Learning a Lot of Songs
Everyday Music Every Day #5
If you want to learn a lot of songs, step one is song structure. I figured this out through DJing. You’ve got to know where you are in a song at all times. The more familiar you are with structure, the more songs start to overlap in your head. You begin to recognize patterns and can basically predict what’s coming next.
That’s what makes DJ’ing easier. You can adjust on the fly, handle requests, and still keep things moving. Even though you might say “no requests,” there’s always someone you actually want to play something for. And once you understand how songs are built, you spend less time preparing and more time just doing the thing. I’ve got a gig like that tomorrow night — one hour, full setup, not a big deal.
It’s the same when you’re learning songs. There’s no shortcut. You just have to learn them. I’m in a band that plays about twenty-five songs at a time, and my rule is simple: whatever I can fit on the front of the set list is what I’m allowed not to know yet. Usually, that’s the bridge — and if it’s a Dead song, that part can go just about anywhere.
But once you know structure, even if you don’t know the exact song, you can still guess your way through most of it. You can feel where it’s headed. (Use the Force!)
So when it comes to learning songs, the only real answer is repetition. Do it so much you stop thinking about learning — and start hearing.