Memorizing of tunes

[BassplayerBrian]

I was interested in hearing what things you do when trying to memorize a tune, my teacher has recently been having me memorize tunes and he said he doesn't care how it happens, just to do it so I can be more free in the music, and I've been trying to memorize from the realbook and various leadsheets but as soon as I start playing(especially if I'm by myself) and TRYING to memorize, I don't want to play anymore, which is completely out of character because i absolutely love to play my bass, it's like it ruins the whole thing for me and disengages my ear. So I was wondering if you guys had other ways of memorizing that worked well for you?

[Dogbertday]

start very simple... blues and it's variations... then go with autumn leaves and analyze it...

play the 1357s of each chord in time as 8th notes until the changes are i your head... learn the melody... then put on a drum track, band in the box, or metronome and have at it

[seanm]

A couple of random suggestions:

1) Don't have the sheet music in front of you.

2) Listen the song over and over when doing other things. Let it sink in.

The problem with memorization, is that everybody does it differently. So you have to find a method that works for you.

[Asher S]

1. Ditto for listening to the piece many times. I have a playlist on my iPod of about 55 tunes (and growing) that I've matched to my Real Book index. I listen to that list again and again.
2. Play the tune again and again, at first with the music, then eventually you won't need the music. Just keep playing it until you find yourself not looking at the music.

[tranceFusion]

I don't see a point in just sitting there dumbly memorizing unless it is for a last minute gig or something.

Your teacher should be telling you about common chord progressions and rhythms and explaining how the bassline/progression is derived in particular songs. This is knowledge that will allow you to "memorize" a song much more quickly. Listening to a song or a piece of sheet music and saying "oh, that is a circle of fifths progression with a Samba beat" is much easier than sitting down trying to transcribe every single note and then memorize them.

There are alot of bad teachers out there, and there are also alot of teachers and students who have personalities that just don't mesh. If this teacher is making you hate playing, I would say that it falls into one of those categories. Tell him you hate it and see if he can make an adjustment. If he can't, find a new teacher.

Every week when I get done with my lesson, I am pumped for the rest of the day. My teacher continually re-invigorates my passion to play, but it took trying lessons with several other teachers before I found him.

[RJC1811]

I agree with trance, most songs can be narrowed down to some common patterns then you just have to learn any intricacies of specific tunes. Learning the melodies is great for your musicality and ear and when you put the two together the songs will just make sense.

I have noticed there are two types of players. Those that just bang out the notes (they may be good) and those that play music, like even their simple stuff sounds great. Ray Brown is the best example I can think of. Everything he played was just so musical and improved the song.

The thing that has helped me the most lately is singing what I want to play. I am an awful singer, poor voice quality and I can have pitch problems. But if I learn to sing the melody or bass part I have it. The great thing is that I don't have to have my bass in my hands to do that. I can be driving and learning tunes, then when I sit down with my bass it's a streamlined process. In fact just last week I didn't have time to learn a song before practice. I learned it in the car that day by singing the bass part. It was a simple tune, the theme from Psycho Beach Party (I play EBG is a surf band), but I got to practice, played it on my bass once and we did the song. I had it. That was the first time I had ever done that. I feel like this is going to take my playing to the next level.

Bob

[ZonGuy]

First, memorize the melody. Get it under your fingers and get it in your head, because you should sing the the melody as you play the harmonic accompaniment (or at least hear it in your head).

Second, analyze the piece - what are the chord progressions? Do you recognize any familiar cadences (i.e I/II/V). Autumn Leaves is pretty much a walk down in 4ths from Am to Em in the major scale of G or more correctly, the relative minor Em, with a little change on the bridge (2/5/1/4/7/3/6 . In many cases, complex tunes (ie "Round MIdnight") can be broken down into simpler components (II/V/I in minor) with a twist here and there. "All the Things You Are" has repeating melodic and harmonic patterns. As you become more aware of these patterns, they become second nature both to your ears and fingers.

Learn the big patterns and, one you have that down, then all you have to do is learn
whats different about the song. As an example, if I ask you to memorize the number 1415926535, you may have problems. But if I ask you to memorize, 975397531, you will probably find it easy. So..look for the patterns.

Three, integrate steps 1 and 2, and play the tune a few times, looking at the music to digest it fully and make sure you arent learning any mistakes which will need to be unlearned .

Four, close the music..and play it again. Test your memory. I often play the melody and then try to integrate back into a harmonic frame.

Five. Now that you know the tune, transpose it up and down. This really burns the pattern into your brain. It also gets you ready for singers that like to depart from the std keys.

Six: Play the song from memory every day for three days after you learned it. This will burn it in.

Self test yourself on remembering songs. Play the song, then improvise over the changes that you hear in your head.

If you really want to learn a lot of songs...try learning a new one every day, while keeping up with the old ones. The Stds from Real Book 1 is highly recommended place to start.


Good Luck.

[Alexi David]

Originally Posted by BassplayerBrian

I was interested in hearing what things you do when trying to memorize a tune, my teacher has recently been having me memorize tunes and he said he doesn't care how it happens, just to do it so I can be more free in the music, and I've been trying to memorize from the realbook and various leadsheets but as soon as I start playing(especially if I'm by myself) and TRYING to memorize, I don't want to play anymore, which is completely out of character because i absolutely love to play my bass, it's like it ruins the whole thing for me and disengages my ear. So I was wondering if you guys had other ways of memorizing that worked well for you?

You memorize tunes by playing them live, in front of an audience at least three times. The adrenalin that is released at a gig is a key thing for memory - which is another reason that Jazz schools don't work. And yes, I am a Galperite.

