Playing By Ear
Course Lessons
- Primary Chords
- Primary Cadence Patterns
- Beginning Songs
- Secondary Dominants
- Bass Line Progression
- Chromatic Bass Line
- Intermediate Songs
- Minor Keys
- Advanced Songs
In this course I will walk you through a bunch of tunes. You will gain experience to be able to play lots of different genres of music.
I play the song for you. It is your job to transpose these into other keys. I often start by doing the keys of C, F, and G. When those are good move onto D and Bb.
For a comprehensive list of songs to learn by ear see my folk tune list.
I intentionally do not post pdfs of the music so that students will learn to get by without looking at music.
Course Objectives #
You will learn/develop:
- common chord progressions
- how to play in multiple keys
- how to harmonize tunes
- develop overall musicianship
- 15+ songs by ear
Tunes Covered in this course #
Beginning Tunes #
- London Bridge
- Eesny Weensy Spider
- Wheels on the bus
- Happy Birthday
- Camptown Races
Intermediate Tunes #
- Amazing Grace
- I've been workin' on the railroad
- When the Saints
- Red River Valley
- She'll be comin' round the mountain
- Take me out to the ballgame
- Popeye the sailor man
Advanced Tunes #
- Never Smile at a Crocodile
- Hushabye Mountain
- The Erie Canal
- Chim Chimney
- Autumn Leaves
— or —