h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi.
I was directed here by some people in 'ask h2g2'.
I was thinking about writing an entry on learning music by ear for piano. I wonder if anyone here who learns or works out music by ear has any tips on how to make it easier, I'd like to include as many ideas as poss. in my entry.

If you have any tips, could you add them to the journal entry I have set up in my space?

thanks.

Also, is there anyone here who I could ask about technical music references, like different scales and things if I needed to while I'm putting this together? It would be helpful if there was someone around who could doublecheck things for me.

thanks.

Kaz.

I can probably help with some of that. I've put a fair amount of music theory on my external web-site already.

That blank post was a mistake - I'm a bit shaky at the keyboard at the moment but clearly don't have enough sense to stay off it!

What I actually came back to say was that I noticed in your journal you said you were thinking of making it a collaborative entry. If that's the case rather than just wanting PeerReview type comments, perhaps you should consider making it a University project. The other possibility is asking the editors to make it a collaborative topic of the week - but that would take it out of your hands. It might also be too brief a time for a detailed consideration of the subject rather than just a discussion.

I think the University is going through some changes at the moment, so it might not be the best place.

One place to try might be the Collaborative Writing Workshop. Contrary to rumour, people *are* subscribed to it - but not necessarily musically-minded people.

I can't help you I'm afraid, as I'm much better at sight-reading than playing by ear!

I think the most important thing in learning music by ear is the understanding of the 'movable do tonic solfa' system. To be able to identify the key note (do) and to recognise the positions of all the other notes in the scale is the single most important thing in playing by ear.

I was going to phrase it as recognising intervals but that's part of the same thing. Since we are talking about the piano, recognising harmonies/chords is also important. I focus on melody (up/down and by how much within the chosen key), bass line and a feel for what chord goes in between.

Hi Kaz

I've put a plug for you on the Musicians' Guild page

I'm afraid I can't help you much, as I don't play the piano (much as I would love to be able to...)

All I know about playing by ear is that there are supposedly two types of people: those who can play by ear, and those who can sight-read. I would contend that there's a third type - those (of us ) who can do neither..!



Danny B.

No, there are also people who can do both. Unless that's not a type because I'm unique.

What I'm not so good at (compared with "normal" people) is getting better with practice.

OK, so there are 4 types: sight-readers, ear-players, me and you

And what is this 'practice' of which you speak..?

I can do both, but my reading's pretty shaky because they (stupidly) only taught us treble stave reading at school and not the bass, so I can't read stuff equally, if you get what I mean. I had to teach myself the bass stave!

I can only read stuff and play as I'm reading if its really simple. I can play the treble seperately fine for most things, except large chords.

Practising the two parts independently for me doesn't work. I have to view them as together.

Thanks for all your help on this. I don't really want to get writing on it too fast (I've got loads of other stuff to do at the mo unfortunately), so maybe its best to keep the idea here for a bit and then put it into the University or the collaborative entry thingy later.
I'd just like some comments on how everyone learns really. I've started writing a bit already. Shall I stick what I've got so far in an entry and then you can tell me what you think, or shall I leave it for the moment?

I thoroughly recommend this site:

http://www.musictheory.net/

You can get lots of practice here to learn 'by ear' and also there are some very good lessons.

Hi Kaz,
I am a fiddle-player of "blumph" years and have learnt most of my music by ear. I admit most is based on 2x16 bar melodies, as I play largely Folk/sinalong music.The biggest drawback is that it is a melody instrument, so Keys and chords don't generally feature. I would say the most important part of playing by ear is having the ability to be in tune, slightly easier on a Fixed-note piano. I am happy to give what little help I can although I play the Piano the way I type.....search and peck.
Good luck, and hope to see your page soon.

I love that old sinalong music!

Although it was a typo , some of that stuff is a little if not over ripe, especially the folky stuff. Hunting the bonny black hare doesn't leave much to the imagination, and some of the Elizabethan stuff is more crude than Eminem could ever come up with. Kenneth Connor of Carry-on fame made a very good fist of an album of Elizabethan songs,but is probably now obsolete.
Still, reckon I'll stick to the sinalong.