Practicing and Memorizing Tunes..Listen,Listen First

I recently came across this article on practicing and memorizing tunes..I feel it has a lot to say on the subject of learning a song and also suggest more than one way to approach learning songs.And,to me,the most important thing mentioned is...listen,listen and listen FIRST,before attempting to learn a song!So many newer students do not realize the importance of listening first before attempting to learn a tune.The highlights of this article are...(1)Listen a lot first (2)Listen to several versions of the tune (3)From the melody,get the chord changes (4)Play the song in different ways(melody only,chord only,solo style/chord melody) (5)Play song in different keys....Listen first,then play...Greg

Practicing and Memorizing Tunes (July 4, 2005)
Every guitar student I coach is encouraged to memorize a handful of standard tunes. I've found that most students will first go to a fakebook in attempting to learn a new tune. I'd like to suggest a more natural approach that makes memorizing tunes easier, is more thorough, and great fun at the same time.

Find as many quality recorded versions of the new tune you want to learn and put them on your Ipod, audiotape, etc. Listen as you go about your daily routine. Music services such as Rhapsody and Itunes are perfect for getting a hold of multiple versions of the song. Make sure that there are at least a couple of vocal versions of the tune and listen to those first so the lyrics can become embedded in your mind. The melody and the form of the tune will become familiar upon repeated listenings as well as common tempos and feels, arrangements etc. When Kenny Burrell first began to play, he seldom ever saw the sheet music to a standard. He heard the tunes on the radio repeatedly so that he could pick up his guitar and play the melody by ear away from the radio. Then he'd take his best guess at the chord changes. Most of the time he got it right but sometimes he made up his own changes that worked just as well. Some find this exercise easier than others but the more one can rely on their own ear and instincts the better. For a primer I recommend picking out simple tunes like children's songs since the melody is deeply ingrained. Try harmonizing the song in different ways.

Now it's time to sit with the guitar and sing the melody of the standard tune and find it on the fretboard. Then attempt to discern the chord changes. Sing the melody and try different chords with it or play it chord/melody style where the melody is the top note of the chord. Chances are you will be in a different key than the tune is usually played in. Other times you will be pleasantly surprised that you are in the standard key perhaps hearing it there naturally. Now open your fakebook and see how you did. I often consult more than one book in order to see what some common substitutions are for the tune and compare the written melody to what I've heard on the recordings. Often the student will transcribe their favorite version matching the phrasing and harmonies, which is a great practice.

It's a good idea to practice playing the tune in several ways: Melody only, chords only, simple block style chord/melody, and half note bass underneath the melody. Often in the course of a lesson I realize that the student cannot play the melody on its own having memorized a chord/ melody version. It's a good idea to be open to different ways of harmonizing the melody. Playing half note bass below a syncopated melody is crucial in understanding harmony and in developing the necessary independence needed to play solo guitar. Practice soloing over a pre-recorded rhythm track or to a metronome. Make sure that your initial solos are based closely on the melody. Paraphrasing the melody is a very useful skill and pre-dates the practice of soloing over the chord changes alone, typical of the bebop period.

Howard Alden suggests transposing the tune up or down a 4th or 5th in anticipation of playing it with a female vocalist. So if the tune is in the key of F try it also in Bb and C, common for vocalists. Get together with another musician weekly if possible and play these tunes from memory and transpose them! Another important concept I practice and teach is to play shell voicings, 3rds and 7ths, below the melody. Maintain a steady "four on the floor" rhythm with the shells like Freddie Greene or Errol Garner while you are playing the melody. Lenny Breau was the first guitarist to become famous for this technique. It requires a lot of hard work but as Lenny would tell you "through discipline comes freedom." Try more rhythmic comping beneath your melody and you will have created a nice, light yet full, texture by yourself or with a bassist by your side.

I find that approaching tunes in this manner develops many necessary skills and is a thorough, fun way to practice. Learning tunes can be of great assistance in learning composition so seek out the tunes that interest you the most as well as the ones that will keep you employed. Sometimes they go hand in hand! I've compiled a list of must-know standards that I'd be happy to send out to you as a Word document. Enjoy the summer and your practice time!

Steve Herberman
steve@reachmusicjazz.com

Suggested Readings For More Music Weapons

I have a few books that i feel should be required reading for every guitarist.Just like listening,music theory and song learning are all must do's to become an accomplished musician and master at your instrument,i also include reading on the list.I call all these my music weapons!Yes,you have to have an arsenal of weapons to become an accomplished player,and reading is one of them.
Three books come to mind,and they are...(1)"Mickey Baker"/Jazz books One and Two,(2)"Scales and Modes In The Beginning" and (3)"Chord Chemistry".
The Mickey Baker book 1 is a must have for beginning jazzers.It includes all the basic jazz chords,and more,needed to get you started in playing jazz on guitar.And also included are some basic scales needed to improvise over the chords.Book 2 of Mickey Baker is a continuation of book 1,just more detailed with additional chords and sca;es.At least get Book 1 and memorize it!The second book,"Chords and Scales In The Beginning",is a great book for scale and modes knowledge.And in addition,it will tell you what mode/scale will fit with a paricular chord progression.To me,it is the book to read and memorize for scales and modes and how they fit with chords and chord progressions,a great book...get it!!!This book is a music style neutral,the material can be applied to ALL styles of music.And the 3rd book is Ted Green's,"Chord Chemistry",it is one of the most comprehensive books on guitar chords and their voicings and positions on the neck,i have ever come across.Chord knowledge is a must,so get this book!
So many newer players lack knowledge of chords and chord progressions....humm.All want to be soloist!!!But guess what...FIRST and FIRST...you have to know what the chord progression/chord is!!!REMEMBER...the CHORD/CHORD PROGRESSION dictates what the melody or solo player CAN and CAN NOT play...peroid!!!
Also the "Berklee School Of Music" guitar books are great.
So,go and purchase these books and begin building your arsenal of music weapons.
Peace!...Greg

A Bug

Hi To All...sorry for no recent post,i have had a common bug/sick.Anyway,i am better now so lets get blogging!

