How to play any piece of music by ear

It is done by trial and error.


The bass is the key and it comes from the Hellenic word Βασις which means foundation or base.


We let a piece of music play in the room.


If using the piano we try by the left hand to find the suitable bass note by trial and error.


We then find the corresponding chord by the rule 1 3 5.


For example Breathe- Pink Floyd.


The bass changes alternately from E to A.


The chords are E G B and A C E where C is C sharp because the scale happens to be E Dorian which has the C sharp.


Many artful pieces deviate from 1 3 5 at various points.


For example the beautiful point when the Pink Floyd piece changes to C bass. The right hand plays E G B. The B natural is an interval of major seventh distant from the bass so the chord is called C major 7th.


If we are stuck we can always read a score book.


This can be how we learn something we did not know and then we can recognize it by ear next time.


Music is fun.