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What is Your Primary Method of Learning Songs?
- Thread starter BassFishingInAmerica
- Start date
Interesting question. for me, it becomes a very complicated mess of how I do things. it would probably be bad advice for anyone to do as I do
for learning cover tunes:
I download the lyrics and format them to my preference in a word doc
double spaced so I can insert the chord or notation notes between the lines
above the lyric line it pertains to.
I then listen to the recording of the song, tweaking my lead sheet and arranging
the lines for easy flow/reading. I may have to go thru this step several times to get
all my tweaks and notes how I want them.
I then change all the lyric font to white and the background to black. Then I change all the notations, chord notes, etc to yellow. Then I change all the arrangement notes [chorus, bridge, repeat, etc] to light green.
then, when I have it like I want it, I convert it to a PDF and email it to my ipad
and download it into Deepdish Gigbook.
once I have a working lead sheet, I then load up the recording on Youtube or itunes and plug into a practice amp and work with the song until I have it down.
The good thing about building a lead sheet is that it helps to burn the arrangement and changes into your mind by writing it down, step by step.
I download the lyrics and format them to my preference in a word doc
double spaced so I can insert the chord or notation notes between the lines
above the lyric line it pertains to.
I then listen to the recording of the song, tweaking my lead sheet and arranging
the lines for easy flow/reading. I may have to go thru this step several times to get
all my tweaks and notes how I want them.
I then change all the lyric font to white and the background to black. Then I change all the notations, chord notes, etc to yellow. Then I change all the arrangement notes [chorus, bridge, repeat, etc] to light green.
then, when I have it like I want it, I convert it to a PDF and email it to my ipad
and download it into Deepdish Gigbook.
once I have a working lead sheet, I then load up the recording on Youtube or itunes and plug into a practice amp and work with the song until I have it down.
The good thing about building a lead sheet is that it helps to burn the arrangement and changes into your mind by writing it down, step by step.
I usually drop a MP3 of the song into GarageBand, and plug my bass in through my Apogee USB interface and play along through headphones. That way I can also record myself as I go along and play back my own bass lines over the original record to gauge my success/progress.
That's interesting. I like the idea of recording myself and then listening back to it to judge progress.
I use my ear, I would use notation, but there's not exactly many transcriptions of Aphex Twin's back catalogue for bass guitar online.
It depends... For some gigs, I get sheet music and play it note for note. Sometime chords charts for originals. Other times, for covers, we just name the song and I'll do a combination of hitting the guitar tab sites, listen to the song, play along, make notes and memorize if needed.
When I have to learn a song for a gig and time is an issue, all methods are welcome: I'll jump on YouTube, look for sheet music, transcriptions, whatever is available, but I really think that I get a lot more from learning things by ear. I can usually get pretty close just listening while driving or whatever and then going over it with an instrument in hand after I have listened a bunch of times.
Use sheet music and listen to the record/video for timing. Once in a while I might use tab as a cheat and then eventually abandon it once I get down the proper patterns.
Learnt long ago that relying solely on tab is the worst way to learn a song and develop yourself as a musician.
Learnt long ago that relying solely on tab is the worst way to learn a song and develop yourself as a musician.
Combination. I confirm the version of the song and the key we'll play it in. I create a playlist on my iPod and listen to it repeatedly in my car. I download the lyrics. I open the mp3 in Transcribe! and mark all the measures and sections. Identify the chords. Then I usually transcribe the tune looped measure by looped measure. I used to do it by hand in standard notation. Now I do it in Sibelius First. Faster and easier to read. I usually don't try to play songs note for note, but the transcription reminds me of important rhythmic and melodic themes. I record rehearsals, and make adjustments because most bands change something. Add a solo. Drop solo. Tag the ending.
I load all of the songs I want to learn into my mp3 player and put it on repeat overnight and listen with headphones. I absorb the music subliminally while I sleep, so that in the morning I can play all of the basslines note for note (if I want). Plus all of the other instrument parts too. Easy peasy... I thought everyone did it this way. 
+1 for Chord charts. That should be a choice on the poll.
- Chords are a common communications medium between the band members.
- Knowing common chord progressions allow you to learn parts of a tune quickly. (circle of fifths, 1-4-5, 2-5-1, 1-6-2-5,... )
- I can hear the melody in my head while playing/practicing the chords.
- I can quickly pick out the signature bass riff after learning the chords.
- As I explained to a flute player, to me, playing the bass is playing the chords in a catchy way.
"The old fashion way: listen to the song and try to pick out the bass"
I am surprised that this is the number one answer by a big margin.
I am surprised that this is the number one answer by a big margin.
