Learn to play piano by ear (note names)

To learn to play the piano by ear, you must first learn about scales and chords. But, before you do that, you must learn about the white and black note names. You may do so by accessing this webpage to learn to play piano by ear.

Scroll down about half way to "Free Piano Lessons".

Beginning here you will obtain a very good foundation to begin learning to play the piano by ear.

Or, you may read it here....

So How Do I Learn to Play by Ear?

Learning to play by ear is simple and easy. In one or two lessons, you'll have enough foundation to start playing songs! I do not use complicated theories or just predictable patterns without explaining the mechanics of the piano, but rather easy to understand and basic information about the piano first; then I will teach you how to pick out the melody (tune) to a song and basic patterns that occur repetitively in songs, etc.

1. Let’s talk about white and black notes on the piano. It is most important that you learn the names of each note on the piano BEFORE you learn to play the piano by ear. When you are looking at a full size keyboard (on a piano) the first note is A. Then the letter names continue through G and then repeat the same pattern. (A B C D E F G repeat).

Now, in learning the letter names of the white notes, you must learn visually what each note looks like. For example, it’s easy to remember where the note D is because it’s between the two black notes that are together; the note F is just to the left of three black notes, and so on. Look at the section of a keyboard below. Notice the pattern of two black notes and then three black notes. Notice how that pattern repeats itself all the way down the keyboard. You will use this visualization to learn the names of the white notes!

You need to MEMORIZE the names of the white notes! This is easy! If you have ever learned how to type in a class, you were taught to say the names of each letter as you pressed the key! That’s an excellent way to learn the names of the white notes. Then, after practicing the names of the keyboard notes a few times, print off this keyboard below WITHOUT the note name below it and see if you can fill the letter for each note. Then check to see if you have them memorized.

View the keyboard as an aid in learning to play piano by ear.

IMPORTANT! You will need to know that the notes to the left of the key board are lower in pitch and the notes to the right on the keyboard are higher in pitch. So if you were at the note C and I told you to move to D, you would be moving UP.

2. Then you must learn about ½ steps and whole steps so that you can learn the names of the black notes. A half step is when you move from one note to the next without a note in between. For example when you move from F to G, from C to B, from G to the black note to the right, or from D to the black note to the left you are moving a ½ step.

A whole step is when you move from one not to the next and there’s a note in between. For example, when you move from F to G, B to A, or E to the black note to the right of F, you are moving a whole step because there’s a note in between.

DON’T WORRY! All of this is covered in my “Piano By Ear for Beginners” DVD! You can actually watch me teach you at the piano from the comfort of your home on your computer or DVD player!

3. Next, you will learn how to flat (b) and sharp (#) a note. It’s easy and simple. For the most part, all the black notes are either sharps or flats. To sharp a note you will RAISE the note a ½ step. So if you wanted to play the note C#, you would play the black note just above (to the right) the note C.

To flat a note, you would LOWER the note ½ step. So if you wanted to play Bb you would play the black note just below (to the left) the note B. That way, you will be able to learn the names of each black note. Actually, each black note will have two names because it can be either a sharp or a flat note depending upon whether the scale is a sharp scale or a flat scale. Don’t worry about that now, just learn the names of the black and white notes and memorize them.

4. Now that you know the names of all the white and black notes, the difference between a half and whole step and a sharp and a flat, you are ready to learn 3 scales and 3 chords! By the way, THE NEXT STEP AFTER LEARNING 3 SCALES AND 3 CHORDS IS TO BEGIN A SONG!!!!!
The Piano By Ear Chart that I created is your lifesaver when learning to play the piano! This chart is constructed so that you know exactly the note names for each scale and the rules for many common chords!

A. You need to learn the note names of the C scale and how to play the C scale (with both hands). C Scale = CDEFGABC - Notice the C scale is all white notes and it begins on the note C and continues upward to the next C. That means the C scale has no sharps or flats! Actually, C is probably the easiest key to play in because of that fact. You don’t have to worry about awkward hand positions that other keys may require because of sharps or flats.

B. Learn the note names of the F scale and how to play the F scale. F Scale = FGABbCDEF - Notice the F scale has one flat in its scale. Bb is the only black note in the F scale. So, when you begin at F to play the F scale, when you get to B, you will NOT play the B note but rather the black note just below it (Bb.)

C. Learn the note names of the G scale and how to play the G scale. G Scale = GABCDEF#G - Notice the G scale has one sharp (#) in its scale. F# is the only black note in the G scale. So, when you begin at G to play the G scale, when you get to F, you will NOT play the F note but rather the black note just above it (F#.)

Learn how they each scale looks and feels when you play them. This is very important because some of the technique to playing by ear is getting used to how different scales and chords feel when you play them.

NOTE: Scales are also numbered. For instance, in the C scale C is 1, D is 2, E is 3, F is 4, G is 5, A is 6, B is 7, and C is 1. It’s important to remember the numbering on scales…more about that later!

5. Now you must learn the rule on how to make a major chord. In order to make a major chord, you will play the numbers 1, 3, 5 on the particular scale for the chord you want to play. Now, don’t get worried, I will explain. (Remember, on the “Piano By Ear for Beginners” DVD, I explain all of this in person at the piano for you to see!) For example, when you play the C scale and you say the numbers as you play it, if you stop and hold down only the numbers 1, 3, 5 of the C scale you will be holding down the notes C, E, G. Got it?

WOW! You now know where the C major chord is!! Do the same for F chord and G chord. Using their particular scale, stop and hold down only the numbers 1, 3, 5 of the particular scale and you will be playing the F chord or G chord depending on which scale you used.

(Tip: Memorize the rule to make a major chord…”Play the numbers 1, 3, 5 of the scale to make the major chord for that scale.) I’ll help you out by making sure you have the correct notes for F major chord and G major chord. (F chord = F, A, C) (G chord = G, B, D,)

Remember to play all three notes together at the same time to make the chord.


Have a great day and good luck!

Matthew Stephens
www.thepianobyear.com