Starting a memorized song

[Wasnex]

Interesting. I think "internalizing song names" is one way to put it. In general I often have trouble associating song names with the music. I think that's how my memory works (or doesn't). Don't think working on it will do much, but even the most minimal cheat sheet fixes it. It's like cueing actors, once the cue person whispers a word or two, the rest just flows.

I have the problem IMHO because I don't pay attention to the lyrics. But putting in the effort to associate the song title with recognizable elements of each song does work and it gets easier with practice. Essentially you need to develop a new skill.


Cheat sheets can be useful, but they become less effective as you learn more songs. Imagine what it will be like when you know 100 or more songs and need to be able to start playing as soon as a song is called. You don't always have the benefit of a music stand on stage to hold your notes, and the stage is not always lit well enough to read.

 

[DWBass]

I use, what I call, Key Notes. Basically, it's the first note I'm supposed to play for any particular song.

 

[Stingray5]

So, funny story sorta related to this, years ago we played a wedding and had to learn 'My Sharona', and we were to vamp on this as the wedding party was introduced (due to the Groom's last name being very close sounding to 'Sharona', and his name may or may not have been substituted in a few times).

I was to start the song with the main riff along with the drums and then the rest of the band were to join in. The drummer started up the beat, and I completely blanked, and started playing the riff to 'Gimmie Some Lovin' instead! This threw off my drummer who thought HE was playing the wrong part and joined me briefly in the Spencer Davis Group diddy before my dear BL quickly got us back on track and disaster was ultimately avoided.

Ever since then, if it's up to me to start off a tune I make sure I am more than overprepared!

 

[sears]

I'm a little bit that way. Music is easy. The various words attached to a song aren't included in my gift. I have to grind that p00pie

 

[mambo4]

Practice playing through the set list without recordings, unaccompanied.

This. Pursue total command of the song, alone on your instrument.

 

[hondo4life]

I have twelve cover songs to memorize - a few that I already know, and more that I’ve never really heard before. I made a spotify playlist to play them over and over, all the time. I am also working on writing out all of the tablature, because these songs were not so popular to have anything readily available.

 

[Five or Six]

But having access to the material and becoming immersed in the material was, and still is, the best way I'VE found to not only memorize a song but have the quick reaction to "adapt to an audible" I wasn't planning for.

This^^^^especially if there are some odd cord progressions or off the wall bridge(s) that actually may take some attention.

 

[bass.slinger]

Don’t overthink it either - this can cause you to forget. I find just jumping in usually works (assuming I have already put in the time to know the song).

 

[rmayer]

Cheat sheets.. I write down the key, tempo, who starts the song, and the first few notes. Also the ending.

Probably better than many musicians I’ve seen, including recording acts using iPads, probably with more info than set lists.
Last band I played out with, around the horse and buggy era, we kept set lists on the floor/stage for reference. It was all covers.
Edit: With that band, we rented rehearsal space by the month originally. And I remember being in that room for about 7 months before we did our first gig, so we had the songs down fairly tight.
We added a few new songs every month or so.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

Just curious...

When I have, say, 8 or 10 songs to memorize, I can do so with a reasonable amount of practice.
My memorization is basically by fretboard pattern / muscle memory and ear.

When I'm playing through a set, especially with others, I find being able to start the song, based on its name, incredibly difficult.
Once I get the first few notes, everything flows automatically.
It's the association between the song name and the beginning of what I'm supposed to play that is so hard.
I usually have some sort of crutch like either a chord chart, or just a tab of the very first bar or two.

Wondering if others have a similar issue and have any tricks that help.

Michael

I assume you're learning songs quickly for a gig on short notice. I do this all the time. In fact I have a one-off Beatles tribute gig (fundraiser) with a set list of like 40 songs coming in a couple weeks. I usually have the set list on the floor with the keys- or at least the opening few notes. Sometimes I will make quick notes (bass in at top, guitar intro, etc) In an extreme situation I will make a chart and have that handy.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Just curious...

When I have, say, 8 or 10 songs to memorize, I can do so with a reasonable amount of practice.
My memorization is basically by fretboard pattern / muscle memory and ear.

