Conference napalm::guitar

    
    Well, one thing I do (and my band is about to do)  is to create sets
    out of the songs and the rehearse the sets.   We will then rehearse the
    sets until we are comfortable with them.  
    
    It's easier than pulling random songs from the list and it makes things
    go much smoother at the gig.
    
    Kevin                         

    You just keep playing the songs. I've never found a short cut to
    learning chords, just practice. As for lyrics I try to get a copy of
    the song onto a cassette and play it over and over in the car when
    driving to and from work. Sing along with the tape as you drive. 
    
    I would second Ken's note about working out a set before you go out.
    There is nothing worse than everybody saying 'OK What's next then.?'
    I keep my set lists in All-In-1 so I can use DECpage to print out nice
    big letters which are easily read and give everybody a copy.
    Individuals can then make their own notes about settings, effects etc. 
    
    Richard

    
    yeah... yer right... never is a short cut.  i've tried the put the
    lyric sheet under the pillow thing but so far nothing...
    
    ben.

	It gets better. I try to work in a new song every 2 weeks.
	By the time you hit 200 songs, you start forgetting some of the
	lesser played songs. Once you start playing out, you'll feel 
	better about what you are doing & some of the stage fright
	(one excuse for forgetting a part) will pass. Don't hesitate
	to jot down the chord progressions & have them handy for when
	you are playing.

	In my case, I often forget the words to what I'm singing & 
	then I improvise, or sing the previous verse/chorus. We all
	screw up some time. Don't let it get you down & don't go around
	counting other peoples mistakes unless you want to pi$$ of your
	other band members.

							Jens

    dont play out until you are ready 

    
    Interesting point this. I too have trouble getting the last 10%
    together. I'll work like a slave on some instrumental and then just
    never get round to rounding it off nicely.
    
    My theory is it says something about your character! Could it be that
    if you don't learn it quickly then you get BORED with learning it and
    you yearn to move onto something new? I know I do. And its not just the
    guitar either that I notice this. I will never be an expert in any one
    thing in my life I'm sure. I'm always convinced that there's something
    more interesting to be learnt.
    
    Advice? When picking up a new piece hammer it to death non-stop NOW
    until you know it. Don't let it drag on. Thats what I do.
    
    Richard
    ps I'm serious!

    
    	A tip that was passed onto me by a pro was in the form of a
    question.  He said why learn a piece in the order its written?
    
    	If he has a longish piece to learn he picks out the nasty bits &
    works them till they're not a problem. Then he works on the ending &
    gets that as sweet as possible, his theory being that the end is the
    last bit the audience hears & if it's really good it leaves a generally
    good impression even if the piece flags a bit elswhere.  Actually
    putting the whole piece together is the final task & by this method
    it's just a case of getting continuity between sections.
    
    	Problem with learning a piece start to finish is that the beginning
    is practised most so that comes out good, the middle drop & the end is
    not learned (as this topic shows).  So section up the piece into small
    chunks & have the will power to leave the beginning till later.  This
    way you'll never be able to start a piece till you can end it so the 
    incentive for that extra bit of effort is greater....I think:-).
    
    Cheers
    
    	Pete.

    One of the best ideas I've heard yet.
    
    Thanks,                          
    Will

    
    Thanks for the ideas guys.  I'll use em' all and see what works best
    for me.
    
    Ben.

    
    The reply about learning in chunks (not from the beginning) is real
    good advice for me too.  As a beginner, I often get frustrated learning
    a new song.  It seems like I get sick of my favorite song before I
    learn it because of all the repetition.  Learning it in chunks would 
    make for some excitement when you put it all together.  I'm gonna try
    it on "Baby Blue" which Steve D. deciphered for us.
    
    Thanks,
    -pat
    

    I use cards with the chord progressions stuck on the upper side of my
    acoustic guitar with blue tack and usually find that after a while I
    just dont look at them any more - certainly makes you feel more
    comfortable on new pieces. Doesnt work with my Charvel since I aint got
    enough room to stick the cards on !
    
    Rich.

    
    
     First; you will need about 15 tunes to fill a set. Fourty tunes
    is just enough for a one night stand if you repeat. If you are going
    to play a second night, you will need some different tunes, say
    ten you didn't play the night before. That means you need 50 tunes,
    most working duo's will have twice that many.
    
     If you can't remeber a tune after going over it a few times, DO
    NOT include it in your first outing; if you must, use it in the
    later sets and follow it with something you know well.
    
     Make a tape of the tunes you want to learn/polish and listen to
    it as much as possible. Go over the hard parts as many times as
    necessry with your partner, have him/her give you ques or lead in
    notes if it helps.
     Fake the lyrics if you can't remember them when you've already
    started a tune.
     Never make excuses on stage unless you hurt someone.
    
     Work in a new song everytime you play out, it will help you focus
    on what you don't know, and let you see if the tune is worth the
    trouble.
    
     I don't like to learn tunes that I don't think I will play it ten
    years, I've been playing some of the same tunes now for twenty years,
    I still might get them right someday.
    
     Hang_in: Keith
    a tune. 

    learn easy songs  i.e. When I Paint My Masterpiece is preferable
    to Weather Report Suite (to phrase things in Dead terms)
    
    There's no law that says that hard songs are any 'better' than
    easy ones. In fact, I find just the opposite to be true.
    
    But then again, maybe I'm not a 'serious' musician :-)