Free Mini-Course: Play Chords By Ear
Lesson 6: Play Three Songs By Ear

It’s the final lesson of this “play chords by ear” mini-course – which means it’s time to really put your new skills to use!

In this lesson you’re going to play three popular songs by ear using the I-IV-V recognition skills you’ve developed in the mini-course.

We’ll talk you through the process a bit and offer hints, but it’s up to you to figure out which chords to play when, and you’ll be able to take this process and apply it to hundreds and thousands of other songs in future!

SONG 1: Happy Birthday

We’re going to start with a song you’ll have heard many times before and one which is really handy to know how to play by ear: Happy Birthday to You!

It may not be the coolest song around, but every play-by-ear musician should know how to handle this one…

In case you’ve forgotten how it goes, here’s a recording:

Your first step for playing a song by ear should be to figure out the key. That’s something we teach fully inside Musical U but we’ve glossed over it in this mini-course.

There’s a simple shortcut you can use for now: just try different notes on your instrument and see which one sounds good throughout the song. With practice you’ll be able to find the right note quickly. This is the “tonic” (i.e. the root of the I chord) and so will go particularly well with the first and last chord of the song.

Hint 1: This recording of Happy Birthday is in the key of G Major.

Listen to the song and try to identify the I, IV and V chords. Use the tips from previous days’ lessons.

This is a good song to start with because it’s short and the chords don’t change very often.

Hint 2: The chord changes happen on these words:
Line 1: “Happy birthday to you”
Line 2: “Happy birthday to you”
Line 3: “Happy birthday dear name”
Line 4: “Happy birthday to you!”

Hint 3: The progression is very similar to one you practiced in yesterday’s lesson.

If you’re having difficulty, check out this great mini tutorial (note: in the key of C)

So, could you figure it out? You just played your first song by ear – and learned a handy skill for the next birthday party you go to!

SONG 2: Lynyrd Skynyrd – Sweet Home Alabama

Although this is an incredibly popular and well known song, it actually has one of the simplest chord progressions possible! And of course it uses just the I, IV and V chords you know well by now.

Try to figure out the chords by ear. First just listen and see if you can hear the I, the IV and the V. Then you can check, using your instrument.

Hint 1: The key of this song is G Major.

Hint 2: Although the guitar riff is quite intricate, there are just three chords used and the progression is the same throughout the song.

Hint 3: The progression is very similar to one which you practiced with in yesterday’s lesson.

Could you figure it out? It’s a fun one to play along with, isn’t it?

SONG 3: Johnny Cash – Ring Of Fire

The third song for you to play by ear is a Johnny Cash classic, “Ring Of Fire”.

This song has a different pattern for the verse and the chorus so it’s a bit more challenging. The arrangement is also quite sparse, in country style, so it can be a bit harder to hear the chords clearly. If you need to, experiment with your instrument to see what sounds right.

Hint 1: You already worked out when the I chord happens when you practiced with this song in Lesson 3. If you need to, go back and read the advice there.

Hint 2: The verse pattern is the same as one of the progressions you practiced with yesterday.

Hint 3: The chorus begins with the same pattern you just figured out for Sweet Home Alabama.

Could you work it out?

Remember to trust your ears. If you’re unsure of the chords you’ve chosen you can check yourself by searching for the chords online (this site tends to be a good one).

And although we normally only provide 1-on-1 help within Musical U we’re making an exception for people taking this mini-course: so if you get stuck just leave a comment in the “Discussion” area below and we’ll be happy to help.