If there’s one thing that all musicians struggle with, no matter your age or experience level, it’s memorizing music and being able to keep it in your memory for longer than a day or 2.
For beginners, memorizing lets you get your eyes back on the guitar as soon as possible so you can focus on actually moving them where they are supposed to go and playing notes cleanly and precisely.
As you hit the intermediate level, you start wanting to be able to remember songs or signature licks and riffs from those songs… as well as memorizing licks that you might use for improvising.
For the advanced or pro players, it can be memorizing enough songs to get through a 3 or 4 set night and have some in reserve in case someone out there yells “Free Bird!” (yes, it will happen.)
Obviously I’m slanting this a little more towards more popular music styles like blues, rock, country, or jazz… but classical musicians have similar situations and similar struggles.
As someone who has personally learned literally thousands of songs in the last 30 years… as well as 2 hours worth of classical repertoire in my 20’s… I’ve learned a thing or 2 about memorization.
But the things that work for me don’t just work for me, they can work for you too I found by reading several different studies including this one that seemed to echo what I’ve also discovered.
So I’ll save you some time and give you 3 things you can do today that will help with your memorization:
Make chunks out of parts you already know by another name…
If you recognize that the chord progression to the song you’re working on is a common chord progression (like I, IV, I, V) then instead of remembering, “G, C, G, D, G, C, G, C, G, C, G, D, G, C, G, D” (yuck!!!) you can make it much easier.
That monstrosity above becomes “I, IV, I,V 4 times,” which is a LOT easier to remember.
If you’re learning “Sunshine Of Your Love” and notice that the main riff is nothing but the minor blues scale (box 1) that makes it a heck of a lot easier to remember than trying to remember each and every single note by name or fret/string.
Get comfortable with song form names
Things like verse, chorus, bridge, pre-chorus, intro, and outro are all labels we use for the various parts of a song.
Along with chunking like we talked about above, you can break a song into big pieces that are easy to remember.
The chorus of a song is most easily described as the part you walk away humming… it’s the hook. Verses tend to go between choruses while the bridge is usually in the middle and breaks things up a little bit. Intros and Outros are the beginning and end sections of the song, respectively.
Not every song has every section and blues songs often just have an intro, choruses, and an outro. But many, like “Ain’t Gonna Give Up On Love” have a bridge as well.
Memorize early and often…
When I learn a new tune, I go over it a few times with the music or the recording and then I try it on my own with no help.
I go as far as I can, and when I’m stumped I go find what I should have done next. From there I keep going until I get stumped again and so on.
Using this technique I used to be able to learn the entire set of lyrics to a song in the 40 minute drive from my lessons to the gig. I would go over the song in my car on the way and sing it on the bandstand that night after having only heard in on the radio a few times.
I also firmly believe that memorization is a skill like any other… if you never use it, you will lose it. I don’t do it as well as I used to because I don’t have to. But if I need to learn a bunch of tunes for a gig, I know that within a few days I can have them all down comfortably.
I also know that learning a new lick or new anything is going to be pretty straightforward because I’ve done it so much.
The more you memorize early and often, the more comfortable you’ll get with it.
99 replies to "How To Memorize Music…"
Hmmmm. Lot of us in the 60-80 crowd here. Most encouraging….especially double-8 (at the time)Charlie.
6/2023
Saw a Stones documentary re. their So America tour several years ago. Over 50 years they compiled a huge list of songs that filled up a large empty wall in a studio. Each song had the key next to the name. That’s probably all they need to start jamming out the song. Most have similar blues format and Stones rhythms. Studio guitarists are probably good at knowing what to with only the key and the beat. Fun stuff to pretend to be a studio player and to play along with many different songs once the key has been figured out. BTW I catch myself imagining shapes and positions and intervals in the middle of the night.
Thank You Griff,
Thanks to all the guitar players who have commented here with their experiences retaining guitar lessons and songs. At 67 I have my own issues with remembering songs and parts of them. I once heard someone mention writing on an easel to help retain. I haven’t tried it so I’m not sure if it would help. All I know is this is probably my biggest hurdle in my quest to be a better guitarist.
Thanks Griff
Hey Griff.
Good advice. I have found that if I learn to sing along as I play really helps me remember. I sang and played for the family last Cbhristmas and it really stuck.
Hi Griff,
Thanks for this topic! Here’s a couple of thoughts on the subject. I’ve been playing since i was 14 and.. now 73 … several bands over the years with a 45 year gap.
