Instantly learning songs

[morrism357]

Im trying to find some direction here. Someone starred singing the popular song "grateful". And i was expected to pick it up. I could sing the melody. But couldnt play it instantly. I could learn the song by myself or go find the chords. This picking up soloist seems to be essential to playing in church. Yes I do kniw theory. Chords,progressions i can play in any key. Somebody explain how this is done. Do you know where the melody is going and therefore you know the chords to play. If you know   by using progression patterns how do you do that when there is no bass line to figure the progression. ExplIn to me your method or steps.

[T-Block]

Here's my advice, if you can't pick up a song instantly, don't get discouraged. Just because you are a musician, that doesn't mean you can play any and every song known to man at the drop of a dime. And don't let other people make you feel bad because you can't. Picking up a soloist is NOT essential, it is a learned experience.

Another thing is the term "popular song" doesn't mean diddly squat to me. Just because it seems like everyone and they momma sing it, that doesn't make it a must know for every musician. Some people need to to either bring their own musicians, or have a CD ready for those moments.

When I don't know a song, the first thing I do is DON'T PLAY. There's nothing worse than a musician fumbling through a song. What I like to do is see if I can form a chord progression that goes with the song. It may not be correct, but it will work for the time. If none of my ideas seem to fit, then I just let them sing acapella.

If you can find the 1 of the song, then your in business. And usually before the 1 is a 5, and before that possibly a 2. So, u got three chords right there w/out really even thinking. After the one, follow their voice and go through different progressions in your head. Once u got ur pattern, get the key and go for it.

Chording by melody alone is complicated. Plus, these days the bass notes people use to go with the melody sometimes doesn't fit together at all. Unless you know the song man, it's really hit or miss. Sometimes you hit, and sometimes u bomb and just need to not play at all. Non-musicians will never really understand this, so when they start talking about you, just let roll off your back and keep going. Like Jesus said on the cross, "Forgive them, for they know not what they do."

[kodacolor]

Here's my advice, if you can't pick up a song instantly, don't get discouraged. Just because you are a musician, that doesn't mean you can play any and every song known to man at the drop of a dime. And don't let other people make you feel bad because you can't. Picking up a soloist is NOT essential, it is a learned experience.

Another thing is the term "popular song" doesn't mean diddly squat to me. Just because it seems like everyone and they momma sing it, that doesn't make it a must know for every musician. Some people need to to either bring their own musicians, or have a CD ready for those moments.

When I don't know a song, the first thing I do is DON'T PLAY. There's nothing worse than a musician fumbling through a song. What I like to do is see if I can form a chord progression that goes with the song. It may not be correct, but it will work for the time. If none of my ideas seem to fit, then I just let them sing acapella.

If you can find the 1 of the song, then your in business. And usually before the 1 is a 5, and before that possibly a 2. So, u got three chords right there w/out really even thinking. After the one, follow their voice and go through different progressions in your head. Once u got ur pattern, get the key and go for it.

Chording by melody alone is complicated. Plus, these days the bass notes people use to go with the melody sometimes doesn't fit together at all. Unless you know the song man, it's really hit or miss. Sometimes you hit, and sometimes u bomb and just need to not play at all. Non-musicians will never really understand this, so when they start talking about you, just let roll off your back and keep going. Like Jesus said on the cross, "Forgive them, for they know not what they do."

[morrism357]

Thanks tblock I knew you would come through. Im surprised i didnt get more respones. This board used to be very active. I guess youtube has took most of the chord requesters away from this board. I think you hit on my missing piece. While I know progressions by theory. I dont know them by ear. I cant listen ti a song and pick out the progression.

[T-Block]

I think you hit on my missing piece. While I know progressions by theory. I dont know them by ear. I cant listen ti a song and pick out the progression.

This is most people's problem with playing by ear. It used to be my problem for a while until one day out the blue it just clicked. Now, all those songs that were too hard for me, I can go back and here the chord progressions and learn it. You should go through this process:

1. play/practice

2. hear what you played/practiced

3. hear

4. play back what you heard

Most people get through steps 1 and 2 and get stuck. In reality though, they really stuck in step 1. Getting to step 2 will inevitably lead u to steps 3 and 4. Once u really listen to and remember the things u practice and play, you will start to become conscious to music. You will be listening to a commercial or the radio, and hear a certain chord progression and then something should click in your head like "I've heard that b4" or "that sounds like something i practiced", etc.

Once u get that going in your head, you are well on your way to playing by ear. It's a process man, one that takes time. Keep at it and you will get to where u want to be.

[B3Wannabe]

This is most people's problem with playing by ear. It used to be my problem for a while until one day out the blue it just clicked. Now, all those songs that were too hard for me, I can go back and here the chord progressions and learn it. You should go through this process:

1. play/practice

2. hear what you played/practiced

3. hear

4. play back what you heard

Most people get through steps 1 and 2 and get stuck. In reality though, they really stuck in step 1. Getting to step 2 will inevitably lead u to steps 3 and 4. Once u really listen to and remember the things u practice and play, you will start to become conscious to music. You will be listening to a commercial or the radio, and hear a certain chord progression and then something should click in your head like "I've heard that b4" or "that sounds like something i practiced", etc.

Once u get that going in your head, you are well on your way to playing by ear. It's a process man, one that takes time. Keep at it and you will get to where u want to be.

