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Gospel Instruments => Gospel Keyboard / Piano => Topic started by: limited on May 28, 2004, 12:19:46 PM

Title: playing by ear
Post by: limited on May 28, 2004, 12:19:46 PM

I would like to learn how to play by ear.  How should I start?  Thanks in advance!

Title: playing by ear
Post by: TRUPRODIGY on May 28, 2004, 10:50:51 PM

learn the common chord progressions and chord types(example listen to the difference between a major 7th chord, dominant 7th minor 7th and diminished 7th) also when you listen to a song learn the bass and voice parts. once you do that put a lil flava in the song :) I hope the information I gave you helps.

Title: playing by ear
Post by: TRUPRODIGY on May 28, 2004, 10:52:29 PM

oh yeah check out the lesson archive/music theory for more indepth stuff

Title: playing by ear
Post by: limited on May 30, 2004, 08:40:04 PM

Thanks so much for the advice truprodigy!  God Bless!
 :lol:

Title: playing by ear
Post by: BBoy on May 30, 2004, 10:26:15 PM

A good way to start is to determine the melody. Write down the notes for the melody, since you probably already have the rhythm in your head  :D  Now, since several songs have verse, verse, bridge, chorus (form A A B C) or some variation thereof, once you determine one part, you have a good chunk of the song.

For example, consider "Lord, I'm Available to You." It follows the plan A A B C. The two verses are "A", the bridge is "B" and the chorus, "Lord, I'm Available To You" is "C." When you get the melody for the first verse, you also have the main melody (with some variations) to the second verse. Learn these part cold, and write them down.

Now, work on bridges and fillers. These are generally climbing progressions, with dominant sevenths, augemented / diminished chords, etc. Write these down . . . you are almost home!  

Finally, determine a good introduction and conclusion. Play the whole song and work on any rough areas until you are satisfied. Finally, deermine what key you are playing the song in so you can come back to that key later. Sometimes you need to play in every key so you can find whatever key the singer is in, that is completely true and you don't want to limit yourself by only playing in certain keys. But I am finding out that sometimes the singer is depending on the piano player to get them in the right key. And then you've got it  :lol:

This is just an idea, everyone does it differently, so let God show you what works best for you.   :lol:

Be Blessed . . .  :lol:

BBoy  8)

Title: playing by ear
Post by: limited on June 01, 2004, 02:46:38 PM

Thanks BBoy!  Be Blessed!
limited