Play Any Song By Ear in 3 Simple Steps (Piano Lesson)

Summary

This video script reveals a method for playing songs on the piano by ear, breaking the process into three steps. First, identify the key by finding the tonic, the home note that resolves tension. Next, use the major scale to determine the key and apply a chord formula to deduce the song's chord progression. Lastly, listen for bass notes to understand chord changes and use the major scale to play the melody, adding harmony by incorporating notes from the chords being played.

Takeaways

• 🎹 Playing a song by ear on the piano is possible and can be broken down into a three-step process.
• 🔍 The first step is identifying the key of the song, which involves finding the tonic or home chord.
• 🎶 To find the tonic, one can rely on their ears to recognize the note or chord that feels like a resolution.
• 📊 A practical example is given using an instrumental version of 'Sign of the Times' to demonstrate the tonic finding process.
• 🎵 Once the key is identified, the next step is understanding the chord formula for that key, which simplifies the process of figuring out the song's chords.
• 🔢 The chord formula is based on the major scale and assigns a chord quality (major, minor, diminished) to each degree of the scale.
• 🎧 Listening to the bass notes or root movements is crucial for determining the chords in the song.
• 📝 The script provides a method to practice identifying bass notes and applying the chord formula to figure out the song's progression.
• 🎼 To play the melody by ear, one should use the major scale corresponding to the song's key and harmonize it with the chords being played.
• 👂 Ear training and practice are emphasized as essential for improving the ability to play songs by ear.
• 📚 Additional resources like a piano chords and scale book are suggested for those who need more help with identifying chords and scales.

Q & A

What is the first step to playing any song by ear?

The first step is to identify the key of the song by finding the tonic, which is the 'home note' where everything feels resolved.

How can you find the tonic of a song?

You can find the tonic by experimenting with notes and playing the major scale over them to see which one fits best, indicating the key of the song.

What is the tonic in music?

The tonic is the home note or chord of a song, where everything feels resolved. It is the first note of the major scale and provides a sense of closure.

Why is identifying the key important when playing by ear?

Identifying the key is crucial because it helps you understand which chords and notes fit into the song, allowing you to play it correctly.

What formula do musicians use to quickly figure out the chords in any key?

Musicians use a formula where each note of the major scale is assigned a chord: 1 is major, 2 is minor, 3 is minor, 4 is major, 5 is major, 6 is minor, and 7 is diminished.

Which four chords are most common in pop songs?

Pop songs often use the 1, 5, 6, and 4 chords. In the key of F, these would be F major, C major, D minor, and B flat major.

What is the importance of listening to the bass root movements?

Listening to the bass root movements helps you identify the lowest notes in the song, which can guide you in determining the chords based on the key.

How do bass notes help in identifying chords?

Once you identify the bass note, you can apply the chord formula for that note in the key you’ve identified. For example, if the bass note is D in the key of F, the chord would be D minor.

How can you figure out a song’s melody by ear?

To figure out the melody by ear, you can hum the melody and then play it using the major scale of the song’s key. The melody will generally follow the notes within the key.

How can you make the melody sound fuller when playing by ear?

You can make the melody sound fuller by adding notes from the chord being played underneath the melody. This harmonizes the melody and creates a richer sound.