Playing by ear

[bellms]

I was wondering is playing by ear is only for the gifted and those who are bless with this talent.  I have been playing for a couple years and I know a good amount of theory. I have attempt to play by ear many times but haven't had any luck and I'm fine with that.

But what bothers me is when my wife can sit down at the piano and pluck out melody to songs like she's the one that's been taking years of lessons. Also when I'm reading music she be like "Your playing that wrong that tone should be hold a little longer"! And most of the time she is right. But I still play it wrong just so she can't prove me wrong. I know My wife is talent and if she was to play the piano she would be an excellent musician. I've watch her play songs in different key and she had no idea she was playing perfectly within the scale. She says it just sounds right!

So my question is playing by ear only for people with an gifted ear. Or am I just musical retarded?

[PianoWizard]

Hi 'bellms'

I must say that at the present moment I play by ear, do not read music or had any piano/keyboard lessons and I am currently playing at my church.

I wasn't born with this gift (talent) I was taught one song called 'There Is None Like You' which was and is my favourite song and due to my love for the keys I learnt from there.

Although do know this, I was and am in a place where our musicians do not teach upcoming musicians as they feel that this is there right place and they do not want to become insignificant to the church.

Therefore, most of my techniques had to be begged, borrowed and stolen by ear from various musicians who played, and this is one of the big reasons why I thank LGM and its members for all its websites, advice and help.

I would love to have the theory behind things I do on the ‘keys’ but I don’t have the time with ‘work’, ‘university’ and church responsibilities, which is why I thank God for people like you who are theory inclined.

‘bellms’ I will say this to you, do not get dismayed because whither you learned or had an innate ability to play we are all playing to the glory of God,  you are not musical retarded.

Simply play as much as you can and when your not playing, staring praying. God is just and faithful, just honour him

Hope this helps

PianoWiz…

[playhear]

I don’t have much of an ear either. However, over time and some hard work, I developed my ear. Check out this clip of me playing Silent Night:

http://www.brownfloyd.com/gallery/displayimage-178-0.html

That doesn’t sound bad, does it? I’m playing by ear there. I followed these techniques from Jermaine Griggs:

http://www.hearandplay.com/pianocoursenew.html

With practice, your ear gets better and better. Your wife may have been born with the gift of having a musical ear. Maybe you weren’t. That’s OK though. I wasn’t born with an ear either, but I have developed my ear and am still developing it. Now, people call me gifted. However, God and I know the truth. I have to keep my nose to the ground and grind away at it.

Keep at it bro. You’ll get there.

[psychopianoman]

I agree with playhear. There are those who are gifted and those who are not. I have known a few of the gifted and one of them did not even know what they were doing, on songs they did not know they would open the hymnal and look at the page and only knew that the notes went up and down and played like majic.

For the rest of us we must practice, practice, and practice. You must train your ear to hear certain patterns and use some eartraining software to hear notes. Do not give up, I an 50% deaf in my left ear and I am progressing although I must spend more time at the keys. Keep playing and keep praying and God will do the rest!!!

So far I really only play by ear in my left hand and still use chord symbols for my right hand but by the grace of God I continue to learn. Do not give up, it will come with time.

[bellms]

What ear training software do you recommend and where can I purchase it? Thanks all for the responds

[playhear]

Sorry, I don't have software for you because I decided awhile ago to use a different technique. For me, the software takes the fun out of process. That's why I don't do it. I figure if it's not fun, I probably won't learn it too well.

Here's what I did. I took really basic songs and picked out the melodies for the songs. Do that for as many easy songs as you can. Start with "Mary Had A Little Lamb". Then do "Happy Birthday To You". Then try "Jesus Loves Me". Then transpose those songs into all keys. Another good song is "Away in a Manger" because it cycles nicely through the entire scale.

Meanwhile, don't try to compete with your wife because she's got something natural going on. Go at your own pace and do what you can.