Learning is one thing. Remembering? That's another.

[tovo]

One of the many things I admire about really experienced players is their ability to remember the songs they have learned. For example it seems that Neil can play just about any song mentioned without too much problem.

I really took aboard something Tommy E said once in a video I saw here. He said that when you learn a new song you should play only that song, over and over until you know it in your sleep. That makes sense to me and I feel I have the self discipline I need to do that.

Problem arises when I try to recall other songs I have learned and find myself struggling. I don't forget them completely, but I certainly can't recall them as well as I would like.

So question is: Is this ability something that develops over time as one becomes a better and more experienced player, or do those of you who have big catalogues of tunes regularly go through them and brush up in order to keep them in your memory for when you want to play them? Any useful techniques or ideas on this?

[jayswett]

Excellent question. No doubt the ability to remember songs improves as you continue to learn them and begin to recognize patterns among various pieces of music. Having said that, I, too, struggle with the problem of forgetting what I've learned months before. I've decided to do the following: For three weeks out of every four, I will learn new songs, techniques, musical principles. For the fourth week, I will do nothing but review what I have learned over the previous several months. During that fourth week, I will resist the tempation to learn anything new. We'll see how this idea works out.

[Lavallee]

I think the more complicated a song is, the more often you should practice it. In my case I have a fairly short memory and I do not learn very fast. So to forget a song that I have worked a year on, bothers me. So If I realize that I am starting to forget some section I bring the song back to the top of my practicing schedule. I have noted that some songs that I can play with my eyes closed are more resilient to memory failure.

Marc

[michelew]

I can soooo relate Tony. I can't remember Greensleeves even though I played it every time I picked up my guitar there for a while. Some songs I can hold OK and I just need to fiddle around with by ear to get the bits I'm rusty on, other songs I need to go back to the music and relearn. For a while there I was essentially learning 1 song at a time and playing it to death until I could play it blindfolded and only half awake. At the moment I'm learning 4 or 5 songs and I fear that it is dividing my attention too much. I might need to revisit that strategy. I like Jay's plan. I need to find more discipline I think. Still even though my learning of individual songs is not progressing as fast as it could, I'm enjoying the learning and the playing.

Good thread. I'm definitely open to how to do it better so that I retain more.

[willem]

BUT!! it is also a matter of time you have everyday or week to do some practice,so you must make for yourself o good plan,,i don't have any on the moment but i'm gonna make one,,everybody knows or have the experience when you are on a song it get boring,you play it to dead,at that piont you must move to a new one or try to remember to old ones.
the most pleaser i get out of to try a new one.
Ones a month we have a friends musical evening, in that week i go through all the songs that we possible would do on that evening,,,and then i mess up..lol

[izzyhara]

I LOVE to organize things. And fortunately, I have kept a notebook of almost every song I have ever learned - and back in the 70's, that was ALOT of songs. I have all the words and chords for those older songs, and tabs or whatever for my newer stuff. It all lives in a couple of notebooks. The songs that I am currently learning are out on my music stand (oh BTW in my total anal fashion, everything is in sheet protectors - gawd!!). So for me, it is a serious walk down memory lane to go back to some of those old songs. So I revisit them pretty regularly - there are even little sticky notes or comments written on some of them because in many cases, I have created my own way of delivering these songs. I couldn't possibly keep these all in my head so this is my way of remembering.

[buddy]

I am always torn about this and I try to keep it balanced. Like Izzy said, I also keep three ring binders with all the songs I have learned that last two years. I also keep a one page sheet in my guitar case that lists each song that I know. About once a week I try to play through the whole list. or at least the songs that are more difficult for me to remember. If I am bored I will work on multiple songs at once, at other times I will really focus on just one song for a whole week. I try to balance this out so I don't get stale and frustrated.

I do think that over time you tend to retain the songs easier. I think the hardest thing for all of us is finding the time to practice and time to just play for the fun of playing.

Bud

[neverfoundthetime]

I used to have tons of song books and pages of notes piled up high in a cupboard. I then decided to compile my own songbook which now has 200 songs in it. When I feel that I know the the song well enough, I add it to my book. So it's a great reference book and a help for sing-alongs when I go down to the lake or meet with friends. They have the lyrics to sing to. I have also noticed, that if I apply the TE method you mention, Tony, the song is really engraved in my mind and synapses. Question is an example. As it requires retuning the 12 string, I don't play it often but as I spent days playing it endlessly for hours on end at one time, I know that I can pull it off at any time, any place. I don't feel I have to remember this sort of song, I just KNOW it. Any song I feel I KNOW, I can recall at any time. I do feel I am able to remember more stuff as my playing is slowly advancing and getting more sophisticated (I have been a simple camp fire banger for 25 years!). I reckon I really know Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me by now... and won't forget it in a hurry!!

[Chasplaya]

I was going to say something...but i've forgotten....

[willem]

Chasplaya wrote:

I was going to say something...but i've forgotten....

Then it was a lie,,,lol,,,we say that in Holland.....