How do you learn full songs?

[67mike]

I don't sing, in fact I don't pay much attention to lyrics. So I can't rely on those to learn songs.

How do you learning full songs?

 

[RaceU4her]

I don’t think I know a full song that isn’t mine

 

[Fusionbear]

I've played a ton of covers. I usually listen to the song and identify the parts

Intro, verse, pre-chorus, chorus, bridge, etcetera.

Then I learn each section and stitch it together. Play along with the tune a whole bunch of times... learn the vocals as I learn the guitar parts if necessary...

 

[VonBonfire]

I don't sing, in fact I don't pay much attention to lyrics. So I can't rely on those to learn songs.

If you don't know the lyrics, you don't know the song.

 

[rsm]

always listen to the bass and drums.





/S




@Fusionbear has it how I do it; break it into parts, learn the parts; put it together; play along with the song; then play through it on your own, get it smooth, flowing and natural. If I have to play the lead, I work on that last.

 

[Metalhex]

I dont think I've ever learned a song completely.

 

[SFW]

The lyrics or at least the vocal melody is kind of important. I typically break it down in the sections until I have it all down. And then I'll put the songs I am learning into a playlist and jam along repeatedly.

 

[Tone Monster]

YouTube is the way to learn. When I was a teenager in the 90s, I’d watch Metallica concert videos in slow motion to see where the hands were on the fretboard!

 

[CoreyW]

Pull up the song I want to cover in guitar pro, and hit play... follow the best I can, make a mental note of areas I need to work on, move to playing along to the actual track as quick as I can.

Songs that are single guitar player with multiple parts, I try and find live versions to see where the player is pulling what parts of the recording from and then try and learn it like that.

I start from the beginning, and work my way through, if I am not having to build up my technique to play it, I can usually get to playing a long with the track without the tabs or whatever pretty quick, and I will add it to my songs playlist and just play it as it comes up to stay up on it... the tricky parts I iron out of several play throughs at album speed.

I also try and identify different cues, vocals or drums typically, sometime bass or what I am playing is the cue.. when in doubt I will count it out, but I do cheat on this part a lot.

 

[Floyd Eye]

Strange question.

By ear. Don’t know tab and don’t cheat with YouTube. Been doing it that way since about 1977. If you never had to lift a needle over and over to learn a song you just don’t know. Thats when you really realized how bad 8 track sucked. Lol

 

[cobrahead1030]

I used to learn everything by ear. Now I’ll usually find a YouTube lesson/cover & learn it that way, maybe reference back to the original recording if there are guitar parts I really consider essential.

Once I’ve got it down, I’ll usually play along to the original audio. Sometimes I’ll use a jam or backing track if there’s one available, or I’ll make one if it’s something I plan to record or I need to play it out live in a different key.

I pretty much always learn the vocal parts, even if I’m not singing them. I don’t say I know a song until I can turn on a click & play it correctly from start to finish, at least humming or mumbling the lyrics as I go.

 

[67mike]

If you don't know the lyrics, you don't know the song

My brain focuses on the guitar.

 

[reignman454]

Catch the groove listening, start breaking down the parts and jamming with it... always seemed the fastest to me.

I find that watching videos (call me old school) sucks a ton of the ability to learn from me and more importantly, I didn't feel like a KNEW the song, I knew how to play it. There's a massive difference in knowing exactly what to play and knowing five different ways to play it woodshedding and learning it by ear.. ymmv. I'd equate it to learning how to write and spell... I never could wrap my head around writing the same stupid word ten times in a row and then the next word ten times.... here we are typing...


Drummers were always my bane... If I lost drums in my ears, I was in for a ride... I always locked in with the drummer, never the singer. I played with drummers who got excited and sped up... guys that improvised every fill and if they went long, speed bump for sure.

 

[inyarak74]

Strange question.

By ear. Don’t know tab and don’t cheat with YouTube. Been doing it that way since about 1977. If you never had to lift a needle over and over to learn a song you just don’t know. Thats when you really realized how bad 8 track sucked. Lol

Oh come on dude, that’s me too, but YouTube has made it easier, and I use it. But I’m glad I didn’t have it in the early days. Ear is king

 

[Techdeth]

I made myself love learning song structures and memorizing pieces piece by piece from the beginning . See how many times a riffs played and do they have fills . Song structures are awesome . I loved learning SOAD . They have fun ones that are odd .

 

[LPMojoGL]

Hit play, play along. Rewind, repeat. Search tab for things I can't figure out.
Can get a set list of cover tunes down in a few hours.

 

[geetarmikey]

Not being facetious here, but just listen to them and learn the sections bit by bit until you have it? What else is there to say apart from enjoy doing it and learning while you go!

 

[Floyd Eye]

Oh come on dude, that’s me too, but YouTube has made it easier, and I use it. But I’m glad I didn’t have it in the early days. Ear is king

Even when I was gigging in a cover band I learned them by listening to them.