That is another bad habit also....many players are so entrenched into the sheet & use it as a crutch much too much...memorization is a good technique to master. It frees up the mind to be more creative while playing. Good post Jonny !

It might sound silly but as an excercise I suggest..and I have mentioned this in previous posts on SZ for years...

1- blindfold yourself and try to play some familiar songs concentrate on less mistakes

2- have someone Talk to you while your playing this will stenghten your ability to multitask & let the playing become secondary & effortless

3- with repeated playing try to completley memorize at least one song a week. Everytime you forget any parts just adlib adding your own twist to it.

What a load of tosh!

And this one I took note of : "Everytime you forget any parts just adlib adding your own twist to it." you mean like when someone changes the lyrics in the anthem, they should just add their own twist and thats all okay?

I was talking about playing not singing.....

Well, for those players and singers that like to play a different set of 60-70 songs each gig, having a resource like Unrealbook and the iPad makes it do-able.

I for one cannot remember chords and lyrics to over 1000 songs (my current PA2 Songbook resource)

If you are saying you CAN do this (remember the chords and lyrics to 1000 songs and NOT just 2 and 3 chord tunes either), well then, I have to admit I find that difficult to believe....

Maybe you can, but you would be the first I have ever come across in over 35 years.

Thats why I said TOSH to your post. Also a player CAN be very creative and spontaneous with a chart. Chart reading does not inhibit "free-style" playing!!!

They certainly can be spontaneous...all the chart acts as is a map.

If you needed directions to a certain place, then, you'd use a map, or have someone draw one for you.

The first time you'd have to look at it a lot.

Next time, not so much.

Eventually you wouldn't need it, and, perhaps, after getting familiar with the territory, you could try other ways of getting there, perhaps a different street with more scenic diversity...or a shortcut.

Then, if you hadn't been to that place in quite a long time, you'd just take out your map, and depending on how long you were away, you'd study it briefly, or intently, but probably, never as much as the first time.

I doubt if I remember, or ever did remember, the changes for 1000 songs...heck, maybe, and that's a big maybe, about a third that many...that's why I have charts and fake books...just too much to remember, on top of remembering which style, what tempo, what instruments featured...even what key, if using transposition.

Someone that can remember 1000 songs and their chords, or lyrics, or both, must have a "photographic" memory.

I've been reading charts and fake music for a long time, and I'm not usually "locked in" to rigorous interpretation, unless it is specified beforehand.

Ian

Exactly!!! And then the driver is free to choose his own way of getting to the same destination.

D

This music chart debate has been going round and round here for far too long. There's a BIG difference between having your nose buried in a book when performing vs simply using a chart as a road map. Though I've got my core repertoire memorized, I always keep a lyric and/or chord chart discreetly handy to cue me in for 'audience requested' songs that may not be so fresh in my memory. Only when featured as the lead/solo performer in a 'stage show' setting and playing a specific song set, will I make sure I have all my material fully memorized.

I use to be able to set down and play about 75 songs without the music. I took a 15 year break where I did not play. Now, I am a bit discuraged that I do not remember more than a small handfull.
So, I find myself totally re-learning these songs...and it's not as easy as when I was younger. Now I seem to need the leadsheets more.

Is there any suggestions for memorizing songs?
And, yes, I do remember I used to adlib some and change up the sounds to make it less boring.

Yes, it was nicely played, but a little creativity with instrumentation or modulations would add a lot to his playing.

I perform that tune, when requested and I usually use a sax solo through the first time, then I go to the sax/clarinet combo, then a solo trumpet in the little middle section, then back to the sax/clarinet combo.

I go through it a 3rd time, with piano and strings for the main section but feature a clarinet on the middle section, then finish with the piano/string thing.

I also modulate as I go into the 3rd time through, which really lifts it, IMO...

If I sing it, I use a different arrangement with a variation of
the above stuff...

When I sit down and memorize a song, I first flesh out the chord progression (Im-VIm-IIm-V7-I etc) and note any repeating chord progression patterns. Once I got that, I'm able to then easily figure out & play the melody 'by ear' while playing along to the chord progression, as the melody notes are included within the associated chord scales.