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Yup. I make a playlist of the lyric versions of the songs in Youtube and I listen to them over and over and over...
Lot's of advice here...
But do you play by ear, do you know theory, can you read music, what is your level, have you played in a band before, have you played live before?
First things I would do is know which version of the song they are expecting. But still listen to everything the original band made. Studio, live...
Then do I learn it by ear or by chart? Is the band doing it in the original key?
After deciding I would make a plan. What is the form of the song. Write it down. You'll remember it more easily if you write it down and understand where it is going rather then guessing...
Are there part of the song that are exactly the same?
When do they happen? Always at the same time or not?
Learn the first few sentence of that part to know where you are. Is it first, second or third.
Once I have figure it out I listen to the song. Making sure my plan is good.
Then learn the most important part. The fills should be last.
Say intro, verse x2, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, chorus x2, ending. If you learn verses and chorus you have more then 75% learnt, then maybe the intro is a variation of the verse or chorus, it's one more down and so on.
Repeat for all of them.
Yes the first time is hard second time also but after a while it gets easy.
Don't give up!
But do you play by ear, do you know theory, can you read music, what is your level, have you played in a band before, have you played live before?
First things I would do is know which version of the song they are expecting. But still listen to everything the original band made. Studio, live...
Then do I learn it by ear or by chart? Is the band doing it in the original key?
After deciding I would make a plan. What is the form of the song. Write it down. You'll remember it more easily if you write it down and understand where it is going rather then guessing...
Are there part of the song that are exactly the same?
When do they happen? Always at the same time or not?
Learn the first few sentence of that part to know where you are. Is it first, second or third.
Once I have figure it out I listen to the song. Making sure my plan is good.
Then learn the most important part. The fills should be last.
Say intro, verse x2, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, chorus x2, ending. If you learn verses and chorus you have more then 75% learnt, then maybe the intro is a variation of the verse or chorus, it's one more down and so on.
Repeat for all of them.
Yes the first time is hard second time also but after a while it gets easy.
Don't give up!
Lots of good replies. I'll add, as a general rule, to make sure you nail the beginning and end. Fumbling in the middle can fly under the radar if you get off to a good start, and end it cleanly. Obviously, any breakdowns to bass-only or bass & drum should be done well.
Also, aim for the feel. Wrong notes shockingly are less noticeable than missing the groove. If you do hit a sour note, you're only one fret away from a better one.
Also, aim for the feel. Wrong notes shockingly are less noticeable than missing the groove. If you do hit a sour note, you're only one fret away from a better one.
Fastest I found is to start without playing, by writing down the structure of the song, e.g. :
4 bars Intro (Dm)
16 bars Verse (2Am 2E 2D 2G)x2
4 bars break
16 bars Verse (2Am 2E 2Dm 2G)x2
16 bars chorus (2Am 2C 2G 2G)x2
etc...
Then identify how each part is played. If I'm in a rush I start by learning the simplest possible version that works for each part. If you have the structure, you may take shortcuts in the part, it will still sound OK. If you fail the structure, you're doomed
4 bars Intro (Dm)
16 bars Verse (2Am 2E 2D 2G)x2
4 bars break
16 bars Verse (2Am 2E 2Dm 2G)x2
16 bars chorus (2Am 2C 2G 2G)x2
etc...
Then identify how each part is played. If I'm in a rush I start by learning the simplest possible version that works for each part. If you have the structure, you may take shortcuts in the part, it will still sound OK. If you fail the structure, you're doomed
^ = nailed it! learning to read = a few minutes to chart a tune instead of a few days to 'remember' how it goes = done!
after you've played a tune enough, you can forego the manuscript.while i have a good ear: my memory isn't what it used to be, so i chart anything which might threaten my recall abilities (more and more all of the time!). i write important bass lines in the measures where they go, rhythm hits, and of course the changes.
Chef
In Memoriam
I start with charting them.
Write the full arrangement out, chord progressions at a minimum, bass line added is better.
At least for me, writing really builds memory.
Then, listen many times, and play along as many times as you can.
Write the full arrangement out, chord progressions at a minimum, bass line added is better.
At least for me, writing really builds memory.
Then, listen many times, and play along as many times as you can.
You should know them now 
so good luck for your audition
may the bass be with you
Wise(b)ass
so good luck for your audition
may the bass be with you
Wise(b)ass
JRA and Chef nailed it. I had 6 weeks to learn 40+ tunes and, they included the likes of Steely Dan, Toto, Kansas, Peter Gabriel, etc; not three chord tunes by any stretch. I didn't transcribe the bass lines but wrote out chord charts with the form and specific rhythms if there was a break or unison line. As has been mentioned, writing it really helps cement it in memory. Plus, you can go back and read it.
All of that is useless if you don't know your notes on the neck or what a measure is or form. Learn the fundamentals of reading rhythm and understand form; it's not rocket science; elementary school kids do it! You don't even need to worry about the notes on the staff at first, but you need to know the notes on the fretboard and rhythm.
Lastly, STAY AWAY FROM TAB! It's a curse to be so dependent on. And, most of the posted ones ARE WRONG.
Good luck.
All of that is useless if you don't know your notes on the neck or what a measure is or form. Learn the fundamentals of reading rhythm and understand form; it's not rocket science; elementary school kids do it! You don't even need to worry about the notes on the staff at first, but you need to know the notes on the fretboard and rhythm.
Lastly, STAY AWAY FROM TAB! It's a curse to be so dependent on. And, most of the posted ones ARE WRONG.
Good luck.