Was a corporate trainer and trained over 100 trainers. Neurolinguistic programming .. the more senses you use can help lock stuff in memory .. eg reading/visual, speaking or singing/auditory, writing/playing/kinetic are different modes. Use them all for max retention.
When I was about 17 I joined a new band and had to learn 40 new songs for a gig in 1 week. used all three to get ready in time + Sticky notes all over my amp with chord changes. Played each set over and over to learn the transitions, lead parts and didn’t sleep much. Survived the gig.
Another trick that’s helped me to memorize is starting songs at places other than the beginning. It’s easy to get really good at the beginning but that doesn’t help you when you lose your place in the middle.
As a beginner guitarist I still struggle with this, I still have to write down the chords. I just need to practice more.
I watched the new Paul McCartney documentary (“McCartney 3,2,1”) and it was interesting, he was saying that, when the Beatles were on the road writing songs, they had to just try to remember them, because they didn’t know how to write sheet music and they didn’t have any portable recording devices. (When was the portable cassette player invented?) Anyway, a little detail I thought was interesting and showed their talent even more.
Yes, and McCartney also said that he still doesn’t know how to write or read music.. Interesting!
He doesn’t “see” music as “dots” on a page, ie he doesn’t read or write standard notation.
Doesn’t mean he doesn’t “understand” music.
Another 74 YO weighing in, the easiest way for me to remember is to play a song repetitively while practicing. Maybe playing it every third song for a few days. The easiest way to forget one is to stop playing it for a few months. I have a memorized repertoire of about 40 songs but they change from year to year. New songs come and old songs go for a while. Fortunately I like it this way.
Thanks, Griff, for another great lesson.
I was going to leave a comment, but I forgot what I was going to say. 🙁
Brain Fart Jeff ? LOL !
That’s nothing..I forgot to watch the video…
Thanks for reminding me..
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Join the club!
what comment?
Crazy you sent this today. Lately iv been thinking i would read and play as i go. on stuff im not going to remember for long term. I didnt think memorizing Was a skill. But thats what takes me so long to finish a course. Maybe i’l do little of both. Thank you Griff
I have been playing for 59 years. Know many songs. when my mind races at 3 am , all i hear our songs i know and play. now rembering the cords, is another thing, but all i do is look at my sheet music and bam, i’m ready.
TODAY IS A DAY TO NEVER FORGET, THAT WE AS A COUNTRY, NEED TO STICK TPOGETHER AND FIGHT THE FASIST IN THE WHITE HOUSE.
A DAY OF SADNESS, A DAY FOR PATRIOTS. FLY THE RED WHITE AND BLUE, TODAY IS PATRIOT’S DAYS.
RANGER, SPECIAL FORCES, VIETNAM.
ROCK ON!
Of course you mean WAS not is……
Thanks Griff, these are good tips and there are many in the comments. Memorization continues to plague me. I always have to use my ipad for a solo acoustic gig. I either had to get over the embarrassment or not play.
Thanks again and thanks to those who’ve replied.
What a coincidence that you put this out today, I’ve been struggling all week trying to memorize three songs and never thought of breaking them down in sections as you recommend. Great tips Griff thanks.
Yeah, I use a “portable memory” also. Once I dove in, all my guitar pull buddy’s started using them too. Before iPad, it was reams of paper blowing off a music stand. Now it’s a tablet and a page turner pedal. A little spendy, but ain’t technology grand? Glad I did it.
now that I can watch the videos from Blues Guitar Unleashed 1.0 and 2.0 and other courses I will be able to play any song soon…..Thanks Griff
Griff , as usual , this and other lessons are very helpful . I will save this one , and refer back . Mike Z.
Griff, As usual great advise and lots of good comments. I too had a difficult time memorizing songs, but I took your advise sometime back.
You were preaching the Chunk x Chunk method, learn the first chunk, then, the next chunk, all together now and the next thing you know you’re onto the 2nd verse.
I took your preaching to heart and have had great success in learning entire songs instead of little pieces, like only the verses, or only the chorus or just the intro, outro. Now I put all the little pieces together and it works! Thanks Griff
Memorizing has always been hard for me. At open mics ,I seem to be the only one who needs music. I’m working on that. Thanks for your ideas.
