Short answer: Playing by ear means listening to music and working out the notes and chords without using sheet music or chord charts. The easiest place to start is by finding the bass note.
Many people think playing by ear is a special talent that you’re either born with or you aren’t. In reality, it’s a skill that can be learned through practice. You don’t need to hear a song once and play it perfectly—you simply need to learn how to decode the music step by step.
Start with the Bass Note
When you’re trying to work out the chords of a song, don’t begin by searching for the entire chord. Start with the lowest note you hear—the bass.
Choose a simple pop song with a clear bass line. Listen only to the bass and try humming along. Then find that same note on the piano using one finger. Each time the bass changes, find the new note before moving on.
Build the Chords
Once you’ve identified the bass notes for an entire verse, you’ve already discovered the roots of the chord progression. If the bass note is C, there’s a good chance the chord is some type of C chord.
The next step is to decide whether the chord sounds bright and stable (major) or darker and more reflective (minor). By combining the root note with your ability to hear the difference between major and minor, you’ll gradually learn to work out complete chord progressions using nothing but your ears.
