There is always something for everyone to learn! If you have a keyboard or a piano with you right now, try these FREE tutorials for a start!
(Express 10 mins On-line Lesson)
Lesson: Your first song!
For TOTAL beginners with totally ZERO musical background
Learn - Musical notes
You probably can sing,“Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So, La, Ti, Do” right? Now, try singing in proper pitch, go... “Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So, La, Ti, Do” .
Done that? Before we go any further, we must stress the importance of singing. At all times possible, always sing what you play. Because we are naturally born to be able to sing, it
does shows that we are able to sing by hearing! (Well, it doesn't matter if you can't sing very well!) And since we can sing by ear, it isn't too difficult to play by ear if we play what we
sing, which brings us back to the point of stressing the importance of singing -
"ALWAYS SING WHAT YOU PLAY, AND PLAY WHAT YOU SING!"
Ok, sing "C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C" in the same way you would sing “Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So, La, Ti, Do”. Notice that there are only 7 different alphabets representing music - C, D, E, F, G, A, B
What comes after B is C, and then it goes on again .. "C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C, D, E, etc........ " Most songs that you hear today don't use more than
these 7 notes.
C D E F G A B C
(Do) (Re) (Mi) (Fa) (So) (La) (Ti) (Do)
Now, let's locate these notes on your keyboard.
(Express 10 mins On-line Lesson)
Lesson: Your first song!
For TOTAL beginners with totally ZERO musical background
Learn - Musical notes
You probably can sing,“Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So, La, Ti, Do” right? Now, try singing in proper pitch, go... “Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So, La, Ti, Do” .
Done that? Before we go any further, we must stress the importance of singing. At all times possible, always sing what you play. Because we are naturally born to be able to sing, it
does shows that we are able to sing by hearing! (Well, it doesn't matter if you can't sing very well!) And since we can sing by ear, it isn't too difficult to play by ear if we play what we
sing, which brings us back to the point of stressing the importance of singing -
"ALWAYS SING WHAT YOU PLAY, AND PLAY WHAT YOU SING!"
Ok, sing "C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C" in the same way you would sing “Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So, La, Ti, Do”. Notice that there are only 7 different alphabets representing music - C, D, E, F, G, A, B
What comes after B is C, and then it goes on again .. "C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C, D, E, etc........ " Most songs that you hear today don't use more than
these 7 notes.
C D E F G A B C
(Do) (Re) (Mi) (Fa) (So) (La) (Ti) (Do)
Now, let's locate these notes on your keyboard.
Learn - Right hand melody
Got them? Now, play from C to C, and sing with your playing.
Good. Now, let's play a simple song. TWINKLE TWINKLE LITTLE STAR
The notes are C C G G A A G, then F F E E D D C. Try playing it on your keyboard. While playing again, try singing with it.
"Twin - kle Twin - kle Lit - tle Star.... How - I - won- der what you are..."
C C G G A A G F F E E D D C
(Click on instructional video on your right)
If you really do sing with it, you realise you will hold the ... - G note ('star), and ... - C note ('are') longer than the other notes. Now, that's rhythm! There
is so much to explain about rhythm, for instance time values, note duration, etc... For now, use your singing to determine the rhythm for the song!
Remember, music is all about playing the right notes and the right rhythm!
Got them? Now, play from C to C, and sing with your playing.
Good. Now, let's play a simple song. TWINKLE TWINKLE LITTLE STAR
The notes are C C G G A A G, then F F E E D D C. Try playing it on your keyboard. While playing again, try singing with it.
"Twin - kle Twin - kle Lit - tle Star.... How - I - won- der what you are..."
C C G G A A G F F E E D D C
(Click on instructional video on your right)
If you really do sing with it, you realise you will hold the ... - G note ('star), and ... - C note ('are') longer than the other notes. Now, that's rhythm! There
is so much to explain about rhythm, for instance time values, note duration, etc... For now, use your singing to determine the rhythm for the song!
Remember, music is all about playing the right notes and the right rhythm!
Try practising these chords on your left hand.
-Remember to play all three notes in a chord together, with even strength.
Learn - Playing with both left and right hands
Now, let's attempt to play with 2 hands! This is a fake sheet of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star which consists of the melody (bottom) and chords (above).
-Remember to play all three notes in a chord together, with even strength.
Learn - Playing with both left and right hands
Now, let's attempt to play with 2 hands! This is a fake sheet of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star which consists of the melody (bottom) and chords (above).
While playing your melody on your right hand, play the respective chords as written (all 3 notes together) on your left hand together whenever there is a
change in chord.
change in chord.
FREE ONLINE LESSONS (SPONSORED BY PLAY BY EAR MUSIC SCHOOL)
Learn - Left hand chords
Ok, now that you are able to play a simple tune on your right hand, let's try adding chords on your left hand to support your right hand.
What are chords? Chords are basically the 'back-bone' that creates harmony in a song. And every song has chords. So what are chords? When you play 2 or more notes together,
you form a chord! A typical chord usually has 3 notes. For now, let's learn about the 3 easiest chords. These 3 chords are also the most important and familiar chords to every player.
C chord F chord G chord
Ok, now that you are able to play a simple tune on your right hand, let's try adding chords on your left hand to support your right hand.
What are chords? Chords are basically the 'back-bone' that creates harmony in a song. And every song has chords. So what are chords? When you play 2 or more notes together,
you form a chord! A typical chord usually has 3 notes. For now, let's learn about the 3 easiest chords. These 3 chords are also the most important and familiar chords to every player.
C chord F chord G chord
INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO
Right hand melody -
Twinkle Twinkle Little
Star (played with
metronome)
Click below to watch
video clip!
WMV format
Right hand melody -
Twinkle Twinkle Little
Star (played with
metronome)
Click below to watch
video clip!
WMV format
INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO
Playing with both left
and right hands -
Twinkle Twinkle Little
Star (played with
metronome)
Click below to watch
video clip!
WMV format
Playing with both left
and right hands -
Twinkle Twinkle Little
Star (played with
metronome)
Click below to watch
video clip!
WMV format
PLAY BY EAR MUSIC SCHOOL (SINGAPORE) - SPECIALISING IN POP PIANO & JAZZ PIANO IMPROVISATION COURSES FOR ADULTS
ADDRESS: 245A / 245B VICTORIA STREET, BUGIS VILLAGE, SINGAPORE (188032) | TEL: 63387939 | EMAIL: INFO@PLAY-BY-EAR.NET
ADDRESS: 245A / 245B VICTORIA STREET, BUGIS VILLAGE, SINGAPORE (188032) | TEL: 63387939 | EMAIL: INFO@PLAY-BY-EAR.NET