Happy Thanksgiving.

Hope all had a safe and happy Thanksgiving...Greg

Gibsons New "Robot" Guitar

I got a recent email from a friend and he provided me a link to a Gibson guitars page.To say the least it was an interesting link.It appears Gibson is soon to release a Les Paul style guitar with auto tuning,different preset tunings(including Jimmy Page and other guitarist,tunings...cool)and,yes more,an auto intonation adjustment.I have seen something similiar in the past that tunes your guitar automatically,BUT,it was a seperate device and hand held.But,on the Gibson robot guitar,all is built into the guitar....hum.There are several videos showing this in action...pretty cool.I like the auto tunings that are more or less "presets" that are set for different songs by different well known guitarist.Really,i guess,this is geared toward the more beginner to intermediate guitarist.And there is a competition to,i guess,win one of these robot Gibsons.You simply submit a personal video to Gibson,and the ones i saw were cool,and the winner gets a "First Run Limited Edition Gibson Robot Guitar".And,of course,these videos have been showing up on YouTube.Anyway...here is the link to the Gibson robot guitar.This link takes you to a demonstration/manual.And don't forget to check out the submitted videos,they are cool and funny!
http://www.gibson.com/robotguitar/guitar.html

For The Curious

The Future

Live from Daryls House

Live from Daryls House is set to debut November 15 at 8PM Eastern, exclusively on http://www.livefromdarylshouse.com/. Following the webcast, the episode will be available on demand any time through the website.
Among the guests scheduled to stop by as Daryl debuts some of his new songs are Matchbox Twentys Rob Thomas, Gym Class Heroes Travis McCoy, Flight of the Conchords Bret and Jemaine as well as partner John Oates and longtime band member T-Bone Wolk.
I thought i would change gears on this one!You ask...how is this related to guitar?Well,it is and it isn't!The gist of this is really to inform guitarist and musicians that the above is really the wave of the future.And what i am talking about is musician/internet/promotion.Though the above is now being tapped into,that is,producing and airing your own personal show via the net,it is only the tip of the iceberg!We are really just now seeing this start to take hold.Now that most people have a broadband connection it is really going to happen.I have already seen where a couple of groups have,through their web site,offered a free/live/online concert and got record breaking audiences.This new realm of promotion is really going to change the music industry,just wait and watch.Oh...and,btw,the guitarist for Hall and Oats,is a great all around/r&b guitarist,and needless to say,headed the Saturday Night Live band for years!

Guitar Strings

Like picks,there are different type strings also. They make particular strings for electric and acoustic guitars.The string "sets"are of different "gauges".Normally the gauges are smaller or "thinner"for electric guitars than acoustics.And the materials used are usually different.And the materials used for both guitars can also change the 'tone"or sound of the guitar.For the electric guitar most use a "light"gauge string and for the acoustic guitar they choose a medium or heavier gauge set of strings.If you play electric and do a lot of "bends",you may prefer a lighter gauge.But if you play jazz and do not bend the notes a lot,you would use a heavier gauge string.The heavier the gauge,the more solid or rounded and clearer the notes or chords sound.A thinner string gauge has a thinner tone to them.The choice again is strictly a personal choice though!For electric guitars the string material is usually nickel,and on acoustic,it may be bronze or phospher.Again the choice is a personal one.

Playing Funk Guitar...Chucking

Chucking is a technique that funk guitarist use.What you do is,with your left hand,lay it across all or most of the strings and strum while only sounding out the note(s) you are fretting or playing(make sure you are not muting the note(s)you are fretting!).This gives you a fatter sound than say,picking the one string for that one note.And remember to be patient and not to get frustrated at first!And,go out and grab,or download, some old 70's and 80's funk tunes,you will hear this technique being used all over the place.

Don't Drop The Pick

When playing finger picking style,i pick with the pick and my other three fingers,M(iddle),R(ing) and P(inkie).This way you don't have to stop and drop or pick up the pick and you can also have the pick available for fills and runs.Another thing is to "tuck"the pick into the palm of your hand and to "pull"the string being played,or to like "pop"it.This is a twangy sound or country style.You can also combine the pick and your middle finger.holding the pick with I(ndex) and M(iddle)fingers,and do quick runs,alternating between your pick and your middle finger and evenR(ing) finger(s).This is a really cool sound,funky and twangy! Remember to start off at a slow tempo then steadily increase.This is a really cool sound so i highly recommend all guitarist getting this technique down.
And don't forget you can apply this to regular finger style playing and arpeggios.
To learn more techniques and guitar answers,you can go to my personal site at
http://www.freewebs.com/gguitar/ under "Music Tips"