Hi Griff! Nice lesson. I have to admit memorization is one my biggest problems. It takes me forever to learn a new song. I mostly just struggle with your lesson material. But I have to admit, my first priority is to play it, then read it, then count it, and if I haven’t memorized it by then, and still can’t play it well enough by reading, then I have to memorize it! In 5 years, I’ve only memorized one lesson I can still remember today! I think I need to buy more memory!
I did not read all of the responses. hear is a trick. if you have a small music recorder that has a belt clip on and ear buds. you can record your guitar playing on it if needed play it while your on stage or just for getting it in your head.do not include the music backing track. cosset tape.MP3,Walk man, ETC.
play it over and over while doing what you do during the day. Your brain will absorb it and your fingers will do the walking up and down the fret board.Allot of people do this while on stage truly.
The issue to that method (for me) is, at night I can’t sleep because that song will be in my head all night long!!
Certainly some stuff I need to apply!
Hi Griff,
So you know, I am a 70 year old veteran that played
When I was young. Since my envolvement in Vietnam
War it left me disabled in a wheelChair from numerous issues of RSD, periferal neuropathy , numerous surgeries.
I have turned back to the guitar for therapy in my hand in hope of regaining strath in the hands as I have big problem with finger and pick hand. So;
I am so appreciative of patience shown thus far as I am under instruction yet have not purchased any
Of your tapes yet Thank you, POPPY!
FELLOW VIETNAM BROTHER IN ARMS.
MY DAD WAS POPPY. A NICK NMAE GAVE TO HIM BY HIS GRANDCHLDREN. HANG IN THERE.
HEY GRIFF
ONCE I LEARN ASONG IT STICKS. ICAN STILLPLAYSONGS FROM THE 60’S WHEN I WAS IN ABAND.
ALL I EED IS THE CHORDS AND A SAMPLE OF THE SONG.
I’M A PERSON THAT HAS A PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORY. I NVER LEARNED FREE BORD. NEVER LIKED THE SONG.
THANKS FOR THE BLOG .
Hi Jim,
Not to promote another instructor on this site but if you can’t afford to pay for lessons their is one guy that gives his course away free to all veterans. Let me know if you are interested.
As one Brother in Arms, (Viet Nam combat veteran), to another, “Welcome Home Poppy… and Thank You for Your Service!
Griff has a TON of free stuff on Youtube. Either look up BGU or Griff Hamlin and there you go.
Yep. I remember patterns such as A-C#maj-D-A repeated 4 times for the verses of The Weight and A-D for chorus. Is Anybody Goin To San Antone, D-G-C through the whole song.
Hi Griff, I almost feel young at 57, lol, Remembering songs is not a problem, I just have difficulty remembering licks, how do you keep a library of licks in your head to improvise with? I might learn a couple licks last week but I won’t remember them this week because I’m packing so much information in….this is a very good topic, Thank you Griff
Interesting and helpful comments. Now,if you were to play the chords from a melody, I think being able to memorize all the chords involved is a daunting task in my opinion. Thank you for sharing.
Griff: Terrific article, both yours and the Kelly one at the link. I feel exonerated: have been taking “chunks” of your curriculum and working them for a few days, a week, or however long it takes me to be able to play it through immediately and comfortably with few to no mistakes. So refreshing to see you address this as the way to do it. A technique I came up with off the cuff to memorize is one you and Kelly endorse as orthodox, if I can use that word that way.
I read an article recently where Sir Paul McCartney was asked how was it that he was able to sing like he did while simultaneously playing all those complex bass lines. Was it just natural ability, or something else? Sir Paul answered that he thought it was only because he rehearsed more than most people.I guess that is what’s called a word to the wise.
Thank you once again for sharing a completely brilliant idea with us students.
Great info for another 73yo player. As with several others, I thought it was just me. Thanks Griff.
Good topic for discussion. In addition to many of these good suggestions of this discussion, I’ve also learned over the 50+ years of playing music, particularly w/ lyrics, that I have to learn it–and forget it–1, 2, even 3 times before it’s finally planted in my memory. And forgetting a line or lick on stage will definitely firm it up in my recall. You don’t want to go through that again!
Thank you Griff. I’ve always found memorizing lyrics a PITA. But you’ve shared some simple ut great ideas that will undoubtably help me.
Thank you for sharing your musical experiences with us. Very good tips on memorizing because it can be quite over whelming at times as you know. I view memorizing to like pushing a cart uphill , let it go and it rolls back down hill and you have to start over again. Keep pushing no matter how hard it gets and eventualy you get to the top.
