A good few thousand songs must be in my memory.
I learn things by ear for all my gigs, but do read music.
I learn things by ear for all my gigs, but do read music.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Musical Memory
- Thread starter slapfunk987
- Start date
Perhaps about 60 I can play from memory, but I have to with covers bands. And even then its not note for note - I learn key riffs, the chord changes and such and improvise the fills mostly.
My memory is awful compared to most, I have to read every bit of music I learn in classes... Look away from it for one minute and I can't remember any of it!
My memory is awful compared to most, I have to read every bit of music I learn in classes... Look away from it for one minute and I can't remember any of it!
Some suprisingly honest answers here (along with one whopper 
).
I played with a group for seven years once and we had about 300 songs on our list. Most of the bands I've been in had 100 -200 songs on the list. To me, and it's just my opinion, how many songs you can play is more important than how many you know; i.e. someone gives you the key, the chords (if there are any tricky changes) and the feel, and you can get through the song.
I did an audition last month and they pulled out the Doobie Brothers' Long Train Running. I haven't played it in 30 years, but muscle memory took over and I played it fairly close to the record. I listened to the record when I got home and I didn't play it note for note, but I got all of the signature licks, and the feel.
I don't play any songs note for note and I haven't seen many people that do, although I've heard a lot say they do. What might be more accurate is that they play it like the record, meaning all the signature licks, the feel and the majority of the notes. I believe that a lot of players do that, although I must admit even when I'm trying to sound like the record I probably still only play the signature lick exactly, and then cop the feel and the other parts I think are important. I don't get the point of "note for note" although I've heard it argued many times.
).I played with a group for seven years once and we had about 300 songs on our list. Most of the bands I've been in had 100 -200 songs on the list. To me, and it's just my opinion, how many songs you can play is more important than how many you know; i.e. someone gives you the key, the chords (if there are any tricky changes) and the feel, and you can get through the song.
I did an audition last month and they pulled out the Doobie Brothers' Long Train Running. I haven't played it in 30 years, but muscle memory took over and I played it fairly close to the record. I listened to the record when I got home and I didn't play it note for note, but I got all of the signature licks, and the feel.
I don't play any songs note for note and I haven't seen many people that do, although I've heard a lot say they do. What might be more accurate is that they play it like the record, meaning all the signature licks, the feel and the majority of the notes. I believe that a lot of players do that, although I must admit even when I'm trying to sound like the record I probably still only play the signature lick exactly, and then cop the feel and the other parts I think are important. I don't get the point of "note for note" although I've heard it argued many times.
