You CAN play by ear. Here's how...

Рет қаралды 576

Ай бұрын

Unlocking your ability to play music without relying on written notes can transform your musicianship, regardless of your instrument or preferred genre. In this video, I explore with you a unique exercise to strengthen the connection between your musical ear and your instrument, liberating you from the confines of always requiring written music.
Forget about chords, scales, and song structures for now - we're stripping it all back to focus solely on the musical phrase. Through simple exercises like creating short, improvised melodies without the constraints of key or tempo, you'll experience a deeper understanding of musical expression.
I demonstrate how to craft musical phrases, lengthen them, and eventually play them over basic harmonies using a Groovz Playground play-along track. Groovz Playground tracks provide a supportive environment for honing your improvisational skills, allowing you to more freely explore your melodic and rhythmic sense.
Improvisation isn't mastered overnight, but with consistent practice and a focus on strengthening your ear's connection to your instrument, you'll discover the music that's been waiting inside you all along. Say goodbye to reliance on memorized scales, patterns, and licks - and hello to the joy of creating music straight from your heart.
Go access the entire Groovz Playground for free, go to Musicsavvy.com/my-account

Пікірлер: 6

@nugget501 Ай бұрын

Great video. I’ve been waiting for something like this. Thank you

@mymusicsavvy Ай бұрын

I made it as fast as I could (-; Glad it will help!

@neilripsch6624 Ай бұрын

I’ve missed your fantastic videos and instructional materials.

@neilripsch6624 Ай бұрын

Mike - how do I adopt listening with understanding chords and progressions? Should I try to understand why a particular set of chords are situated in a harmonic sequence to help me play over the piece?

@mymusicsavvy Ай бұрын

Neil, Great question. Listening and the analysis of chords and harmonic theory are really to separate activities. Take the time to understand the chords and form of a tune. Know the various key centers and how they move from one to the next. If you are a horn player, play through the chords on the piano, ideally by memory. But after that analysis (or in between sessions of that analysis) LISTEN to the harmony, learn the melody, and improvise over the changes on your instrument by ear as much as you can. I advise players (and myself) to avoid thinking about the chords as they play. I look at it as a toggle switch that goes one direction or the other between thinking and listening. I mocked up this toggle switch in this 1-minute entertaining video: vimeo.com/479914635 I know how irresistible it can be to think think think from chord to chord or section to section, and if you have enough harmonic knowledge and instrumental chops, you can manufacture something that sounds 'correct.' But my question is: do you consider that type of playing to be spontaneous musical composition that authentically reflects YOU? And I also ask, as you develop your ear to instrument connection, will that connection allow you to create much more satisfying music for both you and the listener. I think you know my answers! As I hear from players who develop the skill and confidence to play by ear without the 'safety net' of thinking, they are thrilled with the surprising result. I look forward to you being one of them!!

@neilripsch6624 Ай бұрын

That video spot on - trying to connect the chords, chord tones, approach notes, scalar notes, emphasis, articulation, while trying to have fun and stay loose. Drives me crazy. I appreciate your thoughts. Neil