So I've just joined a band and I have to learn 5 songs (Flourescent Adolecent, Smells Like Teen Spirit, About a Girl and Lithium). I have no experience with any of these songs and remembering songs has always been my weak point. Does anyone have any advice for learning songs and remembering them, especially in a small amout of time as the next band practice is on the 25th, 3 days from now.
Well my line of work usually brings me in situations where I have to learn up to 50 tunes the day before the gig even.
In your case, you have enough time to do it easy.
What I usually do (or always do) is write bass lead sheets for every unknown tune. If there are any specific lines to be played, write them down into the lead sheet, write in the chords (although you only need the basic tones, no need to trouble with chord qualities if you have a good ear, that's how I do it).
This is a very effective way of doing it (nevermind the fact that I am completely against this "day before the gig" business as it negatively effects your full potential as a musician or a band as a whole) and it will get you through anything. Though it requires you to be a good sight reader. This is something you have to practice a lot.
Once you can read, you can get through anything. Takes a while to write the sheets though, I always end up receiving the repertoire list the day before the gig or 2 days before and then have to work like crazy to write 50 tunes down but believe me, once you get a hold of it, it becomes a routine.
Welcome to the life of session musicians!
P.S.: I just returned from the seaside in Croatia playing in a club every day for a week or so and I have been given the repertoire list on the day I was supposed to travel there (which was the day before the first gig). I got a 40 song list, of which I knew less then 10 tunes. Wrote the lead sheets in the bus, listening to recordings and helping myself with the garage band piano on the keyboard for pitch (no perfect pitch sadly), in an 8 hour bus ride. At the end of the week, I played almost every tune on that list with no help from the lead sheets.
Good luck!
Edit: Smells Like Teen Shovel and Lithium is very simple. The same bass line through the whole tune, just listen to it a few times and it should be quite clear.
Another idea is to help yourself with lyrics. Usually all of these alternative genre tunes have a simple A and B part for the whole tune. Just learn these specific parts and then pay attention to the lyrics. Will bring you there faster.