Maybe it's been too long for me, but I am always amazed when I show someone something, they learn it, then when I do the same thing in a different song, they ask me what I did again. I'm like....Um....I showed you that already!

[T-Block]

Maybe it's been too long for me, but I am always amazed when I show someone something, they learn it, then when I do the same thing in a different song, they ask me what I did again. I'm like....Um....I showed you that already!

Exactly, same here.

[mjl422]

Maybe it's been too long for me, but I am always amazed when I show someone something, they learn it, then when I do the same thing in a different song, they ask me what I did again. I'm like....Um....I showed you that already!

I'm not a keyboard player (I play bass) but, one of the problems that I had for years was that I would memorize songs.  So, when somebody would sing/play a song that I never heard before or practiced I would be completely lost.  Nobody really explained to me about hearing prgressions.  I wasted a lot of years memorizing/forgetting/relearning songs.  It wasn't until somebody explained to me about learning and hearing progressions that things started to click for me. 

For instance, a 3-6-2-5-1 the same regardless of the song. The key, feel and voicings might be different but the progression is the same. Once you learn how to flow through common progressions, You'll be on your way to "faking" your way through songs.  I'm still not great at it but, I get better at it everytime a practice/play because I make sure I pay close attention to what I am doing and why.

[smalls85s]

My 2 cents
You don't know what you know until you know it.

In other words, you might know how to play a song but just don't realize it yet.  Especially a slow song without a lot of crazy chords.  The only solution to being able to pick up a song on the spot and wing it is experience.  I wouldn't just not play because I've never heard the song before.  If I have heard it but never tried to play it, I'll at least play along with the melody until I can find the bass and rest of the chords.  If I've never heard it, listen through one verse, find the key, play the obvious majors, 1, 4, 5, and such.  Thats just a beginners way to learn to pick up songs on the fly.  Over time you can learn enough and become comfortable enough to do more, but you need to start doing something and not just sit there.

I know this young guy who used to play keyboard.  He could play some complicated patterns and chords, and sounded real good.  Made me want to learn some stuff from him.  But his problem was, he couldn't pick up and play a song by ear.  Not even the simplest of songs, hymns, or anything.  The church he played for really discouraged him into giving up playing because he couldn't follow along during a service.  I used to tell him, he already knows how to play those songs, he already knew the chords, he already knew the patterns, but when he was back at his church he couldn't get it.  To me, it was really sad to see that talent go to waste when all he needed was some experience and some good old 'try something don't just sit there'.

[T-Block]

My 2 cents
You don't know what you know until you know it.

In other words, you might know how to play a song but just don't realize it yet.  Especially a slow song without a lot of crazy chords.  The only solution to being able to pick up a song on the spot and wing it is experience.  I wouldn't just not play because I've never heard the song before.  If I have heard it but never tried to play it, I'll at least play along with the melody until I can find the bass and rest of the chords.  If I've never heard it, listen through one verse, find the key, play the obvious majors, 1, 4, 5, and such.  Thats just a beginners way to learn to pick up songs on the fly.  Over time you can learn enough and become comfortable enough to do more, but you need to start doing something and not just sit there.

On the other hand, don't spend the whole song fumbling through cuz that's just as bad. It may even be a little worse cuz now instead of trying to enhance the song, you've become a distraction. It you can't get it in the first minute of the song, then I'd say just not play.

Like you said, the key is experience. The more you do it the better you get at it.

[mjl422]

On the other hand, don't spend the whole song fumbling through cuz that's just as bad. It may even be a little worse cuz now instead of trying to enhance the song, you've become a distraction. It you can't get it in the first minute of the song, then I'd say just not play.

Like you said, the key is experience. The more you do it the better you get at it.

I agree.  I've seen musicians fumble through an entire song before and it's not pretty.  Another thing I would suggest is to record yourself and go back and work on problem areas. 

[kingrhollo]

I'm just throwing my little bit in hoping that it helps.  I consider myself a Beginner / Intermediate and the "hearing progressions" skill has just matured as of late.  And the key is totally practing at home, but also listening for the BASIC progression.  My problem for so long was seeing T-Block or someone post that a progression was 1-4-5 and hearing so much more.  But when I took the time to listen to the song and play along with it....it was like "OOOOOOOOHHHHH!!!!! Now I hear it."  Then I would find myself practicing on those progressions and singing another song that goes with the same progression.  After working on the progressions, I was surprised during a revival.  My pastor had a different song every night that went along with his sermon.  And I found out what the song was when he started singing it.  And it worked out because I became familiar with the progressions and I could feel the change coming.  I could hear when a 3 would lead into a 6 or a 4.  Or when the finish would be 2-5-1.

Another thing I have started to do is copy chorded songs from this site and then write out the progression from the left hand bass note.  Then I can just practice following the progression and use my own chord vocabulary.  Getting tabs from the bass forum has helped also.

[T-Block]

My problem for so long was seeing T-Block or someone post that a progression was 1-4-5 and hearing so much more.  But when I took the time to listen to the song and play along with it....it was like "OOOOOOOOHHHHH!!!!! Now I hear it."

Yeah man, that's a problem for a lot of people. You can play a progression as fancy as you want, but when it all boils down, it can be as simple as a 1-4-5.