Yesterday I spent a happy half-hour with my ukulele, learning to play “Drive My Car”. It’s one of my favourite Beatles songs. My ukulele group is performing it for the first time at an event this week, so I decided it was time to play it without the chord chart.
Playing by heart has always been my favourite way to make music. Ever since my mother taught me to play ukulele when I was six, I’ve loved the freedom that comes with making music from memory.
But during my fifteen years of classical music training on violin, viola and piano, I never played without sheet music – and nobody ever suggested I could. That’s just how it was.
Now, I’ve concluded that playing by heart is not only possible – it’s way more fun.
Heart, ear or memory?
Playing music without a score is a powerful and often overlooked skill. Many musicians go their whole lives without ever playing from memory.
Learning how to play by heart draws on more than just memorisation – it involves ear training, musical intuition and the ability to follow other musicians.
Some people have a knack for this. Others need to practice and develop the skills. Either way, it’s a rewarding addition to your musical toolkit.
Melody and harmony
When I started playing bluegrass fiddle I found that I could pick up melodies by ear pretty easily – even ones I didn’t know. Jamming became a joy.
But harmony was another story. Instruments that carry harmony – like guitar, bass, keyboard and yes, ukulele – were more challenging to play by ear.
Over time I developed a sense for harmonic structure. Gradually I began to hear which chord was coming next. It was such an amazing feeling!
Written music isn’t everything
Written music is useful, no doubt. But in Western and especially classical music education, it’s treated as essential – non-negotiable. If a child struggles with reading music notation they’re often sidelined.
There are exceptions, like the Suzuki method, where children learn to play by ear first. But that’s considered radical in many teaching circles.
In classical music, reading is the norm. The exception is elite soloists, playing concertos. They usually perform by heart.
Even blind musicians are expected to read music – often in Braille. One blind woman told me that she’d had to give up music lessons because she was also dyslexic and couldn’t handle Braille music notation.
Meanwhile, in genres like pop, rock, blues and folk, many successful musicians don’t read music, or feel the need to. Paul McCartney, for example. And my husband Matthew, too.
Why play by heart?
Performing without a chart makes it easier to connect with your audience. You’re more present, more expressive, and more engaged.
In most popular music genres, you won’t see musicians using written music on stage—except maybe a keyboardist tucked in the back. Folk, blues, and traditional musicians often avoid sheet music on principle, even if they can read it.
Playing by ear also makes jamming more fun. You can tune in to the other musicians instead of staring at a page. And if you don’t know the music, you can still join in—just watch what chords others are playing.
A highly trained musician friend of mine finds it easier to watch other players than to follow chord charts.
Plus, let’s be honest: when you’re jamming at a party or campfire, there’s probably not enough light for sheet music anyway.
How to start playing by heart
- You don’t have to be an experienced musician to begin. In fact, the earlier you start, the better.
- Pick a song that you already know well.
- Choose a song that only has two or three chords.
- Learn the lyrics.
- Start by playing one line without looking at the music.
- When that’s solid, add another line – build it up gradually.
- Try memorising the chorus first and then tackle the verses.
Don’t expect to memorise the whole song in one go. Keep at it over for a week or two.
Pure freedom
That feeling—when you can play a whole song by heart—is pure freedom.
No song sheets. No barriers. Just you and the music.
And once you’ve learned one song… you’ll want to learn another. And another.
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