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Learning Songs

#3
I detect a tone of impatience in your post. Why the hurry ? As WrapRough said, it depends on how complex the song is and how accurate you want to be. Making mistakes is part of learning. So, slow down a little, relax, and enjoy the learning experience. There is no one size fits all. We all learn at our own pace. With time and patience...you'll get there.
 
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#4
Craig Orndorff said:
How long does it typically take you to learn a song? I picked the bass back up and am getting serious thanks to a project at the school I teach at. I’m learning “The Lazy Song”, but I have to concentrate entirely and still find myself making silly mistakes. Any pro tips out there?
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I think it depends on your method. IME the most effective method is to make a transcription before you start to learn anything. Get the transcription as accurate and complete as possible, preferably in Standard Notation. The written part need not be 100%, but it must represent what you intend to play since it will be what you will learn from. Be sure to include as much detail as possible - dynamics, phrasing, articulations. Then fully review and validate the score before you start to learn. I guarantee this will:
  • Significantly reduce the overall learning time;
  • Significantly reduce your error rate;
  • Significantly increase your long-term retention and recall.
The Lazy Song has a great bass part that covers all areas of the fingerboard with a good range of dynamics and articulations. Good luck!

YMMV
 
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#5
fearceol said:
I detect a tone of impatience in your post. Why the hurry ? As WrapRough said, it depends on how complex the song is and how accurate you want to be. Making mistakes is part of learning. So, slow down a little, relax, and enjoy the learning experience. There is no one size fits all. We all learn at our own pace. With time and patience...you'll get there.
Click to expand...

Well, there probably IS some impatience on this particular song because we record today and I’ve been working with it for over a month. But I had some pretty good run throughs last night. I’ll keep your words under advisement as I restart my bass journey and pick up some new tunes.
 
#6
It depends really. I've spent a time transcribing basslines note for note and learning them. I've also transcribed parts of the way to the rehearsal/gig. I've learned 40 song set lists on the drive to the gig by listening to the set on repeat and I've stood on stage as someones kicked off a song I've never heard and learned it in real time. There are genuinely songs I know that I've still never actually heard the recordings for but I've played them at a bunch of gigs with different bands in various keys. I will say that the bulk of my learning songs comes from just the listening aspect now I will still transcribe and dig into things that really capture my interest and I want to see how it sits in bigger picture of the song.

Repetition. Repetition. Repetition. That means listening to the song over, and over, and over, and over. When it comes time to playing the part, then it's repetition the same way. The listening part never stops though. Go slow and isolate parts that give you bother. If a particular line is causing you problems make sure you practise it from a bar or two before the line and include a few bars after. This helps you to relax coming in and out of passages we know we aren't so comfortable with and reduces the tendency to rush through. Then play along with the record repeatedly as well.

That is the key and the more you do it the more you are able to move from the former where you really have to get under the hood and learn it cold to just being able to learn it in real time and remember it all.
 
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#8
Depends. For a simple disco or 90's pop song, I could learn it in 10 minutes. But if there's a wacky, uneven form that doesn't repeat, I'll usually transcribe the song with chord changes and important bass bits only. I'll only do a full bass transcription for something where the bass line is the hook of the song.

If there's a specific technique to the song, or a particular tone that I have the equipment to nail, then the time spent goes up a bit.

YMMV. I've been dealing with having to learn large quantities of music for many years, and the more you do of this kind of thing, the easier it gets.
 
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#9
Thought I would chime in on this. I can usually learn a song playable and close by listening to it two times. I do have many years of playing so I can pick up what someone is playing quickly.

First time through, use your bass and listen to the progression changes for the different progressions ( intro, verse, chorus, lead...)
Second, playing along with the recording, making not of how long each of those sections are so you know the song structure.

Then is string time, just playing it over and over. When you think you know it, listen to the little things like riffs off the chords, transitions between one section and the next, and try to listen for things you were just doing wrong. You would be surprised how many players, all the other instruments pick up habits in songs and end up playing them wrong cause they just dont bother to go back and listen again.
Knowing music theory helps you a lot to understand where riffs go. It all comes down to string time. You can play once a month for 30 years, but the kid playing 4 hours a day will blow you away in 3 months.

Also, if you can somewhat play a song, you just need to practice it. Do it without the recording and use a click track. Riffs you cant keep up with, you should get some software to slow the song down and increase the tempo over time till you can play faster, it makes it easier to play it at the regular speed. Make a note if the tempo of the song as well.
 
#10
Craig Orndorff said:
How long does it typically take you to learn a song? I picked the bass back up and am getting serious thanks to a project at the school I teach at. I’m learning “The Lazy Song”, but I have to concentrate entirely and still find myself making silly mistakes. Any pro tips out there?
Click to expand...

With the help of sheet music, (fake chord, etc.) plus listening to what the other members are doing I could usually come up with an accompanment bass line after an hour at home and one practice session.

Knowing the chord changes and where this happens in relation to the lyrics
is the glue that holds the bass line together. IMO.
 
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#11
Craig Orndorff said:
How long does it typically take you to learn a song? I picked the bass back up and am getting serious thanks to a project at the school I teach at. I’m learning “The Lazy Song”, but I have to concentrate entirely and still find myself making silly mistakes. Any pro tips out there?
Click to expand...
A couple hours or so. A day or so to get it down solid.
 

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