How do you memorize Songs?

[Nightman]

Actually, I don’t try to memorize a song. That will happen after x many times from playing the song the same way.
What I’ve done was first memorized/learned the major and minor chords and their 3 note patterns on the two low strings (E and A) of the fingerboard from the Open up to the 7th fret. This becomes easier when you discover the patters are basically the same.
Once you have learned these, then further learning the diatonic scales so that you can begin to incorporate other chord tones into your playing.
With this information you only need to write down the song’s chords progressions per root/bass note and indicate, by some means that you understand, the rhythm of the bass line. Further deeper dives into basic music notation, durations, time signature, rhythm patterns and standard chords progression will be helpful.
So, bottom line for me was, I only needed to learn/memorize chord intervals and their patterns on the fretboard, then how to write out a cheat sheet of a song and retain it.
No quick and easy way to memorize songs other than playing them over and over again, but you need more tools in your bass playing tool box than just that technique.

 

[lermgalieu]

Some of it possibly, but for the most part I doubt it - mainly pop tunes from the last 60 years. Some are more complex than others, but I even score out the simple stuff. They are rarely 'note-for-note' with respect to any particular recording; rather they represent what I play in my arrangements, with certain liberties taken in actual performance. Here's a few examples from the simple to less-simple:

Ah gotcha. These would be cool to have/do for what I learn. I think I am unfortunately far too lazy (although if pressed, I would also say I am too "busy")

 

[Jeff Hughes]

I have found many bass parts are pretty repetitive. Some Jamerson and McCartney parts are quite the opposite though. So once you know the basic groove from listening and practicing, I make it a point to try to play it without the track to see if I really know it.

Learning formats of songs is a whole other thing. You can spend hours repeating and memorizing only to have the song cut. It may have been good practice, but mostly it was a waste of time if it meant there were other things you had to work on.

Charting a song out even if it is in chord structure alone implants the song in your mind because you are seeing it and feeling your way through it. I usually find that by the end I have a pretty good basis for the whole format or I can at least follow someone who knows it really well.

 

[Jason Hollar]

Some tunes come to me right away - like I’ve been playing them for years. Others seem to take decades to work out. I’ll let you know when I figure it out!

 

[bigdaddybass12]

Easy…. Practice over & over & over & over

 

[SLO Surfer]

Simple questions are often not easily answered.
This to me is one of those.
I would like to understand the ways that more experienced bass players do this.
When I played Saxophone/clarinet in a big band situation we always had a chart in front of us. As a result I can read treble clef very well and I am working on bringing bass clef to the same level.

As much as being able to read is a huge asset it can have some draw backs.
So this is why I am asking…. How do you memorize your parts?

I figure it out by ear and write it down in standard notation. Then I’ll practice along with a recording while reading my chart until I know I can physically play all the parts in order (sometimes I skip this part if the parts are physically easy to play). Then I’ll practice along with a recording by memory. Whenever I make a mistake, I stop the recording and start the song over again from the beginning until I can get through the whole song by memory.

I used to skip writing it down, but I’ve found that process makes memorizing way quicker.

 

[BBQV]

Barely is the short answer…
Seriously though, if I don’t have much time I’ll write it down. Chords, important fills and unison stuff, as well as the song structure.
Then I play it over and over again until it’s stuck in my head.
If it’s a one-off I play through the set list in the right order a couple of times the day before the show.
I try to avoid reading on stage, I want to focus on playing and looking the part.

 

[HardNHeavy]

ironically music is apparently good for alsthiemers /dementia, '.... My guitarist has a terrible time memorizing songs we played for 10yrs and every week its like starting all over. I try to bring new songs to noodle with to keep things new and fresh. He hates that i have a good ear for music....GOnna send him a link to this thread...some good info here.

 

[Koshchei]

Simple questions are often not easily answered.
This to me is one of those.
I would like to understand the ways that more experienced bass players do this.
When I played Saxophone/clarinet in a big band situation we always had a chart in front of us. As a result I can read treble clef very well and I am working on bringing bass clef to the same level.

As much as being able to read is a huge asset it can have some draw backs.
So this is why I am asking…. How do you memorize your parts?

Brute force. I re-notate them so that I have the pages in my mind's eye, play through them until I can't mess them up, then record them, and listen back critically.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Simple questions are often not easily answered.
This to me is one of those.
I would like to understand the ways that more experienced bass players do this.
When I played Saxophone/clarinet in a big band situation we always had a chart in front of us. As a result I can read treble clef very well and I am working on bringing bass clef to the same level.

