| So, you want to learn how to play piano by ear. You | | | | progression. To put it into chord terms it's simply the C |
| think this skill is reserved for those with "special" talent. | | | | Major chord followed by the F Major chord and then |
| You're wrong about that! | | | | the G Major chord. |
| What does it mean to play by ear? Simply that the | | | | Knowing these 3 chords will help you play piano by ear |
| musician understands the fundamentals of diatonic | | | | guaranteed. How? Because these chords are used in |
| harmony. To understand this, you just need to know a | | | | almost ALL the music here in the west! Which is to |
| little about chords. | | | | say, most pop songs use them. and many, many |
| For example, in the Key of C Major we have 7 | | | | classical compositions use them. They are the bedrock |
| chords. These are: C Maj. D min. E min. F Maj. G Maj. | | | | of modern western harmonic theory. |
| A min. and B half-diminished. | | | | You may be asking yourself why these chords are so |
| Notice that these chords are lined up in order and that | | | | important. You see it all has to do with the scale! |
| they are triads. Most harmonic theory in the western | | | | When you play a C major scale you are defining the |
| world gives a number to these chords using roman | | | | chords that can come from it. When we construct |
| numerals. Simply put, we can call the C Major chord 1, | | | | triads using this scale, the chords that are generated |
| the D minor chord 2, and so on. You see how it works. | | | | give a certain sound. Composers discovered that the |
| FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH THESE CHORDS! | | | | most tension exists between the 1 and the 5 chords. |
| Now, once you familiarize yourself with these chords | | | | Now, the early composers prized tension because it |
| you get to learn something that most composers have | | | | meant that they could control how to build up to climax |
| know for centuries and that is certain chord | | | | and how to release as well. |
| progressions have tension and other's don't. | | | | To play the piano by ear, learn these 3 chords in ALL |
| To play piano by ear, you need to learn the most | | | | keys. You'll soon get the secret! |
| frequently used chord progression and that is the 1-4-5 | | | | |