With the goal in mind of giving you simple, "real world" hints that you can use, this week's ear training hint is one that you can understand in 5 minutes, and then develop for the rest of your life!

Note: This is an archived article on Ear Training. To see the current video version, click here.

To "train" your ear means to develop the ability to take what you hear (either a musical idea in your head, or something that you've listened to) and express it musically.

Here's one of the greatest ways to develop this ability on the piano and keyboard:

Start with a very simple melody that you know well (Start VERY SIMPLE - "Mary had a little lamb, etc.")
Start from any white note on the piano and pick out the melody (don't worry about which fingers to use at this point.)
Once you can pick out the melody well (Here's the clincher!) do it again, this time starting from a different white note on the piano.

Sounds easy? OK - do this until you can pick out the melody well from any white note on the piano, then start from a black note. Once you can play this simple melody starting from ANY NOTE on the piano, pick a more involved melody.

Eventually, work your way up to something that has big leaps in the melody, something like the US national anthem. Yikes! This is a very advanced melody with BIG leaps. Once you can pick out this melody from any note on the piano, you will be able to play almost any melody that you hear, either on the radio, or melodies that you compose in your head... (where else would you compose them - in your liver?)

Here's the secret that you'll begin to see:

Melodies are composed of specific intervals. Although these intervals may look like they are different distances when you start playing the melody from a different note, they are exactly the same distance apart, no matter which key you start from.

"Whoa, that's heavy. I need more info..."

Have you ordered our double CD set that explains all this and more? You'll be light years ahead musically if you do! In fact, if you understand the first 15 minutes of the course, you'll understand the basic ground rules of music theory that everything builds on! Click through to the Rhythmic Patterns Piano Lessons site for an introduction to the course.

A note on fingering... Piano Fingering

Once you start playing more advanced melodies, you need to start observing the basic rules of fingering:

Avoid using your thumb on black notes if you can. Sometimes, it's unavoidable, but this is generally a very effective rule. Mr. Thumb is an ox and should not be asked to dance ballet.

Here's a basic one: don't play two consecutive notes with the same finger. You've got five! Use 'em.

Regarding the right hand: If you need to play a note that lies below your thumb, cross over with your 2nd, 3rd or 4th finger. Never cross over with your pinky. Mr. pinky is mentally challenged.

Again regarding your right hand: If you need to play a group of notes that lies above your pinky, cross under with your thumb. Sometimes you can accomplish this without picking up your hand (short leaps), but you may have to simply pick up your hand and move it if the leap is larger.

(Rules for the left hand are exactly opposite to the right)

The best way to learn fingering? Learn your scales and arpeggios! Ouch! Your old grouchy piano teacher was right after all. Learn your scales and arpeggios if you really want to excel. You can pick up a scale/arpeggio book at a local music shop. Just ask the clerk - she'll smile a mean sort of smile and take you right to the book. But you'll love me for this advice...

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