So, you wish to learn how to play piano by ear. You think this ability is held in reserve for those with “special” talent. You’re wrong about that!
What does it mean to play by ear? Simply the musician understands the basics of Diatonic harmony. To understand this, you simply need to know a little about chords.
As an example, in the Key of C Major we have seven chords. These are : C Maj. D min. E min. F Maj. G Maj. A min. And B half-diminished.
Notice that these chords are lined up in order and that they are triads. Most harmonic concept in the western world gives a number to these chords using roman numerals. In simple terms we can call the C Major chord one, the D minor chord two, and such like. You see how it works.
Familiarize yourself WITH THESE CHORDS!
Now, after you get to grips with these chords you get to learn something that most composers have know for centuries and that is certain chord progressions have stress and other’s do not.
To play piano by ear, you need to learn the most frequently used chord progression and that’s the 1-4-5 progression. To put it into chord terms it’s simply the C Major chord followed by the F Major chord and then the G Major chord.
Knowing these 3 chords will help you play piano by ear guaranteed [*T]. How? Because these chords are employed in pretty much all the music here in the west! Which is to claim, most pop songs use them . And many classical compositions employ them. They are the foundation of modern western harmonic theory.
You may be asking yourself why these chords are so critical. You see it all has to do with the scale! When you play a C major scale you are defining the chords that will come from it. When we construct triads using this scale, the chords that are generated give a certain sound. Composers discovered the most tension exists between the one and the five chords.
Now, the early composers prized stress as it meant that they could control how to build to climax and the way to release also.
To play the piano by ear, learn these 3 chords in ALL keys. You’ll soon get the secret!
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