Learning songs vs learning riffs

[elgecko]

Actually, I'm not learning ONLY riffs. I use more as a technical and groove exercise. And in the end I use it to play over a chord progression.
I do learn songs and chord progressions, there's no replacement for that

So the opposite of the what you said in the OP?

 

[Lanky Tunes]

I tend to only really commit to learning a song if I need to or want to play it, which probably sounds like a total DUH statement, but what I mean is this:

Most of the time I am after stuff that I can use to jam, inspire original stuff with, or improve as a player. Because of this I will often take riffs from songs and run them through different keys, experiment with variations, ect., but I will rarely learn a whole song and even more rarely learn one note for note.

I am not into copy bands and tend to prefer bands who don't even do their OWN songs the same every time, so that is what plays into my own choice to often only learn the structure and the signature licks. On the flip side though, I am not into noodling or loosely organized math trying to pass as songs either.

 

[asahisuperdry]

Lanky is right, I believe. Unless you have an specific reason for learning a song note-for-note, just pick out riffs. Not to say don't learn entire songs because there's stuff to be picked out and learned from, but it's just frustrating with some songs where you just really like the verse or whatever. It's tedious unless you really like that song and bass player or have to know it cold for an audition or gig.

I'm being honest here, sometimes I say 'screw it' after picking out certain cool riffs when I'm just not that into a song. I don't gig so it doesn't matter if every song isn't picked apart. I do try to learn the whole thing more often than not, though. Why do something if it's tedious and not useful.

 

[herbygardener]

"...loosely organized math trying to pass as songs..."

that made me smile
cheers!

 

[bassbully]

Trust me knowing songs and knowing how to play songs either charted or by ear will get you somewhere. Learning riffs will not, they are just for show.