A good advice I was once given was 'one song a day, never two'. In my case it seems that day is often not enough, so it's 'one song at a time, never more'.
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How to memorize songs
- Thread starter Mikel9478
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I start by playing along to a recording. For my own songs, I play to practice tracks I make.
I have to disagree. Learning to read is a very valuable skill but sometimes learning a song by ear is a more efficient way to internalize something. Until only a few hundred years ago, people memorized long poems or pieces of music with no reading whatsoever. Epic myths and such. I think it also depends on what kind of music the OP is referring to. After years of trial and error, I’ve found the best way to learn a song is to first learn to sing it, then learn it on the instrument, then write it down in standard notation. Being able to play unknown music on the spot, then yes, learning to read is a must. But for me learning a song, and sight reading a song are related but also very different. Bonus points if you learn it, then transpose it to a new key. That’s really learning it.
I'll make a playlist of songs I need to learn and listen to it in the car, at work, etc etc etc until the song structures are ingrained. When I sit down to practice, I like to do a simple chart of each song - just the root chords and any little notes about the song. Then I go back and play them over again as many times as it takes to have them committed to muscle memory. One thing I've found over the years is that learning new music is a skill. The more you do it, the easier it becomes. I learn songs much more quickly than I used to. Also, your ear develops to a point where you can hear the interval of the change and just move to that note without even thinking about it.
Learn the Nashville Number System - at least, the basic gist of it
It helps immensely with pattern recognition but it will also help you discover that the arrangements of a great many songs are basically similar - and often even the same - as many other songs. Often, the basslines are similar too. Pretty soon, youll just be thinking "Oh, its another 1 - 4 - 6 - 5 pop song" or "Oh this bassline is similar to I Farted by Depeche Commode with a different groove"
It helps immensely with pattern recognition but it will also help you discover that the arrangements of a great many songs are basically similar - and often even the same - as many other songs. Often, the basslines are similar too. Pretty soon, youll just be thinking "Oh, its another 1 - 4 - 6 - 5 pop song" or "Oh this bassline is similar to I Farted by Depeche Commode with a different groove"
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I'll second learning the NNS (Nashville Number System)
There are a couple of reasons. First, it solidifies a certain understanding of theory, at least in terms of chords and their relationship numerically to the key center. I find that understanding a song on a theoretical level is a kind of mnemonic that makes it easier to memorize the entire song. Like if each verse is a I V vi IV then you can just remember that and apply it to each verse, as an example.
But second, there's something about writing it out by hand on paper that helps the process of memorization.
B
There are a couple of reasons. First, it solidifies a certain understanding of theory, at least in terms of chords and their relationship numerically to the key center. I find that understanding a song on a theoretical level is a kind of mnemonic that makes it easier to memorize the entire song. Like if each verse is a I V vi IV then you can just remember that and apply it to each verse, as an example.
But second, there's something about writing it out by hand on paper that helps the process of memorization.
B
Sheer repetition...bonus points if I'm in an ensemble setting as I strive to complement the vocal phrasing. If truly a dry run, I just jot down the chord progression on a steno pad and flip the pages as the set unfolds.
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- Feb 23, 2018
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Jeff Berlin said that you should play along with a piece and the moment you make a mistake, you go immediately back and play it again, until you don't make that mistake anymore.
Though that's probably one of the driest ways to learn something.
I personally have different methods for different songs. If the bass line is very repetitive, I tend to just learn the basic line once on its own, and then listen to the songs and try to remember all the nuances.
If the line is a bit more complicated, or there's too much changing constantly, then I'm considering how important the line is to the song. I would either painfully learn the entire thing by ear, or I would just do my own version, when the bass line is a bit more fluid and not that much the anchor of the song.
When the song is really simple in general, then I just learn the chords and do what feels right.
For those songs I also always get a chord sheet, because I don't have to memorize them that thoroughly, if they're that simple. And I only do that, because my time is limited. If it weren't, I would just simply learn everything to perfection...
Though that's probably one of the driest ways to learn something.
