• Registered: 2008-06-20
  • Posts: 139

Topic: I think my head is too full?

Ok, fellow Chordiens, here's the problim, when I started to learn the Guitar I suffered from

sore fingers, sometimes almost bleeding, so when I took a rest I download songs from other

sites, I could remember My Music Theroy from my years with the band.  I could change the

key to suite, my voice, (Everybody Laughts here.) I could remember the words from the

songs and the tunes, but when i came to play them, apart from a few, I found I coulden't,

remember 99.5% without the sheet music up in front of me.  I'd like to know if anyone else,

has this problim, I have well over three hundred tunes typed out, (OK, so I don't have a life)

but what I want to know is there some way round the problim.


Luck and Health to all!!!

  • wlbaye
  • Honoured Member
  • Offline
  • From: Black Hills So Dak
  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 1,284

Re: I think my head is too full?

I'm 55 yrs old and have been playing for many years and have about a 250 to 300 songbook and can remember alot but not all.I recently asked SouthPaw 41 the same kind of question and his advice was play with the lyrics and music in front of you and get it right rather than fumble along in front of your crowd.He is a pro doing it for a living and uses lyrics regularly.

Later Wayne P

Later, Wayne P

wlbaye's Website

  • Registered: 2008-06-20
  • Posts: 139

Re: I think my head is too full?

Hi, wlbaye, thanks man, as you say if SouthPaw is doing it then I guess it must be OK,



  Luck and Health toall!!!

  • Registered: 2008-04-27
  • Posts: 24

Re: I think my head is too full?

G'day headcase.  I too have had the same problem.. I am 60 and have been playing for 40 years.
I have learned a couple tricks that may be of assistance to you.  I often find that once I can get the first verse started the rest usually comes.  Use a cheat sheet with the first few lines of the first verse and then one line from each subsequent verse.  After awhile and some practice hopefully you will then be able to visualise most songs by seeing a few lines in your mind.  Worth a try.
Nothing wrong with using a songbook with chord and lyrics handy, helps you also to feel more confident and in control. Another trick is to spend some time reciting a song as if it were a poem in a speaking voice. Tends to help one remember the words.  Good luck!

  • From: Clarion PA
  • Registered: 2008-05-18
  • Posts: 328

Re: I think my head is too full?

Ive been playing for many years and have the same problem. During my stints with different bands I found that a book of index cards with chord progressions for the song along with some of the lyrics and bridges is an excellent way to keep me straight. These work well because of the small size and also because you can carry several with you. You can make one for different genres of music or with just what you plan to play at each performance. I find that the ones with lined white pages work the best as they don't wash out from colored lighting and are easier to read at low light levels. If you're using them for a performance you can keep them in the order you want for each set and if you have to change song order it is fairly simple to go through them quickly. You may be amazed at how infrequently you have to refer to them as you get used to playing each song. After all most of us have too much going on or are just getting a little forgetful to be able to remember all the nuances of a hundred plus songs. Hope this is helpful.Now what was I just saying...

Don't take life too seriously, you're not getting out alive anyway
  • From: Alabama Gulf Coast
  • Registered: 2008-06-24
  • Posts: 1,819

Re: I think my head is too full?

I'm 67. Been playing in bars and eateries since the late 60's.
My songbook has 400+ tunes in it and is way too fat. I considered dividing it into two or more books but that presents a new set of problems.                                                                             Reading onstage while performing looks so bad to the audience. I prefer to limit my song selection and take no papers onstage. I have my fat book along in case of a special request and a heavy metal music stand with a light but the show goes more smoothly with more spontenaety if I can concentrate on my audience and play to and visit with them.

We pronounce it "Guf Coast".
Ya'll wanna go down to the Guf?

tubatooter1940's Website

  • NELA
  • Honoured Member
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  • From: West Monroe, La. 71292
  • Registered: 2007-11-28
  • Posts: 1,303

Re: I think my head is too full?

I, too, have trouble remembering the chords to songs and use my own sheet music when playing. I have only been playing for just over 3 years but I think I am doing well for my experience level. I have a song book with over a 100 songs in it that I have transposed to key's that my wife sings in. We get together with a group of musicians who have been playing together for years, 2 times a month and play. My wife and I get to do 2 to 4 songs per night and I need to use my sheet music in order to play. One of my friends who is a good musician tells me that if I listen I can hear chord changes and play accordingly. I have not developed to that stage, yet. Another thing that affects my playing is that there is just way too many people playing at the same time. There may be 5 to 6 people playing rythem guitar and a couple doing lead, a keyboard and sometimes a steel.With the people playing rythem it seems as though everyone is playing something different. If the song is in the key of "G" I'll be playing open chords, one or 2 others will capo 2nd fret and play "A"  and 1 or 2 will capo 5th fret and play "D". To top everything else off there will be various strum patterns being used so it can be difficult to stay in timing. I try to tune everyone else out and play my song to my wife's singing voice. She has to do the same and tune everything out but my playing. Trying to remember chords with all this going on is very difficult.

Nela

NELA's Website

  • From: Sunny So CA
  • Registered: 2008-10-25
  • Posts: 19

Re: I think my head is too full?

I have the problem solved.  I simply tattoo the lyrics on the inside of my eyeballs, then when I need to remember, I close my eyes and look, er uh, wishful. 


WHAT?  You do not believe that?

Well, as Homer Simpson says, "Kiss my hairy yellow butt!"

CW Boomer said it!
Working to become a Brain Surgeon or a Rocket Scientist, I forget which...