When I'm playing through a set, especially with others, I find being able to start the song, based on its name, incredibly difficult.
Once I get the first few notes, everything flows automatically.
It's the association between the song name and the beginning of what I'm supposed to play that is so hard.
I usually have some sort of crutch like either a chord chart, or just a tab of the very first bar or two.

Wondering if others have a similar issue and have any tricks that help.

Michael

I hear you. I have a major disassociation between the name of the song and the music problem. I think it’s because I rarely listen to the lyrics. I tend to listen to the rhythm cadence than the actual words.

 

[Jeff Hughes]

I have been in original bands where I didn’t know the song titles because they were not part of the lyrics.

 

[Jazzdogg]

I'm kinda the same way. Except for me my problem is always remembering the key of the song, even songs I've been playing for years.
"Is that in G??" "NO! It's in C!" lol

Once I get going it's all good, but that first note is always dicey. lol

I was fortunate to have a dad who was a jazz double bassist. He insisted that I learn to play a new song in all twelve keys. Over the years, I was lucky to feel comfortable no matter what key a singer might request.
Learning a song well involves far more than learning to play the notes on a bass. Learning to play in several different keys can give a more complete understanding of a song's changes than doing just enough to squeeze by in a single key.

 

[Shenron]

When I'm playing through a set, especially with others, I find being able to start the song, based on its name, incredibly difficult.
Once I get the first few notes, everything flows automatically.

I usually struggle to memorize variations rather than a song's beginning, but sometimes it happened to me too.

I think you're already on to it: once muscle memory kicks in then going on is easier, but the very beginning doesn't have an anchor to help you, especially if your instrument starts immediately so you don't have others to give you an external clue.

In my opinion the solution is pretty much in creating a mnemonic association between the title and the first notes, either visually or in sound. Mnemonic associations are personal, they work best when YOU create your own, especially when they are silly, so you can sit down practicing the very beginning of a song and try creating a few possible clues for you, until one strikes you as particularly memorable. It shouldn't take more than a couple of minutes to find a good one actually.

 

[Five or Six]

We have a female front. She is a great person with a good voice and stage presence. The only problem is, that a bunch of her songs sound alike. They just seem to run together for me and I hate it. I have really split them up in the setlist. Different artist but, the samish. The teleprompter is my only clue some times.

 

[lark_z]

If I can't 'hear' the song in my head when the song name comes up, I'm in the same boat. Gotta hear it internally.

 

[NKBassman]

I was fortunate to have a dad who was a jazz double bassist. He insisted that I learn to play a new song in all twelve keys. Over the years, I was lucky to feel comfortable no matter what key a singer might request.
Learning a song well involves far more than learning to play the notes on a bass. Learning to play in several different keys can give a more complete understanding of a song's changes than doing just enough to squeeze by in a single key.

Yes! Learn the changes, not the notes.
But that's part of the problem why I can never remember the right damn key. lol

 

[Groove Doctor]

I write the key of the song and also my starting note (in brackets after it) next to the song name on my setlist. 99% of the time that is foolproof.

I’ll also note if bass does a solo introduction for the song (rarely) - those are the easiest to remember.
eg. Are you gonna be my Girl by Jet.
eg. Fly Me to the Moon, Blue Bossa.

I’ll also write if I DON’T come in at the very start
eg. Drum intro - Rock n Roll by Led Zeppelin
or “come in Verse 2”to stop me starting prematurely.

 

[Jazzdogg]

Yes! Learn the changes, not the notes.
But that's part of the problem why I can never remember the right damn key. lol

I just ask before the song starts, or keep a cheat sheet if it's a band I play with a lot. One thing I don't do is expect every band to play a song in the same key.

 

[EricOnTheBass]

I have the same problem with new songs, or with songs we haven’t played in a while. I’m up on stage and can’t remember the riff or how the song starts. Since very few songs start with the bass, it’s usually not too much of a problem once we get going When it happens, I just make a mental note to practice that song more before the next gig to refresh my memory.