning how to play the piano by ear will require an individual to immerse himself in music. This can come in the form of playing the piano, listening to a wide variety of music or making music if one is interested. The more you do it, the more connected you will become with music over time.

This applies equally well for any piano player as it is an instrument that requires a lot of technique to play well. If you practice with discipline and dedication, the result will be to become a better player. That will contribute to being able to figure out many songs without the use of any piano sheet music.

A second trait that will manifest itself is the ability of being pitch perfect when determining any note. Perfect pitch is the opposite of being tone deaf, and is a must have to be able to play by ear. Some have it naturally, while others will require time to develop it.

There are millions of musicians who are unable to read music but are still able to learn songs, thanks to perfect pitch and playing by ear. These include many self-taught guitarists and pianists are quickly catching up. This illustrates the usefulness of such a skill for any musician.

It will be advisable for any pianists to actually spend time trying to develop his or her ability to play by ear. This could done in various ways and in a manner that is fun. One could set aside at least an hour each day to learn how to play a favorite song without sheet music.

How does one practice playing by ear? A great way is to structure the piano piece into separate parts and tackling them one at a time. Listen to the song over and over again while trying to duplicate it on the piano in its notes, chords and progressions. The process is one of trial and error, but the final result is very satisfying.

A piano player becomes much more versatile once the ability to play by ear is developed and learned. The requirement for sheet music disappears and there will be a greater hunger to learn new music and techniques without restriction. The end result can only be a masterful pianist destined for better things in the future.

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