Memorizing tips

[Ikiru]

I doubt methods for memorizing works for everyone, but share a little. How do you memorize songs? Especially if you have a list to play for a gig or jam session.

I personally have trouble remembering anything, so usually I just keep playing the same two bars using tab references until it's in my head, but after reaching the next bar, I forget lol

What about you?

 

[zullio]

just keep playing it over and over and over again works for me..

your muscles have 'memories' and by repetition you tend to, memorise faster.

 

[Whitestrat]

I doubt methods for memorizing works for everyone, but share a little. How do you memorize songs? Especially if you have a list to play for a gig or jam session.

I personally have trouble remembering anything, so usually I just keep playing the same two bars using tab references until it's in my head, but after reaching the next bar, I forget lol

What about you?

You need to jam. and keep practising that song with your band. You'll all get it together.

 

[Ikiru]

Got no band.

But what if you're doing acoustic songs that you can play just by yourself?

 

[astaroth]

keep on playing and playing. rmb by using phrases, like markers. like this place need to change rhythm or change chord or sth.

 

[Dime]

try playing in a mathcore band.they have like 7-8 different riffs in a single song without a pattern like arrangement.

to topic - jam along to the song.the phrase ''practice makes perfect'' is created for a reason.

 

[peeyan]

your muscles have 'memories'

I agree with that. Probably I'm not saying what you don't already know, but I think this is so true. Just keep on doing it over and over again, muscle memory will kick in and even if you forget, you fingers will 'remember'.

For a start you can break down each part, but you MUST practice the song in its entirety. Doing it many times through will help you memorize.

 

[pf]

Hi, if anybody's interested, can check out what we've discussed in the keyboard section. http://soft.com.sg/forum/how-keyboard/53940-memorize-music-pieces.html

 

[bin4christ]

dont the tabs come into ming naturally? hahaha..

 

[Hydrofly]

Keep playing it over again and again. Listen to it ALOT, then play again. If you read scores, makes your life easier cus you can see how the song is constructed. Don't be lazy, I spend about 5 hours playing the song non-stop if I have to. I remember last year I totally gave up my social life to practice guitar. Everyday, after school, come home, practice. The standard answer to everyone asking me to go out other than to jam was pretty much :"can't make it, I'm a f***ed up guitarist that needs alot of work." Not so extreme now, but still practice alot, and I am still a shitty guitarist, because schoolwork means I cannot practice as much as I should be.

 

[shredded]

put the track into your mp3 player, so you'll listen to it where ever you go

practice the track lots and try you recognize and remember the patterns in the song, it would help you to memorize the fingerings and rhythm.

 

[Raistmar]

Here's what I do:

1. Get familiarized with the song by constantly listening to it

2. Visualize how to play it

3. Learn how to play it

4. Listen again/compare what I'm doing

5. Practice, practice practice. It also helps to have band mates push you into learning it.

Having said that, sometimes you dont really need to play it exactly the same way or note for note. Make it fun by adding stuff that you think sounds good.

 

[monkeyhouse]

know the song's key, if u know which key the song is, itll be easier for you to memorize the chord changes. then, memorize the chord patterns/progressions, then, memorize the songs sequences, like how many stanzas, choruses etc...

 

[Ikiru]

how to know the key of a song? I still don't understand key signatures...

 

[niteblade]

play it over and over again

 

[monkeyhouse]

how to know the key of a song? I still don't understand key signatures...

a little music theory would help. and knowing the basic ii-V-I, I-IV-V etc progressions would be very useful, a dead give a way is hearing the dominant chord or turn around in chord progressions. a song in the key of C... the dominant chord would be G (V) and C (I) as the tonic...
in ii-V-I (2-5-1) example would be Dm-G-C...
sorry im not good at explaining things, hope this helps and gives u an idea.:mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen:

 

[cold_static544]

i write down lists of chords to remember, if i have to learn it quick.

if not just play it shitloads of times haha.

 

[lexxmexx]

I too have trouble memorising songs and so have to rely on scores but I seldom see people using scores during rock gigs. Is it because it looks nerdish to have a music stand in front of you or it's not allowed at all?

 

[Ikiru]

It seriously wouldn't look cool la, lol. And it saves time. Can you imagine stopping an epic rock song like 30seconds through just to flip the page of the score? Later audience throw bottles at you haha. No one said it's not allowed, but musicians (not including orchestras or whatever) using scores during gigs is like standup comedian using cue cards while performing...

Playing without relying on scores feels good too and you can flow with the music better. I'm still counting on the method of playing a shitload of times to know my song D: But songs with fingerpicking kills me...

@monkeyhouse : Ehh, my theory and hearing not so good, so I don't really understand what you're saying sorry :X

 

[naviros]

Easy. PRACTICE!!!

Well, even when you don't have your guitar with you, plug mp3 and AIR GUITAR!!! (looks way nerdy by the way...)