My biggest issue well many more but memorizing is the top of my list. Great insight I will put it to work.
If you can how can you figure out the best strumming for the song. So for I do it by listing to the song. But straight out of a song book.
Griff,
Thanks for the words of wisdom!!!!!
Looks like the memory thing has brought out a few of we more senior players including me over 60.
Anyway, I have always had a memory deficit even as a kid at school so I can’t blame age. I have found that what works for me is to write out songs I am learning by firstly listening to and getting the song in my head. Start with a blank sheet, write out the lyrics in double line spacing and in structure, verse, chorus, bridge etc. Then write each note, chord as I work it out myself. By the time I am finished I have it memorised.
But with anything, If I don’t revisit the song for a while I lose it to a large degree. But I have found that a bit of revision and good written notes on tricky bits brings it back a lot quicker than learning it initially.
I store all my charts in 4 ring binders in alphabetical order plus they are also stored on my computer. If I were to lose them I would be devastated.
I know that for whatever reason, although we all have the ability to remember, everyone,s memory is not equal and can be affected by many things so each player needs to find a way that works best.
I, too, find it VERY helpful to write out the lyrics by hand then go back and print the chords where they fit in the song.
Another thing I do is make up a mix of songs-in-progress on my phone and play it back (via bluetooth) in my car – where I can sing along without bothering anyone. LOL
I have found random practice very effective. You basically have say… 3 thing licks/things to work on and so you work on each 1 for 10 minutes and repeat. When you get back the the 1st thing it will mostly be gone from your short term memory, so you have to learn it again.. THIS is a good thing, do this a couple of times and it will get stored in your long term memory sooner. It seems like hard work learning and then re-learning and it is, but you will have it your long term memory much faster.
There is a thread on a classic guitar form from a poster called “Proton” he poses a couple of questions, gets a couple of responses and then posts his thoughts. Read the whole thread, very interesting. Here is the link, “proton” explains it much better
http://www.classicalguitardelcamp.com/viewtopic.php?t=75850
Im in my late 60s also and took up bass guitar a year ago after playing rhythm guitar since my teens. Re learning songs ive found it easier by looking for patterns, noting how regular they appear then concentrating on whats unususual , say in a bridge. Re lyrics i look for key words in a line or lines or verses that convey the msin theme or message, finally regardless of yr system is to play a song over and over til u cant get rid of it in yr head lol
Thanks Griff,
I am still learning all those music names and signs like the saw blade looking thing…what the hell does that mean…Anyway thanks again for your endless experience in so many areas of music and the blues…I am so glad that I found you….
I suspect you are talking about the “vibrato” symbol. Listen to BB King and Eric Clapton for the sound and then let Griff teach you the technique. I too, am glad I found Griff I just wish he had been around much earlier in my life!
Old School & Still Rockin’
Lack of sleep, poor hydration and no exercise are memorization killers as are alcohol and smoking anything. Living up to these things well helps you remember why you don’t play any bar gigs.
In most cases I do not have a problem learning a song and putting it to memorization, and then really working on the timing, and other nuances, but every once in awhile I run into a song that I just can’t seem to memorize as normally as I do others and I have to keep going back to figure out why I am not memorizing it as I should, which gets a bit frustrating. It is so good to have a repertoire of songs to play when the occasion presents itself.
Good info Griff, thanks.
I guess I’m a bit of a music theory geek, as I majored in music in college. However, the more you understand the natural tendencies of chord progressions, individual notes, theory in general, the easier it will be to memorize material as well as figuring out new songs. Music is really very structured and an understanding of theory will help you in all that you work on. And to all the “old timers”, it’s not your age, I’m 67, and about all I can remember, are songs and chord progressions…don’t ask me what I ate last nite!
What was that you had for dinner last night?
Thanks Griff,
I always thought that it was I who was alone with the problem. The fact that I am 73 years of age did help me think it was creeping senility. I was a keyboard player until a hurricane took my home and my keyboard. During
the displacement from my home I bought a guitar and started trying to learn a bit about it. That was when I was 66. My fingers are stiff from arthritis and my memory sucks. Aside from that it is still fun to do. I bought your course years ago and I must admit I did not work at it as I was too impatient. I guess it is time to go back to it and try again.
