My Rules for learning a new song on the Guitar | Eastern NC Now

    Before You Tube came along, I had several unwritten rules to determine if I could learn a song on the guitar. These were more like self-suggestions than rules. Recently Stan posted a song which reminded me of my unofficial and somewhat loose rules for learning a song back in the day. Since I can't really read music and must resort to the hunt and peck method of learning a song, I thought I would convert my memory joggers to written form.

Here is the link to Stan's post

    I present them here in hopes that maybe it will help others who are trying to learn songs on the guitar:

• Sing along with the song and see if you can actually do it with the professional musicians; Karaoke Style (KARA WHAT???)
• If Possible record yourself singing along with the music. Then listen to the recording, if you think it sounds ok, you have proven that your voice has sufficient range.
• Get your guitar and see if you can find the first chord while listening to the music.
• If like me you do cannot read music , you need to try and find the key then add the chord progression.
• Write down the lyrics so you want have to clutter your memory with them when you are trying to recreate the music.
• Put the guitar away and do something else, preferably for a day or so.
• After the delay see if you can sing the song acapella without listening to the song or having the lyrics in front of you.
• If you cannot sing the song, continue to listen to it on whatever media you have, this may take multiple repeats:

   1. 33RPM,
   2. 8 track,
   3. Cassette,
   4. CD,
   5. MP3 player,
   6. IPod, IPhone, Android
   7. ITunes on the computer.

    If you are using 1-5 above, forget it you are too old to learn any new songs. Take a week off. After a week, can you remember the song you were trying to learn?

    If not put the Guitar away for about 40 years, and then retry to learn this and all other songs you thought you could one day play. Take a nap

    My son gave me the best advise on singing songs I ever had. Whenever a song would come on the radio in the car that I liked I would sing along. He would ask the question, "Dad who is singing that song"? Of course I would respond that it was So and So. Then he would say "Good, let's keep it that way"!!! Yes, he is a smartass. I wonder where he got that.

    Here is the YouTube lesson for Stan's song. Romeo and Juliet (14:27)

   

    It finally dawned on me after watching this video. You have to be British to learn this damn song.