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I am not musically educated yet. I don't read - I make my own language that works for myself. But I play by ear.
Imelda May

Meaning of "play by ear" in the English dictionary

Dictionary
DICTIONARY
section

PRONUNCIATION OF PLAY BY EAR

play by ear play
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WHAT DOES PLAY BY EAR MEAN IN ENGLISH?

Definition of play by ear in the English dictionary

The definition of play by ear in the dictionary is to act according to the demands of a situation rather than to a plan; improvise. Other definition of play by ear is to perform a musical piece on an instrument without written music.


WORDS THAT BEGIN LIKE PLAY BY EAR

play a lone hand
play a part
play along
play ball
play box
play cat and mouse
play clothes
play down
play fair
play false
play fast and loose
play favourites
play for time
play God
play hardball
play havoc
play hell with
play into the hands of
play merry hell with
play off

WORDS THAT END LIKE PLAY BY EAR

a flea in one´s ear
a thick ear
bend someone´s ear
boxer´s ear
by ear
cauliflower ear
chew someone´s ear
external ear
flea in one´s ear
glue ear
incline one´s ear
inner ear
internal ear
jew´s ear
lend an ear
middle ear
pig´s ear
thick ear
tin ear
turn a deaf ear

Synonyms and antonyms of play by ear in the English dictionary of synonyms

SYNONYMS

Translation of «play by ear» into 25 languages

TRANSLATOR
online translator

TRANSLATION OF PLAY BY EAR

Find out the translation of play by ear to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.
The translations of play by ear from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «play by ear» in English.

Translator English - Chinese

见机行事
1,325 millions of speakers

Translator English - Spanish

tocar de oído
570 millions of speakers

English

play by ear
510 millions of speakers

Translator English - Hindi

कान से खेलने
380 millions of speakers
ar

Translator English - Arabic

اللعب عن طريق الأذن
280 millions of speakers

Translator English - Russian

играть на слух
278 millions of speakers

Translator English - Portuguese

tocar de ouvido
270 millions of speakers

Translator English - Bengali

কান দ্বারা খেলা
260 millions of speakers

Translator English - French

jouer à l´oreille
220 millions of speakers

Translator English - Malay

Bermain dengan telinga
190 millions of speakers

Translator English - German

spielen nach Gehör
180 millions of speakers

Translator English - Japanese

耳で遊ぶ
130 millions of speakers

Translator English - Korean

귀 에서 재생
85 millions of speakers

Translator English - Javanese

Muter dening kuping
85 millions of speakers
vi

Translator English - Vietnamese

chơi bằng tai
80 millions of speakers

Translator English - Tamil

காது மூலம் விளையாட
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Marathi

कानाने प्ले करा
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Turkish

notasız çalmak
70 millions of speakers

Translator English - Italian

suonare a orecchio
65 millions of speakers

Translator English - Polish

grać ze słuchu
50 millions of speakers

Translator English - Ukrainian

грати на слух
40 millions of speakers

Translator English - Romanian

joacă de ureche
30 millions of speakers
el

Translator English - Greek

παίξει από το αυτί
15 millions of speakers
af

Translator English - Afrikaans

speel deur die gehoor
14 millions of speakers
sv

Translator English - Swedish

spela på gehör
10 millions of speakers
no

Translator English - Norwegian

spille etter gehør
5 millions of speakers

Trends of use of play by ear

TRENDS

TENDENCIES OF USE OF THE TERM «PLAY BY EAR»

The term «play by ear» is regularly used and occupies the 86.323 position in our list of most widely used terms in the English dictionary.
0
100%
FREQUENCY
Regularly used
60
/100
The map shown above gives the frequency of use of the term «play by ear» in the different countries.
Principal search tendencies and common uses of play by ear
List of principal searches undertaken by users to access our English online dictionary and most widely used expressions with the word «play by ear».

FREQUENCY OF USE OF THE TERM «PLAY BY EAR» OVER TIME

The graph expresses the annual evolution of the frequency of use of the word «play by ear» during the past 500 years. Its implementation is based on analysing how often the term «play by ear» appears in digitalised printed sources in English between the year 1500 and the present day.

Examples of use in the English literature, quotes and news about play by ear

EXAMPLES

5 QUOTES WITH «PLAY BY EAR»

Famous quotes and sentences with the word play by ear.
1
Ray Charles
Learning to read music in Braille and play by ear helped me develop a damn good memory.
2
Ralph Ellison
Eclecticism is the word. Like a jazz musician who creates his own style out of the styles around him, I play by ear.
3
John Legend
The best training is to play by ear: trial by fire.
4
Imelda May
I am not musically educated yet. I don't read - I make my own language that works for myself. But I play by ear.
5
John Mayall
I also went to art school and learned to play a piano there, but I play by ear.