I personally have different methods for different songs. If the bass line is very repetitive, I tend to just learn the basic line once on its own, and then listen to the songs and try to remember all the nuances.
If the line is a bit more complicated, or there's too much changing constantly, then I'm considering how important the line is to the song. I would either painfully learn the entire thing by ear, or I would just do my own version, when the bass line is a bit more fluid and not that much the anchor of the song.
When the song is really simple in general, then I just learn the chords and do what feels right.
For those songs I also always get a chord sheet, because I don't have to memorize them that thoroughly, if they're that simple. And I only do that, because my time is limited. If it weren't, I would just simply learn everything to perfection...
When learning songs for the band I'm in, I use charts and a recording and play along with it multiple times (I use BandHelper, same that we use for our setlists). I use the charts on an iPad during performances, eventually when we've played the tune enough times I no longer need to rely on the charts.
Basically what I was going to write. You'll make faster gains when you can recognize patterns in songs rather than trying to memorize A A A A A A A A C E A A A A
Memorization is putting something into muscle memory, which has little to do with theory (despite the inevitable protests that a comment like that will elicit). Yes, I know theory (and the science behind music theory), but what you need on your side is the science of how people learn things.
I am constantly learning new songs (I play church gigs, so almost every week, I'm learning a song or two, sometimes more). Every week, everything I play is completely from memory - I never have a chart on a gig - just a set list. I start with a chord chart. If one isn't provided, I will make one - I'm not trying to learn anything note for note - the exact part I play at a gig is dependent on what is going on around me, so standard notation is wasted detail as far as to whether the part at a particular point is whoie notes, quarters, etc.
With that chord chart and an mp3 or wav file of the song, I'll start running through it. As soon as I have any idea of what might be going on at a certain part, I start looking away. I'll run through it 3 times, getting closer each time, and then...I'll work on something else for a few minutes - if I keep running through it more than 3 times, my brain gets confused as to what's where, so a bit of a break helps keep that straight. Anyway, in an hour or so of practice, I'll probably have run through it 3 sets of 3 times - 9 repetitions. Then I take a real break from practicing, and come back later. I always do my last practice session of the day just before I go to bed - your brain consolidates things when you sleep, and the stuff you do right before going to bed, it consolidates the best.
In one (at most two) days of this, I'll have the tune pretty solid - I can throw the chord chart away. The rest of the week, I'm polishing that song and the others I'll be playing that weekend - even if I've played a song hundreds of times, I need to find something "new" about it so I'm not just phoning my part in on Sunday.
When that new tune comes up again in my rotation, it's often in a different key. As well practiced as I am from learning it the first time, often I won't even notice that it's in a new key - I'll just pick up my bass and play it - I only notice it's a new key if a fingering seems a bit odd.
Memorization is a muscle - the more you do it, the better you get at it. It used to take 3 days to nail a song, now it's usually 1. That improvement took years to achieve, but the effort is worth it. If it isn't easy the first time around (or the first hundred times), thats completely normal - persistence is key.
I am constantly learning new songs (I play church gigs, so almost every week, I'm learning a song or two, sometimes more). Every week, everything I play is completely from memory - I never have a chart on a gig - just a set list. I start with a chord chart. If one isn't provided, I will make one - I'm not trying to learn anything note for note - the exact part I play at a gig is dependent on what is going on around me, so standard notation is wasted detail as far as to whether the part at a particular point is whoie notes, quarters, etc.
With that chord chart and an mp3 or wav file of the song, I'll start running through it. As soon as I have any idea of what might be going on at a certain part, I start looking away. I'll run through it 3 times, getting closer each time, and then...I'll work on something else for a few minutes - if I keep running through it more than 3 times, my brain gets confused as to what's where, so a bit of a break helps keep that straight. Anyway, in an hour or so of practice, I'll probably have run through it 3 sets of 3 times - 9 repetitions. Then I take a real break from practicing, and come back later. I always do my last practice session of the day just before I go to bed - your brain consolidates things when you sleep, and the stuff you do right before going to bed, it consolidates the best.
