Playing by Notation (Sheet Music)

When you have proper training, the ability to read sheet music can give you great advantages.  If you can read notated music (sheet music) you are also introduced principles like, tempo, key signature, time signature, etc.  All these are fundamental and necessary whether you read notation or play by ear.  However, the problem many people have that read notation, is the lack of ability to do anything on the piano without it.  So, sheet music in this case has become a crutch.  Something they can’t function without.  This is why I say proper training is key. 

If you read sheet music learning to play by ear should in theory be easy.  Because to effectively play by ear all you need to know are the major scales.  Knowing your major scales will make life simple because that’s one less thing you need to learn.  All you need to focus on then is recognizing your progressions.  Below are a few key steps to help you transition to playing music by ear.

• Focus on learning the “Nashville Numbering System”.  Our Easy DVD Series will break this system down for you.

• Learn your chords and inversions by memory.  If you’re struggling with them our Beginner’s Major Chord Series will help.

• Play songs you can read, then memorize them until you can play without the sheet music.  Then try breakdown the chords you’re playing.

• Take your progressions and learn them as note progressions before you try to learn chord progressions

Playing by Ear

There are a few schools of thought being playing by ear.  Many people believe that it’s a gift that you’re born with.  Some think you hear it and are able to play.  Some even think playing by ear has not theory in.  And I’ll admit there may be some truth in those schools of thought but none of them are entirely true.

The best musicians who can play by ear understand music theory.  They are able to hear the root progression in song.  And because they understand the Major Scales they are able to understand that progression and express it thru their playing.  Personally, I didn’t have much understanding by ear until I started using the Major Scale and Progressions. 

Once I started using the Progression Mindset, 2-5-1, 1-4-5, etc, my playing had so much more detail.  And this is coming from someone who was in the Jr. High and High School Bands.  I was in Jazz Band, Concert Band and Marching Band but still with all that musical training I didn’t understand progressions.  I could only read the music in front of me.  And I thank God for “Ron Davenport and Bob Taylor” my first music teachers.  They gave me the foundation that I have today.  But to take it to the next level you need to understand Major Scale and the different progressions in the scale to make playing by ear easy.

Below are a few practice tips for your ear training:

• Learn all 12 Major Scales

• Learn every notes number in the Major Scale.  Example: In the Key of C Major: C=1, D=2, E=3, F=4, etc. 

• Learn the common chord progressions:  Our DVD entitled Common Chord Progressions in Gospel Music will help with this.

• Learn to play the simplest song you know in all 12 keys then grow until you and do this with all songs

• Pray and ask God for guidanc, motivation, and revelation.  That's what I did and trust me it was like the lights just came on!