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «PLAY BY EAR»

Discover the use of play by ear in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to play by ear and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.
1
You Can Teach Yourself Banjo by Ear
This book teaches the 5-string banjoist to listen and play solos and chord progressions by ear, providing essential ear training and techniques needed to participate in jam sessions of all types!
Jack Hatfield, 2011
2
A Collection of Confusible Phrases
hit or kick the ball: I immediately pointed to the penalty mark, but the defender protested loudly that he had played the baJJ. play by ear play it by ear play by ear play music without notes by relying on one's sense of tune and harmony: In fact ...
Yuri Dolgopolov, 2004
3
You Can Teach Yourself Mandolin by Ear
The truth is that any musician with rudimentary skills can teach himself to play by ear if he is aware of some basic guidelines. That is what this book is all about. It may seem contradictory that a book could teach you to play by ear. The fact is ...
Jack Hatfield, 2011
4
Popular Mechanics
Mr. Dave Minor, Who Is On The Radio From Coast-to-Coast Guarantees He Will Teach You To Play The Piano By Ear Without Knowing One Music Note From Another, Or No Cost DAVE MINOR'S FAMOUS "PLAY BY EAR" PIANO SONG ...
5
How to Love Your Flute: A Guide to Flutes and Flute Playing
It's a comprehensive guide with something for everyone, from novice to professional, and so well written that it's a pleasure just to browse through it. This book inspires.
Mark Shepard, 1999
6
Solutions!! for Playing the Keyboard By-Ear!
In learning to play by ear, it is important that a student learn the basic chords for every key in which they wish to play. As stated before, most songs are based upon the I, IV, and V chords of the scale. By memorizing those chords within the keys ...
Debbye Graafsma, mcc, bcpc
7
Complete Jazz Flute Book
William Bay. Several 8, 4, and 2 beat patterns on the minor scales follow. Play them by ear in all keys. Then, write your own and play them by ear through the keys. 0 O Dorian Studies C '7 1? “ m1 , Play by ear in Fm, Bim, Eim, Aim, 1- is; 'I 1 _'l ...
William Bay, 2010
8
Jazz Ear Training
It will also help the student hear what he may intellectually know. Though intended for guitarists, this book can serve the needs of any aspiring Jazz improviser. A basic understanding of Jazz theory is recommended before using this book.
Steve Masakowski, 2011
9
Complete Jazz Trumpet Book
William Bay. Several 8, 4 and 2 beat patterns on the minor scales follow. Play them by ear in all keys. Then, write your own and play them by ear through the keys. Dorian Studies Play by ear in Fm,Bbm, Ebm,Abm, Dlam,Gbm,Bm, Em,Am, Dm ...
William Bay, 2010
10
Prophetic Song
Natural ability alone can't produce prophetic song. People who already know how to play by ear may find it easy to get started playing songs spontaneously before the Lord. But initial success soon becomes a rut if we don't let God teach us.
Stan Smith, 2003

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «PLAY BY EAR»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term play by ear is used in the context of the following news items.
1
A passion for music
Students are provided with the opportunity to learn new tunes, improve technique, discover how to play by ear and also to sight read. «Westmeath Independent, Jul 15»
2
Guitar advice from the master
I am completely self taught and I play by ear and I have been getting away with it my whole life." 3. Learning off YouTube or interactive learn-to ... «New Zealand Herald, Jul 15»
3
The 'rhythm' of Reading Program is about to end
The Library's own piano musician, Bill Evans, provided “Mr. Bill's Play by Ear” program, in which he demonstrated how to make up music and ... «The Friday Flyer, Jul 15»
4
Tucson notable: Lalo Guerrero is the 'Father of Chicano music'
Not one for gang fighting, he would stay in and play the piano, which he had learned to play by ear. A friendly, fun-loving person today, ... «Arizona Daily Star, Jul 15»
5
Mushmouth Mixes It Up at Calloways
They are self-taught musicians who play by ear, with families and careers outside of the live entertainment industry. Drummer Bob Docherty ... «The SandPaper, Jul 15»
6
Artist profile: Brit Keeton fiddles for several bands
With the help of local fiddler Cayley Schmid, I went cold-turkey from sheet music and learned to play by ear. Q: What groups are you in? «The Bellingham Herald, Jul 15»
7
Shelby Craig, Lacombe Globe
... and I played for five or six years of piano and finally my piano teacher at the time said, 'I can't teach you anymore because you play by ear. «The Lacombe Globe, Jul 15»
8
Beauregard fiddler to hold workshop at Natchitoches-NSU Folk …
When you know how to play by ear, you can meet up with a band you've never played with before, pick a key, and go play… it's a whirlwind. «Leesville Daily Leader, Jul 15»
9
Blind don't see sharp, still can be natural musicians
Some blind people are able to play by ear, but my talent along this line is limited. The music and audio of this software allows me to learn the ... «Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, Jul 15»
10
Sleek Brothers celebrate 60 years at White Star
She said the band members learned to play without taking any music lessons. "They play by ear," she said. dacarson@gannett.com. 419-334- ... «Fremont News Messenger, Jul 15»

REFERENCE
« EDUCALINGO. Play by ear [online]. Available <https://educalingo.com/en/dic-en/play-by-ear>. May 2024 ».
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