Guitar lessons in my early twenties:

1-Each week my teacher gave me an arrangement he made of a song. The arrangement was involved with new ideas.
2-I found that I could play the arrangement much better if I memorize it. So, each week I came with a song that I had memorized – I was prepared.
3-I did not play/study the entire song immediately. All music tells a story, so I played the first story, four measures, over and over. I did not go any further, but it was not memorized yet.
4-The next day the four measure was no problem, I played them without looking at the music.

Mark, has a point, there is some kind of hand memory. Not going deep here, just think of how many movements your hand makes during the day – that you give no thought to.
Memorizing a song:

Take as many measures as your mind allows. Play the first two until you are comfortable; then add the next measure --- do not play the song beginning to end. You are teaching the hand memory, it’s like learning a habit. You cannot rush the process.

And yes, learning the theory of chord progressions will simplify the learning. The song “More” has a I VIm IIm V7 chord progression in the beginning. G Em Am D7. You will see this chord progression in many songs, making the task of memorizing an easier task. Most people do not think about any of this, they just forge ahead and play, and enjoy --- and it happens.

John C.

When I was teaching High School, we showed the kids that anything we learn, that you refresh within 24 hours will have about an 80% higher retention rate than if you just visit the topic/subject/song one day, and then spend time away from it.
So, if you study a song, or lyric on a monday .... then revisit it on tuesday, you'll remember it much easier than if you wait until thursday to revisit. We proved this to be correct many, many times with our kids.
Study small phrases at a time, and revisit the material the next day and see how it works for you.

Thanks Dave,
Will try that too.

My late Uncle was posted to Burma during world war two and I remember him telling me of a soldier in his platoon who was a pianist.Unable to have access to a piano,he painted the black and white keys on a piece of wood and used it to memorise notes as he played them saying he could visulise the sound of each note in his head.

Amazing ... I would assume he had perfect pitch?

Hi,
Interesting about memory.

Haven’t played piano in roughly 20 years ( not till my p121 a couple of months back (Thank you Dave) . Gave up on it totally after I had sell mine ( no space after downsizing). Didn’t really do much keyboard playing either, all my time over the years was spent on style converting, studying functions etc.

Anyway, got my little piano, sat down, totally stunned myself, I remembered how to play a few of my favourite old tunes. Not necessarily all the way thru, and not very well, but there was still something there.
I certainly don’t play by ear, I’ve always had to read anything I played.

There's a well-known book out called Psycho-cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz. I read it twice. They experimented with professional basket ball players....put them in three groups. First group practiced physically shooting balls at the basket, next group did nothing at all (no practice), third group......!!!!!.....just stood there looking at the basket and IMAGINING they were shooting the ball into the basket. Weeks later when they tested them again, group A showed progress, group B showed NO progress, and....Group C, who played basketball in their minds only, showed as much progress as Group A!!!

There's a similar book for musicians...about learning and playing music using "mind power techniques!"

So, you guys pretty much know about this already (what I wrote). Bill, as usual, you're a step ahead of me. In retrospect, I should have handed you the topic, wound you up, and let YOU come up with the explanation. You always manage to put into a few words what it takes me a thousand words to say.

You ask me periodically how I'm doing with my "piano program" these last few months. It's coming along but I'm really dragging these days. I get my daily 90-120 minutes in (in 4 or 5) sessions, but I'm losing interest. Reason being, I'm starting to realize no matter how much better I get, where is it going to get me. Self-satisfaction only.

But I'll buy into "self-satisfaction." Six months ago I couldn't dream I could ever play a left-hand arpeggio, or do walking bass, or the elusive Jerry Lee boogie bass. Now I'm maybe 70-80% there, but still not "fluent" as I would like it. But I'm determined and I'm dedicated. I carry on because there's nothing as satisfying as being able to play what you hear in your head....WHEN "you hear it in your head!"

Yes, I'm using every "mind principle" that I know...my "last hurrah" in this lifetime.

Paul (montuno man) said it even more efficiently in a past post, using just a few words. In the end, there IS no magic bullet or mystery formula or exotic elixir (or snake oil even). Paul said: "it's all about simple but intense focus and intense concentration on WHATEVER it is you're practicing!" I suppose that's another way of saying "mind power!"

I'm real careful about my spelling these days because I'm noticing the spelling police are roaming the streets of the Synthzone. Donny's got to be careful...he could very well end up incarcerated for life!