1. The Basics of Music The Beginner’s Guide to Playing By Ear Larry Watlington, lwatlington1@gmail.com USING THE LEFT HAND

2. Overview Basic concepts for using the left hand on the piano: Octaves & Fifths Bass Runs and Patterns Left-Hand Chords Timing 2

3. Octaves & Fifth Notes 3

4. 1345672 CEFGABD C Notice there are seven notes (the number of completion) in a scale and it starts over on 8 (new beginnings). This makes up a complete scale. We are using the key of C as an example. 8 / 1

5. Octaves & Fifth Notes 5 ScaleLeft-hand Octave Left-Hand 5 th note Right-Hand Chord CC-CGC-E-G DD-DAD-F-A EE-EBA-G-B FF-FCF-A-C GG-GDG-B-D AA-AEA-C-E BB-BFB-D-F CC-CGC-E-G

6. Bass Runs 6

7. Basic Bass Runs (key of C) 7 How to Build the Pattern (Left-hand) Chords (Right-hand) Run 11-2-2 # -3-4…6-6 # -7-1Cm 7 (G-B b -C-E b ) F 7 (F-A-C-E b ) Run 21-3-4-4 # -5-6-6 # -7-1Cm 7 (G-B b -C-E b ) G 7 (G-B-D-F)

8. C EFGABD C 1345672 Bass Run 1 In between each of the steps from one note to another are “half-steps”. As we step up the scale these half-steps are called “sharps (#)”. 8 / 1 C#C# F#F# D#D# G#G# A#A#

9. C EFGABD C 1345672 Bass Run 2 In between each of the steps from one note to another are “half-steps”. As we step up the scale these half-steps are called “sharps (#)”. 8 / 1 C#C# F#F# D#D# G#G# A#A#

10. Left-Hand Chords 10

11. Learning to Play a Song Amazing Grace in C ( 1-4-5 Chord Progression) G C (1) F (4) C (1) A -mazing Grace, how sweet the sound, G (5) C (1) C (1) G (5) That saved a wretch like me. G (5) C (1) C (1) F (4) C (1) I -- once was lost, but now I’m found, G (5) C (1) C (1) G (5) C (1) Was blind, but now I - see. 11

12. Timing is Everything! 12