As much as being able to read is a huge asset it can have some draw backs.
So this is why I am asking…. How do you memorize your parts?

I listen. Once I know the song, learning how to play it comes as natural as walking.

 

[ToneMonkey]

I chart everything out strictly for my benefit. I keep charts on my iPad. Then I shed with the goal of having things memorized before a gig. But it's been so damned long since I had a gig... I use my iPad a lot.

 

[Paul New]

 

[Nathan in NJ]

I figure it out by ear and write it down in standard notation. Then I’ll practice along with a recording while reading my chart until I know I can physically play all the parts in order (sometimes I skip this part if the parts are physically easy to play). Then I’ll practice along with a recording by memory. Whenever I make a mistake, I stop the recording and start the song over again from the beginning until I can get through the whole song by memory.

I used to skip writing it down, but I’ve found that process makes memorizing way quicker.

That's interesting you've found that taking the time to write it down is a net time saver in the long run. I always don't want to "waste" time writing it down, I spend all my time on the playing and memorization. It never occurred to me that writing it down saves time spent on memorization, but it makes sense now that you say it.

 

[Mayo Fan]

You folks have come up with great ideas and I am going to try all of them and see what works best for me.
Have any of you ever been told what song they want you to learn but have changed the key from how it was recorded to fit their vocal range ?

You can not find the song in that key anywhere so you have to listen to it as it was recorded but have the new chords in front of you they want you to play it in. I used to listen to it just for timing reasons and when I play my fretted bass it worked out ok.

Now that I am using my fretless more I find this practise idea no longer works for me.
Has any one else had this challenge and what was your outcome ?

You could check out the Moises app. After loading an mp3 into it you can change the pitch and you can also leave out the bass completely (or solo it for that matter). There are probably more apps with these features.

 

[SteveCS]

That's interesting you've found that taking the time to write it down is a net time saver in the long run. I always don't want to "waste" time writing it down, I spend all my time on the playing and memorization. It never occurred to me that writing it down saves time spent on memorization, but it makes sense now that you say it.

It absolutely does. Not only time to good memorisation, but also fewer mistakes in performance, increased long-term retention and accuracy/completeness of detailed recall over much much longer periods, even when not playing those tunes - the gift that keeps on giving.

 

[Leigh Semmens]

All I can say is, "I WISH!" Some songs I've played so often that I could play them in my sleep, however, I still need a chart to keep me on the straight and narrow! Back in the day I could remember a 15 digit number for as long as I needed it, and then promptly forget it. I know the melodies to over a thousand songs, however, don't ask me to play them without a chart as I still have no idea what key most of them were in or the changes. Even if they are a simple I IV V pattern that changes to a I V IV half way through, I'll mess it up. My ear is terrible. For years I would stand behind the keys and just follow him. Not so much these days. My short term memory is still pretty good but getting it into the bit where it is there forever.......... End of rant!

Seriously, there are some very good tips here and I am going to work on them in the hope that I can break down this wal!

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

My approach is to write my part out in full in standard notation. The process of writing, checking and editing gets it into memory very quickly, with better accuracy and more reliable long-term recall. If I do forget something, a quick glance at the score and it all comes flooding back.

YMMV

I do exactly the same.

I try to get off the chart as soon as possible and run it a couple of times with the chart, then just glancing at it here and there, and finally no looking and just go back and review the parts I missed.

 

[LiptonJigglers]

Practice makes permanent.

 

[Groove Doctor]

I write chord charts for a solid song structure framework. Either in that specific key or using I, IV, V, vi etc format. Sometimes both if needed.

A lot of repetition in song structure and bass lines so no need to write it down every repeat. I’ll write the specific notes/rhythm pattern too if it’s a bit complex, often a 1-2 bar phrase or pattern to jog my memory.

Learn to play it note for note (or as best as you want to) from the audio. I slow it down with an app called Amazing Slow Downer to hear the line better. I sometimes transpose it up an octave if the bass is buried in the mix.


My special tip:-
1. Play it with audio and chart.
2. Play it with just the audio.
3. Play it with just the chart.
4. Play it with no audio or chart, purely from memory.

 

[foal30]

My approach is to write my part out in full in standard notation. The process of writing, checking and editing gets it into memory very quickly, with better accuracy and more reliable long-term recall. If I do forget something, a quick glance at the score and it all comes flooding back.

YMMV

Strongly agree

I firmly believe writing/transcription is “Deep Practice”.