How do you learn a new tune

[Dean Salisbury]

I am new to the steel guitar, so I use my standard guitar to figure out the chords and the melody. One of these days I will hopefully be able to use the same techniques on the steel, but right now I'm two slow.

There are many different techniques of figuring out songs. What I do is probably the slowest way, but its the only way that I've been successful.

However, after my last stroke, my short term memory is gone totally when it comes to music, so I have to chart everything I want to learn, or I forget it after a few minutes. I don't play in a band and haven't since I was a teenager, So I just play along to the music on cd's or mp3

If I hear a song I want to learn. I first try to find a tab that is accurate. However, on some songs there is no accurate tabs to the original song. However, if I find accurate tabs that is the easiest way to go because then you can spend your time figuring out the melody or lead parts.

If there are no tabs that are close then its back to the drawing board. I first try to find the key that the song is played in. Some times I have to slow the music down a little as my ears are not that good any more, not that they ever were. I use Amazing Slow Downer to slow the song down!

The reason I try to find the Key that the song is written in is then I can use that Key Scale in determining the chord progression. Most older songs follow a simple chord pattern while new songs sometimes are a little harder and may use different chords patterns, but in most cases they will still be in that Key scale. Once I have the chords, then I try to chart out the melody. To me the melody is the hardest because of my memory and this takes me a considerable amount of time, because once I play or have figured out 3=5 notes, I have to write them down or I have already forgot them. sometimes I have to just figure out and make notes, 1 note at a time!

Another thing that I do, which helps me but most people don't have to do it. I record the song in stages. Like the intro of a song; the 1st verse; the 2nd verse etc. Then I loop those individual sections where just the part I am trying to learn is being played over and over and over again. This way I don't have to stop, press replay, etc. Just the short part Im trying to learn plays again and again and again. So if I am writing either the chords or melody down I know very shortly it will start up again and I can just continue.

Then once I have the music charted, then I go to the steel and try to figure out what to do. Down the road, I hope that I can use this same strategy with the steel. However, I have to become a lot faster on the steel then what I am now.

My way is slow, so hopefully you will find a quicker way then what I do. but hopefully it will help in some way

I use Amazing Slow Downer & Adobe Audition figuring out songs.

Dean from S.I. NY

[Dean Salisbury]

I just checked this program out from a prior post! This is a pretty good program if your just trying to find the chords to a song and if you have the mp3 or other recording of it. I only checked it out from several of the mp3's that I have and compared them with the tabs I've already got. So far it appears that it very correctly figures out what chords are being used in a song and I have just bought it because the demo only gives you 30 seconds of the beginning of the song.

I have now checked the program out with the full version and so far I have found it to be very accurate and it gives you the bass as well. It does not give you the melody, but from I have been told they are working on trying to get it to tab. That would be great.

You may want to do some research and get this program if it takes you hours to figure out the chords to a song. I know it will clearly help me out a lot!

Check it out and download the demo at:
http://www.sienzo.com/

Dean from S.I.NY

[c c johnson]

Usually the band just drops it on me so I take off on it and hope for the best. CC

[Roger Edgington]

Lead line and chords pretty much happen together for me. One will sometimes lead to the other. I always learn both. I don't ever write charts. If it's a difficult piece I will sit down with a recording and work with it until I get it. Then I play it untill I can retain it. I,ve done it that way since the 50s. Sometimes I stumble on to new things while doing this. Simple songs I can usually play off the cuff, often cold on the band stand. It's fun to be pushed a little sometimes.

[CrowBear Schmitt]

to learn a tune, i pick it up by ear, playin' it over & over usin'my guitbox, psg or lap steel
i make a chord chart first & then eventually write out the melody & other significant moments

[Sherman Willden]

Thank you to all

Sherman