In one (at most two) days of this, I'll have the tune pretty solid - I can throw the chord chart away. The rest of the week, I'm polishing that song and the others I'll be playing that weekend - even if I've played a song hundreds of times, I need to find something "new" about it so I'm not just phoning my part in on Sunday.
When that new tune comes up again in my rotation, it's often in a different key. As well practiced as I am from learning it the first time, often I won't even notice that it's in a new key - I'll just pick up my bass and play it - I only notice it's a new key if a fingering seems a bit odd.
Memorization is a muscle - the more you do it, the better you get at it. It used to take 3 days to nail a song, now it's usually 1. That improvement took years to achieve, but the effort is worth it. If it isn't easy the first time around (or the first hundred times), thats completely normal - persistence is key.
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I too am on the repetition bandwagon.
Only thing I will add is that I find careful listening with headphones AFTER I’ve had some reps to be helpful in picking up some of the nuances; which are ONLY important for getting the actual recorded part down.
But, that is only the start; because the next step is to take the tune where it best fits the current ensemble / rendition. Could be a note for note; but, more often requires further tailoring. And, it’s always important to add some of your own tasteful and appropriate personal touches.
The work is never done. Which is either good or bad, depending on your philosophy.
Only thing I will add is that I find careful listening with headphones AFTER I’ve had some reps to be helpful in picking up some of the nuances; which are ONLY important for getting the actual recorded part down.
But, that is only the start; because the next step is to take the tune where it best fits the current ensemble / rendition. Could be a note for note; but, more often requires further tailoring. And, it’s always important to add some of your own tasteful and appropriate personal touches.
The work is never done. Which is either good or bad, depending on your philosophy.
My top tool is Audacity software. It's free and runs on PC/Mac/Linux.
I'll load in a song, and then use the "Vocal Reduction and Isolation" effect to emphasise the center of the mix where the bass usually lives (or sometimes remove the center to hear what's happening in the stereo image).
Then if I'm struggling with a part, I can loop it to just a few notes at a time. A whole guitar solo isn't too daunting once it's distilled into a long series of licks.
For arrangements, I'll draw charts. They don't have to make sense to anyone else, as long as they're readable by me in the heat of playing.
Eventually it'll all sink in and a current setlist will be locked to muscle memory and feel like second nature.
I'll load in a song, and then use the "Vocal Reduction and Isolation" effect to emphasise the center of the mix where the bass usually lives (or sometimes remove the center to hear what's happening in the stereo image).
Then if I'm struggling with a part, I can loop it to just a few notes at a time. A whole guitar solo isn't too daunting once it's distilled into a long series of licks.
For arrangements, I'll draw charts. They don't have to make sense to anyone else, as long as they're readable by me in the heat of playing.
Eventually it'll all sink in and a current setlist will be locked to muscle memory and feel like second nature.
I find transcription to be a good tool for learning a song. Then it's just a matter of repetition.
Agreed
A post of mine where I quote Steve's post
When I'm serious about learning *any* material, I will write a chart.
at the very least its a 'fake' chord chart a la jazzstudies.us
I always try to include repeats, codas, d.s. al Segno's an other song structure markings.
Often I will also notate precise parts.
This accomplishes many valuable things
- Reveals common patterns in chord progressions (with a little applied theory)
- Helps me understand the structure of the song
- Gives me opportunity to practice musical literacy
- eliminates any ambiguity in my grasp of the material
- creates a reference I can go back to years later
- helps me memorize the song independent of the chart
some decry transcription as the opposite of memorizing
but for me it is the absolute best aid to memory.
the hard part of notation is always parsing strange new music handed to you.
But as Anthony Wellington says "It's impossible to write a sentence that you cannot read"
Writing is the best way to learn to read.
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If i dont pick it up by ear, as mentioned repetition is the key...I 'll take sections of a song and dissect it within a DAW, see the audio wave file highlight a section and hit loop until i'm blue in the face.
