HOW TO PLAY ANY SONG BY EAR - the basics

Practice listening for high and low pitch changes on piano at a slower tempo, identifying rises or drops in pitch to strengthen ear training in this supplemental lesson.

Name notes on piano and guitar using letters and solfege, explore octaves, sharps and flats, and practice semitone steps for ear training.

Define an octave as the same note in a higher or lower pitch, separated by twelve semitones; higher octaves double vibration from 440 Hz to 880 Hz.

Learn to play a song by ear using a simple three-note melody, listen and sing along, then find and play each note on your instrument.

Learn to locate two piano notes by listening, singing them, and judging if the second is higher or lower, then find both notes on the instrument through practice.

Practice identifying the order of three-note groups—low, medium, high—across multiple patterns, then extend to four- and five-note sequences to sharpen ear training.

Find the first note, then identify the second and third notes by how they relate to it, using listening and singing to guide accuracy in three-note groups.

Learn to play twinkle twinkle by ear, using a familiar melody: listen, find the first two notes, and use the four-part pattern where parts 1/4 and 2/3 are identical.

learn to play twinkle twinkle little star in several keys, from c major to d major, using scale degrees and tonics with sharps or flats.

Learn Mary had a little lamb by ear using the same techniques. Start in the key of G with F sharp, then move to F and practice scale degrees.

Learn to play happy birthday by ear in the key of C, identify notes, sing along, and master ear training with note finding, intervals, and big jumps.