Re: How to remember tunes?
Originally Posted by
Pittsburgh Bill
I, too, have a hard time remembering tunes. I have used all the methods I have previously read about in this forum and they have helped, but I still find it more difficult than I think it should be. I do recommend searching through the Cafe for tips for remembering tunes.
Once I have memorized or almost memorized a tune I put it on a list with the following; TITLE KEY 1ST TWO MEASURES WITH WORDS /NOTES. When preparing a set list I can pull the tunes I want and print out a list with the info. Not full proof but I don't go blank as often.
I do envy those with the talent and memory to be like an encyclopedia of tunes.
Make set lists. Group your songs together by theme - These are Irish fiddle tunes, these are Irish drinking tunes, these are sea shanties, these are bluegrass tunes about a guy who owns a still. If one song fits on several lists, then put it on several lists. Slowly fill out your set lists until each list has around ten songs on it. Add some country & blues songs and you can easily have 6-8 set lists before every long.
Practice each set until you can play the whole set list all the way through from memory. Then commit the next set list to memory. Then the next.
Then when you sit down to practice, just pick two set lists that you know by heart and play them straight through from memory. The next day pick the next two set lists. In four days you'll have worked your way through all the songs you have, and that will keep them all fresh.
Most songs are ~3 minutes long. Ten songs is 30 minutes of music. So playing two set lists is an hour of music, an hour of practice.
Once you have several sets down, then playing a two or three hour block at a festival or parking lot jam will be easy.
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