Hi All,

It seems this has gone from where you live to how you play but I'll join in.

I'm an ear/ez music player.

My father played piano in bars when I was young and he read the music. Then my oldest brother took accordian and started playing at home with my dad until one day may dad asked him to read the music for him. My brother couldn't read it, he was playing by ear.

The my brother started playing the cords on the piano and singing the melody. He did this every day. He played songs by Jerry Lee and Elvis. So I would stand next to the piano and watch him.

Soon I was playing and singing the same songs he was. It would drive my mom crazy becasue first he would play the songs then when he was finished I would play the songs.

When I was in High School I hung out with a "Beatles Want to Be" band who all played by ear. So I would often end up playing the keyboard along with them. I had a portable Baldwin Organ/Piano then. I still only played chords but I learned I could take a piece of sheet music that had guitar chords on it and play the song while I sang.

One summer I was in a production of a variety show and one of the singers brought in their sheet music for the "concert" pianist that was in the show. But he couldn't play it so I was asked if I could. When I saw it had the guitar chords I said yes. I chorded and he sang.

Anyway once I left home I wanted something nicer than the Baldwin so I bought a Lowery Genie Organ, my first of may "keyboards" to come.

It was not the same as playing the piano and it couldn't really sing so I started learning to play one finger melodies instead of singing. I knew the basic chords and I knew the letters of the notes. I just could not ready them on the staff. But the Genie came with that wonderfully simple music Big Note Easy Play.

My day was made. I could now "read" music. I played the chords and read the letters inside the notes. That's still how I play today when I use the music.

Like Alan, I will ofen sit down and just start playing. Sometime I play just in piano mode and sometimes I'll look through the styles and start one playing but I'll make up a song to go along with it.

I also played guitar when I was around the band and I think that helped me to learn about Chord Progressions. It's really the heart of being able to play by ear.

There are so many songs that can be played using no more than 3 or 4 chords especially the old stuff and 50s and 60s rock.

There is a guy on Public TV here that is teaching people to play the piano within a week or two. If you get a chance to see it, it's basically how I play by ear.

My biggest problem playing is that I have somewhat short fingers and I can just barely play octives by moving my hand to the end of the keys instead of over them.
Plus I still have trouble sometimes fingering the "sharp and flat" chords.


So that's my story and I'm sticking to it. LOL

Great Playing to All

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Heather- Leesburg, FL PR54

[This message has been edited by shcox (edited 10-15-2004).]