Joe, the key question is, how serious are you about this? Most ask about it, sound like they get it and a year later, they're back here in the forums asking the same questions. Others have given you great advice with some detailed info to learn. No need for me to add to that, I'll write in broader strokes.

I don't know if you travel much but can you travel to Mexico for vacation and get by without knowing a word of Spanish? Sure, but you'll be fumbling around a lot and using Google Translate on your phone.

Music is a language both written and spoken no different than any other languague. Can't speak a lick of music? You'll never get beyond where you're at now. Yes, we all can point to monster players we've heard about over the years who can't read or understand theory. Forget those people. they're what's been referred to as "Transcendental Geniuses". Joey DeFrancisco is merely the latest one I heard about a few years ago. Probably the best jazz organist of this era and he can't read a note. But wait, there's more! That's not the full story. His father is Papa John DeFrancisco. A killer player in his own right. He was bringing Joey into clubs and having him sit in when he was 10-12 years old. Most of these monsters we've heard of who can't read have similar backgrounds. If you've grown up in the business since you could walk well, that's a bit of an advantage dontcha think? So ignore those people, using them as an example of why you don't need to study doesn't apply to you.

Herb, you said a very important thing. You did take lessons as a child. That's where you got your ability to hear this stuff, you may not belive that now but I think it's true. It all started there. It's like me. I took accordian lessons for about 4 years as a child and played in a 36 piece accordian orchestra. We won first place in the Western States Accordian Festival on Catalina Island in 1957 and again in 58. We did Toccata and Fugue in Dm and Victory At Sea. I played 2nd Trombone and had to transpose the parts to concert pitch in my head.

When I got to high school about the most uncool thing you could be was an accordian player so I quit and didn't play a note until I was in the Air Force in Japan in 1964. I sat at a piano in the Airman's Club and played Baby Elephant Walk from a Mancini book that was laying there. It was tricky because I hadn't looked at any music since I was 13 but I managed and a guy came up and asked if I wanted to play in his band and that's how it started with me. You can't fake stuff like that, I learned basic reading and some theory as a kid and it sticks with you.

One more story that illustrates the points others have made here. About 10-12 years ago I get a call from a very good sax player friend who has an impressive resume as a session player in Philly in the 60's. His name is Lucky Wright, maybe you knew him Notes. He asked if I could be a rehearsal pianist in his big band because their guy was in the hosiptal. I said I can't read big band charts, those things are a bear. He said don't worry about it, you know chords, voicings and have a good rhythmic feel, you'll do fine. So I showed up and he was right. It's true I missed a lot of the written in piano licks and trying to figure out 1st/2nd endings and jumping to a coda in a 7 page chart was impossible for me but as far as the overall songs, it was basically the same stuff I've played for years so no problem, when I got lost I faked it ok because I know song structure and have ears. And I did recognize some of those tunes and remembered some of those piano licks and faked them too, haha. Everybody was happy, I did several rehearsals until their guy recovered and returned. That stint got me a regular paying gig in another big band and I still work with them to this day. Those charts are still very tough to read but I pretty much know all that stuff now so it's no big deal. So, in addition to being a classic rock, funk, country, fusion, jazz player, I'm also a big band pianist. Who knew?

Like everybody elae has said that's simply experience backed up by theory.

To be blunt, you have to learn what you have to learn Joe or keep being an unfulfilled wannabe who thinks he should be more than that. I know that sounds a little harsh but since I've been accused before of being as subtle as a train wreck, there it is. It's no doubt harder when you're older. As a kid you're told to shut up and do as your told or face the consequences. As an older adult you have to really want it and motivate yourself.

Soooo...

Bob

Biab/RB latest build, Win 11 Pro, Ryzen 5 5600 G, 512 Gig SSD, 16 Gigs Ram, Steinberg UR22 MkII, Roland Sonic Cell, Kurzweil PC3, Hammond SK1, Korg PA3XPro, Garritan JABB, Hypercanvas, Sampletank 3, more.