I played in bands for years, nothing was written, we learned everything by ear, and it was all memorized. Without the music in front of us, there was no choice.

Then I started this duo with Mrs. Notes when I was 40 years old. We needed to work in a hurry, and I was making my own backing tracks (bass, drums, comp, etc.) so I did a lot of note-taking, bought sheet music, and made little word/chord charts for myself.

There was just not enough time to memorize close to 100 songs in a month or two and make the backing tracks.

So I brought charts to work. First in a loose-leaf binder and, as digital technology allowed, on a computer screen.

I find that if I read them, I never memorized them. But — after I've played them a bit, if I look at the first word, chord, and/or note, and then at the audience, I can play or sing the line.

As time progresses, the first word chord and/or note and I can play/sing the entire A or B section.

And after I've played the song enough times, I don't need to look at all anymore. Although, sometimes I have to look at the first word/chord/note to get started.

The songs that we don't play often, and songs that are new, require more eyes on the screen than ones we play a lot.

So for me, it's memorization without the work of memorizing. But then, I play music for a living, so I'm on the gig 10–20 times per month.

After all, if you can't practice on stage, where CAN you practice?

I don't know if this will work for you. Try playing something for a while, then simply look at the first word, chord and/or note and see if you can play 4 bars of the music or more.

Insights and incites by Notes ♫

Bob "Notes" Norton smile Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com

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