Playing By Ear

This book is for all songwriters, pianists, singers, musicians, music producers and music teachers wanting to learn how to play by ear on the piano.

In Part 1 you will learn STEP by STEP how to add harmony to the tune Twinkle Twinkle Little Star using basic 3-4 note triads and 7th chords that are used in pop and country music progressing to 5-7 note jazz chords using 9ths, 11ths and 13ths. You will learn how to voice these chords using both hands while playing the melody, the circle of fifths, voice-leading exercises to help with smoother transitions between chords and popular chord progressions that are used in many pop, jazz and country music songs today.

After completing Part 1, you will be able to harmonise any note over any chord in any major or minor key as well as be able to pick out other tunes and adding in your own choice of chords.

Part 2 will teach you new scales that can be used in your songwriting including, blues, pentatonic (major and minor) and all three minor scales (natural, harmonic and melodic) and modes. You will learn how to accompany a singer adding in fills, bass lines, country, gospel and blues licks. How to transpose a melody and chords into a 'higher or lower' key and how to change the key within the same song. You'll learn new interesting chord progressions and playing in other time signatures including 3/4 and 12/8.

All the music in this book has been recorded on video so even if you can't read music you'll be able to watch the 200+ online videos.

"John's approachable methods for playing piano and composing in any key will benefit songwriters of all levels and genres. Your ability to express musical ideas will be greatly helped by this easy-to-access system."

Paddy Byrne: Songwriter and Producer (Paloma Faith, Tom Grennan, Ella Eyre)

"As a songwriter who sings and plays a little guitar, this is a really helpful tool to learn new chord voicings on keys and will open up a whole new world for me in songwriting."  

Pamela Sheyne: Songwriter, producer, singer and mentor (Christina Aguilera, Camila Cabello, Demi Lovato)

"This book is an effective and easy to understand must for all aspiring and established songwriters. Rather than the more traditional way of chords first, followed by a melody, this turns this on its head and equips you to write in the way McCartney wrote 'Yesterday."