Methods of Memorizing Tunes

[emilio g]

I'm in music school for Jazz Performance on double bass, I play in a cover band, and an original band. I'm also a closet classical bass junkie. So, at any given time, I'm working on a lot of music.

When it comes to memorization, melodies tend to stick in my head easily. The classical music, any bass lines I transcribe, standard melodies, etc.

Chord changes however take A LOT more work. I've got to play them on piano (I'm not a piano player at all), arpeggiate them on bass, learn them by function, and even then, I usually need to go back and relearn them.

So basically, I'm always looking for ways to refine my process of learning chord changes.

What do you guys do?

[Aaron Cohn]

Try learning the chord changes as melodies. For most standards you don't need much information other than the bass line and the melody. That's two melodies to learn. You can also think of any other harmonic content you need melodically.

[bassbuddie]

You can look at this thread.
Why memorizing a tune

[Will Yager]

Fitz has a great method on his site

[emilio g]

That thread actually inspired this one! I've been that guy at the jam session that doesn't know any tunes and its a drag.

I'm always pushing to learn that next tune, but I could always use advice on how to learn them faster or more permanently. Particularly the latter.

[Ike Harris]

I was inspired by a blind piano player early on who could do a single rehearsal with a singer and do an entire show from memory that night. The thing with standard 32 bar tunes in aaba form is to learn the A section, which is 8 bars - let's say, I Got Rhythm(rhythm changes), 1-6-2-5, repeat, 1-3-4-4# 5-5-1-1(bassline only), then repeat that section, go to bridge - start on 3 and it's just cyclical for another 8 bars - 3 - 6 - 2 - 5. Then back to the A section and that's it.

For simplicity, I'm leaving out minor, major and chord inversions just to illustrate the bassline, but that's a basic structure of a standard tune. Learn the A section, which can be cyclical(c-f-Bb,etc - up in 4ths) or some other relative chord sequence, repeat the section, then, even just knowing the 1st chord of the bridge can be a good clue - play the bridge, then replay the A section. I've learned hundreds of tunes on the stand with this method, either by just listening, having someone giving me these clues beforehand, or by watching the piano/guitar player. I tend to pay more attention to the lower end for the structure of the tune, but you can get some good clues to the changes also by hearing the melody - usually to me it's a little more subtle that way.

Almost 40 years later, I'm still learning new tunes - the more interesting or off the beaten path the better. It astounds me that there are still great, experienced players out there that have to read everything just to play tunes. I came along before all the real books surfaced and had to develop a system to keep up with all the seasoned pros to survive and always encourage young players to do likewise.

Ike

[jweiss]

Originally Posted by Will Yager

Fitz has a great method on his site

Do you have a link?

[pasta4lnch]

this may be TOTAL bogus, but I read somewhere that light brain stimulation in the morning and at night will increase your capacity to remember things (as well as other benefits) like playing a puzzle, or memory video game on yahoo or something.

I've always had a problem w/ this - but mostly because I've only started playing live recently (been playing for years) probably just nerves . . .

[Bass Catcher]

Originally Posted by jweiss

Do you have a link?

I think we're talking about Chris Fitzgerald's method. I think you can find a link to his website in his profile.

I have used his method to learn tunes since I read about it a while ago. It's a good and thorough way to learn something. I highly recommend it.

Matt

[jweiss]

Originally Posted by Bass Catcher

I think we're talking about Chris Fitzgerald's method. I think you can find a link to his website in his profile.

I have used his method to learn tunes since I read about it a while ago. It's a good and thorough way to learn something. I highly recommend it.

Matt

Thanks Matt - I had seen it before but had not bookmarked it. Here it is:

http://chrisfitzgeraldmusic.com/gall...lbumID=7&id=31

Cheers,

Jeff