Memorising song structures

[SteveXFR]

Im having some trouble remembering more complex song structures. Our band has lots of double length bridges, half verses and missing choruses and other weird stuff that works great but is a bugger to remember. I love that the listener doesn't know whats coming next, I just wish I knew!

Any tips or is it just repetition until I get it?

[Lozz196]

Just repetition until you get it imo Steve, I’ve been going through this myself with the latest song we’ve decided to do and just going over & over it is getting me there, I can’t see any quicker way to be honest.

[peteb]

Write out simple charts until you have played the songs enough times to memorise them. 

 

[ezbass]

20 minutes ago, peteb said:

Write out simple charts until you have played the songs enough times to memorise them. 

 

^^^^ Very much this. Any little note that aids memory/instills confidence is worthwhile. I used to have tunes that I’d have a mental block with, which only got worse as the section approached. I’d just write a few chords down on the set list that I could quickly look at for reassurance.

[peteb]

13 minutes ago, ezbass said:

^^^^ Very much this. Any little note that aids memory/instills confidence is worthwhile. I used to have tunes that I’d have a mental block with, which only got worse as the section approached. I’d just write a few chords down on the set list that I could quickly look at for reassurance.

 

Remember, this is what ever pro will do if they are asked to dep /  learn a set. It is just a part of a skill set that it is a good idea for you to develop. 

 

[chris_b]

I'm currently learning a set for a new band. 99% original songs and the band leader/singer/songwriter doesn't always use the 4 bar structure. The stuff you don't have to learn. Where you can feel the changes. Usually learning a set is about patterns but this guy is using different structures, 6 bars instead of 4, sometimes 5!! I'm also contending with double length bridges, half verses, missing choruses and bridge sections that sometimes have rules and sometimes don't! I've written charts from the YouTube and mp3's supplied. The first gig, in 2 weeks, is the audition. I'll either join the band or it was just a dep. Failure is not an option so I'm playing the full set every day. I intend to know these songs better than the guy who wrote them and play them better than the last bassist. IMO it's a good band so it's worth the effort.