Learning new music

 

As a professional musician, I often have the opportunity to perform with many different bands of varying styles. With each new band that I encounter, I am given the responsibility to learn a vast number of new songs. Throughout the years I have found certain techniques to ease this time consuming process. In this article I will show you some of my techniques.

Here’s the scenario, Let’s say you join a new band and they give you a CD with 20 new songs to learn before the next rehearsal. By the way the rehearsal is in 2 days. How do we learn so many songs in such a short period of time?

 

 

The tools you will need:

1.    Pencil/Pen

2.    Paper

3.    Cd player

 

 

 

Step 1: Identify the style of the song.

Is it funk, latin, swing, pop, reggae, etc. If you are unsure of the songs’ style you must simply ask the bandleader, or seek advice from a friend.  Later research (listen) this style. Learn the basic patterns and some variations.

 

 

Step 2: What is the time signature?

4/4, 3/4, 5/4, etc. How many beats per bar?

 

 

 

Step 3: What is the form of the song?

This is possibly the most important step. Write vertically down your paper the number of bars per section. For example,

8- Intro

16- Verse 1

16- Chorus

4- Interlude

16- Verse 2

16- Chorus

8- Outro

 

 

 

Step 4: Are there any important breaks?

Let’s say the verse is 16 bars and there is a break (a stop) on the first beat of bar 16. Write it like this.

15 Verse

1 Break        :Learning new music:I feel good break one bar_0002.tif

 

If the break does not come on beat 1 but on the “and of 2”, you can write it like this.

15 Verse

1 Break        :Learning new music:I feel good break and of 2_0002.tif

 

 

 

Step 5: Ensemble sections or hits

If there are any rhythms that you must play along with the ensemble write them down as such:

4 Ensemble :::Desktop:I feel good breaks.tif

 

 

 

Step 6: Drum Pattern or rhythmic feel.

If the drum pattern is an essential part of a particular song, write it down. Another method that I often use when time is of the essence, is writing down the rhythm section’s “feel”, or more specifically, the bass player’s rhythm. This will give you an idea how the groove will sound, without restricting you to a specific beat. It will guarantee your groove will match the over all feeling of the song while allowing you to use your musical intuition as opposed to reading a specific drum pattern.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Below is an example of the aforementioned processes, using James Brown’s “I Got You (I Feel Good)”

I Got You (I Feel Good)- James Brown- Funk in 4/4

Verse ----------:::Desktop:I feel good.tif

Interlude------:::Desktop:I feel good 2.tif

Bridge----------:::Desktop:I feel good 3.tif

8 Verse

4 Ensemble:::Desktop:I feel good breaks.tif

8 Verse

4 Ensemble:::Desktop:I feel good breaks.tif

4 Interlude

6 Bridge

2 Break -----  :::Desktop:I feel good break_0002.tif

8 Verse

4 Ensemble:::Desktop:I feel good breaks.tif

4 Interlude

6 Bridge

2 Break------- :::Desktop:I feel good break_0002.tif

8 Verse

4 Ensemble :::Desktop:I feel good breaks.tif

8 Verse

4 Ensemble:::Desktop:I feel good breaks.tif

4 Ensemble:::Desktop:I feel good breaks.tif

 

6 Ending:::Desktop:I feel good ending 1_0001.tif

Don’t play the music; let the music play you!

:::Desktop:I feel good ending 2_0001.tif

::::Desktop:ChrisTrzcinski.tif