[hdiddy]

Many different approaches:

Me, I like analyzing the tune into abstract relationships (like roman numerals for chords) and figuring out tricks on how to get through the song in bass in a practical manner. Things like looking out for playing a iiV, and then going up a whole step and playing another iiV. A practical vs. theoretical approach through a tune and being able to do both.

More importantly, is to play the song through all twelve keys (or as many as possible). Yeah I'm a 12 keys guy. I do the following for each key:
1) Appegiate the changes
2) Run continuous 8th notes by just noodling to get the feel for it
3) Play the melody and try to nail it
4) Broken 2 feel
5) Walking lines
6) Play the root at the beginning of each bar. Should give you an idea of root motion.
7) Solo

Then in the same key, change the feel. First maybe try it uptempo, and go through 1-7. Then slow ballad style, 1-7. Then in waltz time. Then maybe in 5 or 7.\

Goal would be to hear the underlying chords and the melody during your solo at all times.

[Ed Fuqua]

Works for me, and a few other people...

[hdiddy]

Your method takes too damn long Ed.

[BassplayerBrian]

Thanks for all that information guys! I really appreciate it. Ed, thats a beastly way to learn tunes, I'll bet you never forget one hahaha.
However, I'd like to get a bunch of tunes under my belt quickly(people give some funny looks when a bassist brings a realbook to a jam session i've noticed haha) so that when I go to jams or to gigs and someone decides to call a last minute tune I'll be more likely to know it but that method you use Ed, I'll definitely apply it in the future.

As for common patterns he's gone over them with me and I feel fairly solid on them, so it may be just that I don't know how to memorize in a musical way cause it definitely seems to turn into just a big mind game with no ear involved at all so I'll give these methods a shot, and I'll let you know how it turns out!

Thanks again guys I really appreciate the advice!

[Jim Nazium]

Two things that work for me:

(1) As others have sad, break it down into common patterns. Autumn Leaves is a ii-V-I-IV in G major, followed by a ii-V-I in E minor. Repeat that for the second A section, then reverse it for the bridge, then play the A section again. Done!

(2) Memorize it one bit at a time. Start with the last 4 measures. Look at the chart, then turn it over and try to play the last 4 bars. When you've got them down, do the last 8, then the last 12 etc. That way you've practiced the end of the song the most, so when you perform, you'll be getting into more familiar territory as you go along.

[Ed Fuqua]

The thing about the method I outline is that it really helps you HEAR tunes, not memorize them. You work on 4 or 5 tunes at this depth, you start being able to hear your way through so many other tunes, of the piano player knows them well enough.

The reason I can play a bunch of tunes ISN'T because I memorised them all....

[BassplayerBrian]

So many choices to pick from now haha, and Ed you make a good point there, sounds like a really functional way to learn. They all sound like great ways to learn, would utilizing multiple methods work well you think? Or would that confuse most people to attempt that?

[JohnMCA72]

Here's what works for me, whether it's memorizing bass lines or a speech, lyrics, lines in a play, etc.

First thing is, I know that as long as I have the script/tabs/lyrics/sheet music in front of me, it's going to be a crutch. I can never memorize anything until I wean myself off the crutch.

So, that means I have to simplify things considerably, because I'm just never going to memorize an entire song/speech perfectly, the first time. I have to reduce it to its essence, to where I can just get through the song without stomping all over any major chord/key changes, etc. Once I'm comfortable with the basics, I'll add embellishments of my own where I think they'll work.

What I end up with is my own interpretation rather than just a note-for-note copy. After I've gotten my version down pretty well, sooner or later I'll refer back to the original tabs/recording/etc. to see if there's something there that I can use. Sometimes, what I've come up with on my own is surprisingly close to what the original called for, anyway. If it's something that absolutely, positively, has to be played a particular way, or if there are original elements that I like, I'll add them in a little at a time, so that it isn't overwhelming.

That's the key for me, though, to simplify first, then embellish.

JM

[PeachinRegalia]

The greatest method of memorizing tunes is to understand them. Ed's method is amazing (think I'm gonna try it) and it also gives you the background of listening, playing and learning all at once.

Load the songs you want to learn to your ipod, and if you're walking in the street, sing the bass line, tap it with your fingers or think the variations you would make if you were the one who's playing.

[jolkszost]

a few things that have helped me learn tunes:

As stated you should listen to the most basic version of the standard you can find, preferably vocal with all the right lyrics. If you learn the lyrics, you will probably learn the melody w/o realizing it. Then sing it.
Learn tunes on the piano. Hearing the changes while you're playing the melody helps you get it in your head that much faster. Also singing the melody while playing the changes on piano, guitar, or if possible while walking the changes all help you Hear the harmony and how it relates to the melody.
The more tunes you learn, the more tunes you'll learn. As you learn more tunes in the jazz idiom, you internalize the vernacular, you learn the language, and once you really start to fall in love with the tunes, its like nothing. The most important thing you can do is listen to as much of the music as possible, sing along, and I mean really fall in love with the music.
Jazz tunes do the same things over and over. A good way to realize this is to learn each tune in numbers or numerals, and also learn each tune in the original as well as your favorite key immediately.
Also, if you figure out a couple standards by ear, you will be well rewarded. Keep in mind that all the greats didn't have realbooks. Its all about your ears.

[jallenbass]

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

The thing about the method I outline is that it really helps you HEAR tunes, not memorize them. You work on 4 or 5 tunes at this depth, you start being able to hear your way through so many other tunes, of the piano player knows them well enough.

The reason I can play a bunch of tunes ISN'T because I memorised them all....

Ed - You've made reference in the past to other ear training exercises that you do. Are you able to describe them as well?

[Ed Fuqua]

There's a couple of threads around where I've done that, gimme a second...