Neate was born in London, and studied the piano with John Field and composition with Joseph Wölfl.
Beethoven, unable to give lessons to Neate, recommended him to Emanuel Aloys Förster, but regularly supervised Neate's musical studies; they met in Baden bei Wien, where Beethoven stayed during the summer of 1815.
[2][3][4][5] In 1818 Neate was a founding member of the Regent’s Harmonic Institution; a music publishing firm established with the intent of raising funds for the Royal Philharmonic Society and its restoration of the Argyll Rooms.
[6] In December 1824 Neate wrote to Beethoven, on behalf of the Philharmonic Society, inviting him to come to London: The Philharmonic Society is willing to pay you three hundred guineas for your visit, expecting that you will yourself conduct the performances of your works, of which one must be heard in every concert.
But... we cannot avoid saying, that the subject-matter is decidedly unequal to the extent over which it has spread...."[9] His Capriccio for the Pianoforte, on a German Air was reviewed in 1828: "Mr. Neate is one of those excellent musicians whose sterling worth is not to be injured, nor his judgement misled by the commands of fashion.
He is judicious in yielding enough to the present taste, not to be behind-hand in the refinements effected by the progression of art, but he selects those improvements that suit well with his own elegant and expressive style; all this is exemplified in his capriccio.
The Minuet and Trio have both a great deal of that very rare commodity, originality, and abound in spirit well kept up....
This work requires a superior pianist to execute it, but it exhibits none of those freaks which only the contriver of them can play...."[11] A writer in the magazine The Musical World gives a particular impression of the musician: "I recall... Charles Neate, one of the best informed but most egotistical of pianists, whose admiration for, and acquaintance with, Beethoven made his society at all times enjoyable.... Neate introduced into England many celebrated works of Beethoven, Weber and Hummel – and he did not forget, when you were in his society, to let you know it.