Griff, Ok l’ll byte. I bought your course. I still really hope that you will consider putting up a lifetime membership. Tom Benton Sr
Hi Griff,
This is a great way to memorize music. I am in my 2nd year learning Solo guitar & blues guitar. Whilst I am in my late 60’s my memory seems to work well as long as I keep practicing as my fingers usually find where I need to be with constant practice. I would like to be able to memorize at least 3 sets or about 50 songs which will include some Blues instrumentals ( Do you have any Blues Instrumentals that you could provide us all as a lesson with the Tabs?
I think in today’s guitar music language the Tab sheets are a great easy way to remember the songs by practice. Most musicians these days have a laptop or iPad on their music stand on stage so they can follow the Tab & Lyrics for songs that are less practiced during the play.I like all the comments here such as TA Ratko, Gary and Mark. Even though our age may have something to do with our memory in the head, if you practice on your guitar frequently, I seem to memorize where my fingers are going on the fret board much easier than trying to memorize mentally, of course I need to go through my list of songs to learn as a way to start.
So best way forward is put all your songs in front of you on your Laptop and just play as you read until you can play them with the laptop as back up but look elsewhere.
Michael – Sydney Australia
Hey Griff, Happy NY 2020. I see my above comments and after seeing this great tip again, I have to say now that i’m in my 70’s, I am understanding the guitar much better and still find that learning a new song, I just keep watching the clip or lesson a few times before I even start to learn it. This way I get the song into my head by ear. Then I write down a Tab sheet ( in the absence of one which is correct) my self that again helps me to remember how to play it. But as you know, by surfing Youtube for the Guitar lesson of the song is hard to find a lesson that is close to the original version. But best way to memorise the song is to keep playing it on the guitar and it just comes easily. Good lesson.
Michael- Sydney-Australia Jan 2020
Memorizing is my biggest problem. But when learning a new lick or a chord progression Splitting it up into small bites and learning each section a bit at a time really helps. Just one of the great tips Griff has taught us.
DEAR GRIFF,
I can play a lot of shadows songs by heart without paper music but I can’t play by heart simple chords music
I don’t understand it myself yours sincerely
willem
Hi all. I’ve been playing Shadows music since 1956. It is similar to the Ventures but with a bigger fan base, especially in Europe. There are CDs called “UBHank”, currently up to number 9 where the backing track is on the CD and you supply the lead.(as in Hank Marvin)the lead guitarist
At the same time a famous guitar player from the UK, recently deceased, named Bert Weedon, published a tutor in 1955 called “Play in a Day”. This publication concentrated on
constructing chords from “shapes”. It was recognised as their start point by many UK rock and roll great players such as Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler,and Hank Marvin. Luckily I could afford to move on from an acoustic to a Fender Strat and now a 4 string Irish banjo. It is louder than a mandolin in a folk orchestra.
The ability to play and remember music applies to any stringed instrument. Playing in groups is the best way to improve your own performance. I now play by ear between 50 and 75 folk songs for dancing !!Hugely rewarding at73!
Lack of practice gets me every time….a four to six week break and i get lost occasionally when playing along to bt’s. I guess the message is to do regular practice. Thanks Griff for all the advice.
79 years old and do not know a b flat from a flat tire. never learned music but know many chords. what can you do to help others like me ?
I’ll just echo what others before me have already stated – repetition and daily practice is what brings results.
Repetition is essential! We’re memorizing Beethoven’s 9th Finale choral part in German for a performance in a couple of weeks. Intimidating but 98% there by going through it twice daily. Breaking it down into manageable chucks is critical.
Sorry for the classical interloper. Can’t limit things to just blues:)
Good tips Griff-thanx for taking the time—
Griff, all you say is true. Years ago when I was in working bands, we practiced every day we weren’t playing a gig … going through our entire repertoir of songs every practice. Learning a new song then was a record or cassette and our ears … no tab, no videos, none of that. Just listen, try, and play until we had it figured out. All of the parts of the songs always fell into one of the categories you mentioned. And if we didn’t practice for a week or have a gig during that time, the next time we played, man, you knew it … it only took a couple nights playing and we’d have it all back, but those couple nights suffered. So … I am convinced that it doesn’t matter how well you have something memorized, or how often you’ve played it, if you don’t USE it, you’re going to LOSE it. I think the idea of memorizing a song, putting it on the shelf for a month or two and then playing it perfectly note for note is pretty much fantasy. You’re not going to totally forget it in that length of time, but you aren’t going to be able play it perfectly either without several run-throughs. I don’t even expect that of myself any more … why beat myself up because I’m human?
