Any suggestions on memorization

[guitarplayer007]

of chord melody arrangements, other then playing it a 1000 times?
thx
ken

[Billnc]

Where I'm at in my development. I like to look at the lead sheet to play and then improvise over the changes. Even when using substitutions etc.

To memorize a tune I will play 4 or 8 measure phrases and try this not looking at the charts. Then I'll just think AABA or whatever. My issue is once the chord melody is memorized the improv part I still need a sheet in front of me.

I've also only ever done my own arrangements in chord melody, so I've had the benefit of doing my thing. These were my lessons as a kid. If you are trying to memorize another persons arrangement it may be a different story.

I learned to write out my arrangements and after a while just started doing them by looking at lead sheets. After a while we learn to see the patterns. This helps memorization. Each new tune is not entirely a new event.

[ohlcv]

One thing that I find helps when learning a new tune is to rehearse away from the instrument - by visualising the fretboard. I can usually find more visualisation time during a typical day than actual practice time.

[guitarplayer007]

thx guys

[mr. beaumont]

Are you writing your own or learning someone else's?

I always find it easier to memorize stuff I can up with...I can't imagine trying to memorize a whole chord melody someone else wrote!

If the song has words, know the words...This just makes good musical sense as well, but I find it really aids in "knowing" a tune.

Also, be sure to know the melody outside of just your arrangement.

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

Someone once recommended this, and although they used it for memorizing spoken lines it makes sense for music, too.

Learn a piece phrase by phrase, but backwards: end-to-beginning, not beginning-to-end. When you are learning something, you get often stuck or make mistakes and start over. If you are learning it beginning-to-end, you will get very good at the beginning, not so good at the end! On the other hand, if you are learning it end-to-beginning, where you start keeps shifting and you can end up playing the different phrases in a more uniform fashion.

[604bourne123]

take a look at the melody or leads then turn around and not look again is the way.Or look again when the memory starts to fade.