Pro tip: please watch the short video version of this post that I link to here.
You can also watch the video version embedded below (psst - did you know that GuitarSuccess4U has a YouTube Channel? Please subscribe! 😊)
This video will give you a much clearer grasp of what I’m sharing here.
Abbreviated transcript included below…
Looking for an intentional process to help you memorize your songs on guitar? You just found it.
Having led worship for almost 3 decades, many of my recent years have been spent leading from memory. This has really helped me have a better connection with the band, the techs and the congregation.
And as a touring performer all over North America for about the same amount of time, all my performance songs have been memorized.
But how do we get to the point where we can confidently play and sing a song from memory? Let’s take a few minutes to unpack 10 helpful strategies.
1. Stare at the chart.
Assuming you have a visual representation of the chart for your song, print it up or have it ready on a tablet. Look closely. What do you notice?
Whether you’re looking at a lead sheet or a chord chart, there are little clues waiting to be discovered. Maybe there are specific rhyme schemes. Maybe each verse starts with a slightly different lyric. Maybe the chord progression is more involved for the verses, but gets simpler for the choruses. Maybe the harmonic rhythm is different between the verse and the chorus.
2. Mark up the chart.
Using a pencil to make the chart our own makes a huge difference, because we can make notes that will remind us of tricky spots the next time we open up the chart.
An extra measure of care is to use different colored highlighters to mark up verses, especially if you have a lead sheet that includes repeats, different endings, and sometimes the incidental D.S. al Coda markings.
If you’re working with a tablet, you can use an app and a stylus to make notes, and you can color-code them as well. But make the chart your own.
3. Get your prep materials all in a row.
If you’re the worship leader, a great way to serve your team is to supply them with the chart that speaks their language (lead sheet, chord chart, or even a Nashville number chart).
But then, a great way to help their ear along is to purchase the audio mp3, rip it into some recording software and then transpose it to the actual key you’ll be singing in, to make it match the printed charts as closely as possible.
The reality is that some members of your band will reference the recording as the main guide for their preparation, so be thorough in this regard. Again, if you’re preparing lead sheets, chord charts, and mp3s, it’s important that they are all congruent with each other.
Side note: there’s a specific CCLI license that’s available to churches who want to distribute audio recordings amongst worship team members in whatever form – CD, or mp3s uploaded to Planning Center, etc. It’s called the CCLI Church Rehearsal License. Click here to be directed to a page that tells you more.
https://us.ccli.com/what-we-provide/rehearsal-license
<Matt, would you check this link and make sure it hyperlinks from the article?>
Now comes the intentional process that gives us momentum towards memorization.
4. Type up the lyrics.
Although we might be able to find lyrics on the web that we could copy and paste, that’s not going to serve us as well as typing them up.
Will it take longer? Yes. But will it reinforce the lyrics in our minds? Also, yes.
5. Save and print the lyric sheets.
I print up the lyrics to songs with one song per side of a piece of paper. And then I keep them handy, folded up in my pocket, when I’m out and about. I can also keep them on my phone as screen shots or PDFs in a folder.
6. Listen actively to the recording.
The more focused and undivided our attention for this, the better. Listen closely, with and without the chart nearby.
Really consider the chord progression. Can you analyze it numerically? Do you know the progressions in Nashville numbers so that you could play part or all of the song in any guitar-friendly key?
7. Play along with the recording.
With your guitar in hand, play along to the best of your ability as you feel the cadences, holds, chokes, and dynamics. Let the guitarist on the recording guide you as you play.
8. Make a recording of yourself playing the song.
There’s something about playing a song and knowing that the “red recording light” is on. This adds a healthy amount of pressure, but wait for it…you can now go back and listen to, or even watch yourself playing the song (if you’ve captured it on video) and get a clear picture of your accuracy, tempos, words, pitch, and you can also see what you look like as you play.
9. Test it out in front of a safe audience.
Try playing the song for a loved one at home. This raises the pressure from just being in your practice space, to where someone else is actively listening on some level. They can give you their undivided attention, or listen while they’re cooking dinner, etc. Lastly…
10. Bring the song to rehearsal - memorized.
Come to worship or band rehearsal ready to play it from memory (but have it nearby on a music stand, just in case.) See how much you can work without the chart.
Remember, “memorized” means acknowledging every measure and being consistent. Your band will be following their charts, so make sure you’re right on track with the charts you’ve given them.
If you’ve never done something like this before, start with just one song and see how it goes. And give yourself enough ramp-up time to truly memorize it. But watch how much more freedom you’ll have as you interact with your team, the congregation, and ultimately the Lord.
I hope today’s discussion was helpful. It’s very possible that it could lead to some serious fun on your guitar journey if you take time to apply what’s been offered here. Will you?
David Harsh is a nationally touring worship leader, songwriter and performing artist. He is passionate about equipping guitarists to discover their potential. Learn more and join now at www.GuitarSuccess4U.com.
10 Strategies for Memorizing Your Songs