Hi! Griff,
Retaining that which I have learned, is ONE, of my biggest problems!!
I, too, am in my sixties, and just beginning, this monster, called guitar!!!
I have been a vocalist, for around fifty four years, and recently decided to take on the guitar….and, buddy, it has really been kicking me in the rear end!
Thank you for attempting the impossible, and trying to help to teach me!!!!
Uh my biggest draw back as a musician is my dependence on chord charts…but I have started memorizing and it’s much more fun and also a sign that you really fleshed out a song and don’t just kinda play it….but for those who just need that little extra security while on stage….the app onsong for ipads is a god send…easy to mount on a mic stand and pretty inconspicuous…I notice that when I bring it to a jam session, the other musicians have a tendency to crowd around lol It’s also great for going thru and rehearsing sets quickly…you can also write what kind of chord progression and key if you’re just more interested in the lyrics….But ultimately, memorization is the best path and most rewarding…it means you can pick up a guitar anywhere and be ready to rock!!!
I read every one of your tutorials and this one really hit on one of my soft spots. I’ve been into country music most of my life but I’ve always really liked blues. I just wasn’t around it much. I’m 79 and for the last few years, I’ve been trying to move into blues. I’ve got most of your courses and they are great. My biggest problem is memorization. Most of older country has a very distinct melody and is very distinguishable. That makes it fairly easy to memorize. With blues, not so much: this is not a criticism, just an opinion. I find that the lead breaks are so far removed from the verse or chorus that I find them very difficult to memorize. I can memorize the tune but that’s not what blues is all about I realize this is just a personal problem and no one can cure it foe me but I would certainly accept any suggestions. Just wanted to vent with some real blues pickers.
Those guys blaming being 60 for having trouble rememering!!I”m 88 and it still takes me 3 or 4 run throughs to learn a song. ( HUN-I wish)
Charlie
I’m new here. Just wanted to say thanks to Griff for some great tips and tools to use for a guy who is basically just a chord strummer who wants to learn how to do more – that’s me. New things always pop up in my mind, a melody or lyrics, etc. I’ll hum and sing, but before I can write it down and get back to my guitar at home…I’ve forgotten what it was! So I bought this small recorder for such occasions, but, I can’t remember where I put it!
Thanks Griff on behalf of all the would be guitarists out there.
I knew a Ed Chambers on this side of the pond; he was our office caretaker. Ed I would ask that you do to nick pick Griff’s presentation of a method because he may or may not have misquoted a letter. Perhaps his typist should be addressed in your thoughts and not in your writing hand(s).
I am not even sure why I feel it necessary to defend Griff’s postings suffice to say he, is for the most of us, a great tutor and is not worthy of this continued barrage of comments.
i have a book of over 350 songs i have written in the past 40 years. i have about 30 of them from the past 5 on my pc. i like to listen to a song a few times until i can sing the song with out a piece of sheet music. once i got the song in my head then i learn the chords. then every thing else falls in place. i have a demo of some songs i wrote, did all the instruments on and the producton and mixing. there in my friends office draw. he is Paul Sinmons publisher and road manager. one Hidie Flice. the famous madam. She was going to make a movie and heraed my song ,:Street Walker” she wanted it for the movie. i was in heaven. then they cancled making the movie. fame just flew out the window. great that you put this blog up. it will help those whoow want to write , or just learn a song and all the bits and pieces that go into it. thanks Griff.
I’m 72 and I find I can learn the HARD parts and retain them ok.. the easy parts I have to keep going over and over and over…..
As always good stuff Griff…
Sounds like good advice. Basically I have been doing the part of playing til I get stumped like you said. Or I will pick so much to memorize at one time and play that until I have it before moving on. I works for me. I will try the clumping also. Thanks Griff
A key thing in learning a new song, at least for me, is to already “know” it. In other words, like a song enough to have listened to it many times. Listen to the rhythm, listen for the chord changes, really get inside it. The second key thing is to go to a book (as Griff pointed out recently in his great video using the Beatles songbook as an example) or the internet to download the lyrics and chords to the song. Copy them to a Word document, print it out and set it on your music stand. Go over it slowly, playing the chords, until it’s comfortable. Then, add the lyrics. It is singing that has advanced my playing (I’d say I’m intermediate, maybe advanced in some areas, not so much in my soloing). In order to sing, you need to have time, which you need to play. To sing, you need to be comfortable in playing the song without thinking about the chords, and without looking at your hands. You need rhythm – which I have, not to brag but I know it and a bluesman name Lil’ Ed, leader of the Blues Imperials from Chicago, told me so at a jam one night when I played with him. Anyway, once I have the chords, the chord changes, the rhythm, I keep going on the lyrics, over and over until I know them. I always play through the mistakes, as Griff said, know where I made them, and correct them. My biggest issue at age 60 is keeping a list of all the songs I know – I could play for more than an hour, maybe two hours, without repeating. To summarize, the key is repetition – but correct repetition.
