An interesting case of just being misheard? Or is there something hidden in the meaning of the two phrases? We can take a look at both phrases to find out. “Play It by Year” or “Play It by Ear,” what is the meaning?
Play It By Year
It has an interesting connotation to me that might not apply to others. I will look at that in a minute. Essentially, the phrase is meaningless. It might be easy to understand where it may have come from as it sounds a little similar to “Play it by ear.” However, to most people, it would mean nothing at all.
A Personal Experience
Many years ago, I worked with a band leader who seemed to have developed an interesting skill. We often played in front of different types of audiences on different nights. Consequently, the band’s repertoire had to be quite wide and all-encompassing.
To give you a picture, we could be playing in front of 2000 GIs on a US military base in London one night. Not a female in sight. They just wanted music by Elvis, Jerry Lee, Little Richard, and Buddy Holly.
The next night we could be at a dinner dance for the over 50s who wanted Sinatra, Tony Bennett, and the like.
He Had To Judge
Those were the extremes, but there were also occasions when the audience was quite a cross mix, and it was then he would use his skill. He was able to gauge what they wanted to hear.
He would call out to the band, “60s’ play it by the year.” Put simply, we were going to be doing just songs that were from the 60s, “the year.” We still had to wait for him to call the song, but we knew the style it was going to be.
That is an isolated and personal understanding of the term “Play it by Year.” But, in the experience of most people, it means absolutely nothing.
Play It By Ear
You could say that there are two meanings of play it by ear. One refers to musical terms; the other does not. In non-musical terms, it would simply mean to wait and see how a situation develops before deciding what course of action to take. That could apply to several situations.
In Musical Terms
It is here that most people will be familiar with the expression. And its meaning is quite significant. For many musicians, learning to play by ear is considered to be a real quality, and in some cases, a gift.
It is a skill that, firstly, can be learned, and secondly, to some musicians, is quite natural. Playing by ear can fall into two categories.
A Song You Have Never Played
In this case, it is the ability to hear a song and then play it. This despite not having played it before or learned it from the sheet music. That is something that some would say is more of a gift than a skill.
In its most extreme cases, Mozart was known to be able to replicate the most complex pieces after just one listen. We can’t all do that, of course.
But, it is something you can learn to a certain level with practice. You can learn to process music in a certain way that will enhance your auditory abilities. It works at many levels. But, familiarity with how music works and its form can be a guide to achieving this skill.
A Simple Example
Let’s consider the simplest examples of play it by ear. Guitar and/or Bass Guitarists from all over the world can probably ‘play by ear’ a song they may never have heard without realizing it.
Some songs have very formalized patterns. So, as long as you know the pattern and the key, you could play the song without hearing it before.
Take Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode.” Most would be able to play it because it has a set 12-bar blues pattern. Even relatively inexperienced musicians will recognize the pattern and be able to play along. That applies to a range of songs with the same format.
Some are much newer than Chuck’s songs…
ZZ Top and “Tush,” for example. Or, if you want to “push the boat out,” Led Zeppelin’s “Rock and Roll” fits the same pattern.
You are playing by ear in those and many other cases. Of course, they are not all that simple; I have used them purely as examples.
Improvisation – “Play It by Year” or “Play It by Ear”
The second situation that refers to playing by ear is purely improvisational. Playing along with a piece you may never have heard before. You may need to insert a solo or just follow the chord structure of the song. Whatever the requirement, this is an important skill set for most musicians to master.
You will find it prevalent in Jazz and other forms of music where the basis of the song is completely open to improvisation techniques. A good example from Louis Armstrong and his Hot Five from the late 1920s is “West End Blues.”
And, to prove that bass guitarists can do it as well, there is “Bright Size Life” by Jaco Pastorius,
Singing by ear…
It can even be an improvised vocal, where “playing by ear” becomes “singing by ear.” In jazz circles, this is known as Scat Singing. Ella Fitzgerald was a master at this.
The idea is that there’s a basic framework for the song, but everything that happens within the framework is usually spontaneous. In other words, there is nothing written down musically.
There is a lot involved with this kind of playing it by ear. And it usually takes a high standard of musicianship and skill.
Where Did The Phrase Originate?
It is hard to know where or who used it in this context first. It could go back hundreds of years for all we know to the times of the great masters. Or, it could have been a descriptive expression that came from the jazz circles in the 1920s and 30s.
It does seem to have been a 16th-century idea. It was used in a book printed by the English printer William Caxton called “The Pilgrimage of Perfection” in 1526. In it, there is the quote, “In the psalmody… haue a good eare.”
“Psalmody” was a word used to describe the singing of psalms and other religious songs. The statement is then, to sing the psalms, you need a “good ear.” The next written mention of it comes from Scotland, where in the Edinburgh Review of 1839, “Miss Austen is one who plays by ear” is found.
A Skill That Had To Be Developed?
I suppose that playing by ear was a skill that had to be developed. You may not have had a choice. In the times we have considered, there was sheet music, but not everyone had access to it.
So how could you learn a piece? Maybe that was why people play by ear. It is not difficult to imagine a situation where the musician learned to play a piece without the benefit of the music.
A Change In Meaning
As time has moved on, there is now a situation where musicians don’t have to learn by ear. Most have access to either music or audio versions to learn from. The term has now been extended to include not only Jazz but also jamming sessions. An example is “Freeway Jam” by one of the great guitarists of the era, Jeff Beck.
The music being created is similar to jazz in that it is based on improvisation. This scenario fits easily into what we understand about playing by ear today.
Not Everyone’s Cup of Tea
Playing by ear does not appeal to everybody. I know a musician who says it is just lazy and for those who can’t be bothered to learn a song properly. I don’t agree with that. But, I do recognize that there are musicians who just do not like to improvise.
They want the music laid out for them with instructions from the composer on how it should be played. Nothing wrong with that, of course. A symphony orchestra would be a bit messy if they all played by ear.
Are You Learning to Play an Instrument?
If so, take a look at our hand articles on the Best Music Theory Apps, the Best Online Jamming Websites, the Top Music Collaboration Websites and Apps, How to Write a Song, Song Structure Types, and Music Scales: A Beginner’s Guide for more useful information and ideas.
“Play It by Year” or “Play It by Ear” – Final Thoughts
There is room for all types of musicianship, and playing by ear is just one. In covering the topic, I hope I have clarified what the term means and how it is applied. And, just as importantly, how vital it can be in music. Its importance is very evident.
Until next time, let the music play.
