Meaning & use
play by ear
Last updated
Meanings
phraseintransitive
To perform music from memory or by instinct, without reading written notation.
Grammar: Intransitive; often used with 'can' or 'be able to' to describe ability.
Patterns
- play by ear
- play something by ear
She can play any song by ear after hearing it once.
He doesn't read music; he plays by ear.
The pianist played the entire piece by ear.
phraseintransitivefigurative
To decide how to act as events happen, without a fixed plan.
Grammar: Often used as 'play it by ear' with the pronoun 'it'.
Patterns
- play it by ear
- play things by ear
We don't have a schedule; we'll just play it by ear.
Since the weather is unpredictable, let's play it by ear.
I haven't decided what to do; I'll play it by ear.
Common combinations
- play it by ear
- We'll play it by ear and decide when we get there.
- able to play by ear
- Not many musicians are able to play by ear.
- play a tune by ear
- He can play a tune by ear after just one listen.
Synonyms and how they differ
- improvise
- Improvise means to create or perform spontaneously, often in music or other arts; 'play by ear' specifically refers to playing without notation or deciding without a plan.
Opposites
Practice
What does 'play it by ear' mean in a non-musical context?
Choose one answer.
In a non-musical context, 'play it by ear' means to decide on a course of action as events unfold, without a fixed plan. Option 0 confuses it with listening, option 2 is the musical meaning, and option 3 is unrelated.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “play by ear”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.