> as lemmas

1658 J. Playford Breif Introd. Skill Musick (new ed.) ii. 78 To learn to play by rote or ear without book.

1672 M. Locke Observ. Ess. Advancem. Mus. 14 To assist those who learn by Ear only.

1759 Mod. Part Universal Hist. VIII. xi. viii. 240 Music is no better understood at Siam that astronomy: they use no notes; and compose, as well as sing, by ear.

1762 T. Sheridan Course Lect. Elocution 192 Some..may learn a few tunes by ear, but the generality will produce nothing but discord, like those who touch the keys of an harpsicord at random.

1845 E. Holmes Life Mozart 26 A lady asked him if he could accompany by ear an Italian Cavatina..[he] accompanied it with the bass without the least embarrassment.

1873 L. Troubridge Life amongst Troubridges (1966) 7 She plays the piano beautifully and can play anything by ear.

1959 I. Gershwin Lyrics on Several Occasions 5 Soon other London bands were playing it more or less correctly by ear, since the published song hadn't been released there.

1960 C. Day Lewis Buried Day ii. 39 From childhood I could pick up a melody by ear.

1999 BBC Music Mag. Apr. 49/1 His father is a butler by profession and both parents play the piano (father by ear, mother from music).

2007 Hoosier Times (Bloomington, Indiana) 18 Feb. (Herald-Times ed.) a4/1 Tunes not transcribed into sheet music and learned by ear.