Tips and tricks for playing by ear

[ChristopherS]

Lately I've been learning to play piano by ear, and I found once I'd mastered the basic major/minor chords for a key and had an idea of how to string them together, I was left wanting a bit more! Major and minor triads on their own can get a bit dull :)

I'm gradually learning about sixth, seventh and suspended chords and trying to introduce them where possible, but sometimes there are 'quick wins' to keep things interesting - Do you know any?


One cute trick I picked up (I forget where from) is that there's an easy way to form a 13th chord, which has a great, interesting sound, perfect for suddenly pausing on in the middle of a progression. The trick is to play a major triad with your left hand (e.g. C-E-G) and combine it with the major triad one tone higher in your right hand (e.g. D-F#-A). Easy!


So what are your best tips and tricks for livening up improvisations or playing by ear?

[kindablue]

one thing i like to do with my students is to get them to understand a key, or hear the note relationships within a key.
i will play a chord(or put on a modal playalong) like Cmaj7, the student will play the scale with that chord in the background so they can hear the context. i will get them to play each note slowly. the chord and the note sustain for a whole bar. then i will get them to close their eyes and play the scale up and down each string. when improvising to a chord up and down a single string you cannot play "safe licks" or "pet phrases" you are forced to hear the notes and play music.
Not only do you learn the fretboard you also train your ear to hear diatonically in this key.
Also by closing your eyes you are forced to use your ears and listen.
i used to do this all the time. i used to call it "The Blindman Sessions"

you can take this further by learning diatonic arpeggios on a single string. play through chord progressions on a single string following the chords with the arpeggios.
learning arpeggios and the inversions on a single string forces you to break away from smaller intervals.