Tips and experienced advice like these are invaluable. Thanks Griff!!!
Perfect timing Griff as one of the emphasis we went over in our church worship band meeting yesterday was “memorization” so that we look out at the congregation rather than needing sheet music. Engaging is an important factor no matter what Genre you play when performing. We play progressive / contemporary Christian music and the youth especially don’t want to see musicians looking down at music. You can’t get into what is being delivered when you do that. Studying your DVD’s and learning the songs so that I can play along to the CD has always been a great way to challenge me and learn to memorize. Once I do, I can then improvise which is always a lot of fun.
Yep.. it’s seems routine that after learning some new licks with fills, or starting to dissect a new song, any project worked on before gets scattered in memory. My fingers are stumbling aimlessly around the fretboard, not making any real coordinated sense. I will try these tips.
Good morning Griff,
I enjoyed the points made in memorization. The one I use most often is separation of verses, chorus, bridge or what have you. It makes it easy for me. But it’s a good idea in knowing other ways to help with memory to music. It just depends on the individual. Once again, I enjoy learning from the Master Instructor.
Many Thanks,
Greg, Guitar/Vocals
ABSOULTLY YOU GOT THAT RIGHT FREEBIRD
Well if it takes to long to get it you might be pushing yourself too hard, try simple stuff and work up to the level you want to be at. There are many 3 cord songs. I worked at that level for a long time before moving to a song which has as many cords to it like stormy monday . I think there is like 13 . ugh!
Thank you for this insight and format. i struggle trying to remember everything and it turns into a jumble of nothing good. This I will practice and use.
Interesting!
I consider myself an intermediate beginner and have been poking at the guitar for decades. I learned most of what I can play from friends who showed me where to put my fingers.
Because using that learning method I have had to memorize every thing I played since the first time I picked up the instrument.
So I have about 20 songs that I can play from memory, with my eyes closed.
The reason I am taking the “BGU” course is to learn to apply notation to the neck of a guitar, so I can learn more songs and styles.
And it is working!
Sounds good — good advice
Thanks
Peace
Please keep the info coming. Much appreciated. Thank you.
Funny you posted this. Just this past week I decided it was time to memorize my favorite songs, yet I struggled! I am excited to apply your methods and see what happens. Thank you! You rock!
I look at learning a song like learning to tell a joke. The sequence and emphasis is important in both. The lyrics help to tell you where you are in the song and makes the chord changes easier. Of course identify repeating chunks.
I can’t just do it in my head. I write out the lyrics over and over so that I have a visual connection as well. I have the hardest time with this but if I can turn it into a flash card like exercise it really helps me. I must have a visual crutch.
Hey Griff, I am relearning the guitar again, I have had 3 strokes and my short term memory is very SHORT, but I am trying. I learn using baby steps. but once I learn a song by tomorrow I have forgotten it. Do you have suggestions??
“G, C, G, D, G, C, G, C, G, C, G, D, G, C, G, D”
“That monstrosity above becomes “I, IV, I,V 4 times.”
I think the third C should be a D.
Good eye! I noticed it too, and hope Griff will either correct it or move your comment to the permanent 1st post in this thread – the mistake may be confusing for some~
Stephen W.
All good strategies…thanks…later.
cowboy
Hi Griff,
Thanks for the pointers and while I was reading your blog I was thinking pretty much like Mark, but I’m 70. Back in the 50s and a large part of the 60s most of the songs used only three or four chords and I’m talking about major, minor and dominant 7th. But popular music like most everything else in life continued to progress and got more complicated. All of your pointers are good especially the one about memory. “If you don’t use it, you will lose it!”
Old School and Still Rockin’
Thanks that helps.
Bill
Hello Griff,
Cool ideas. I’ll have to give them a go as I struggle if the sheets are not in front of me. Maybe being 60 has something to do with it :).
Please keep the info coming.
Mark