"There are 3 TRUTHS
that will greatly help you excel in your gospel piano playing by ear. Let me explain...
This is what it all boils down to if you want to learn how to play worship music by ear...

Truth #1 ... You Have to Learn Patterns ...

Gospel music is all about patterns, my friend. If you ask
any experienced musician about learning new songs, they will
agree that the same chords are used over and over again in
song after song. I wish I could brag about how I learn every
new chord "that comes out" but you know what ...?

Chords don't come out.
Progressions don't come out. They've been here for
decades and they will always be the same.

New songs will come out with different combinations of
chords but what it all boils down to is getting to the point
where you can recognize recurring patterns within any song.
These small patterns ... or chord progressions ... or
"couples" will enable you to learn any song by ear ---
regardless of how complex you think the song is.

Truth #2


You Have to Know What Major Key The Patterns Originate
From...

See... once you've determined which patterns are at work,
the next battle is to determine what major key the song is
being played in. There are twelve major keys just like there
are twelve major scales. A song can only be in one key at a
time.

Songs may change keys (for example, from "Db
major" to "Eb
major") but can only be in one distinct key at any given
time. And trust me... as you listen to a song, you should be
able to hum (with your own voice) this key out loud and it
should fit in at all places during the song.

Next, you'd basically transfer what you are humming to the
piano and find the single note that matches your voice. This
is what I recommend for people just starting out.
Experienced musicians will find the major key of a song
within 3 seconds without humming but there has never been a
time I haven't been able to help a beginning musician
understand this concept of key signatures.
Keep reading and you'll learn it too...

Truth #3



You Have to Know How to Hear These Patterns In "Real-life"
Songs



I'm going to repeat myself time and time again.
SONGS OPERATE BY PATTERNS and until you learn to
recognize these patterns in songs, you'll be in the same
boat.

Asking people for chords to new songs will only help so
long. There will come a time when you're going to have to
step out on faith and learn these songs on your own.



... And I'm here to tell you that it's not as hard as you
think."