My Best Tips On How to Memorize Songs on Guitar

[@monkeyisland819]

Justin you're a good dude, thanks for years of free guitar instruction and enthusiasm

[@mrtambourineman6107]

It is great yes, but he does get paid man! Which he deserves, amazing teacher, I've been using him for years. Buy a couple of his books or app if you want to support him more, I have 😊

[@chadscreationstation9364]

This might sound excessive but I write out chord sheets myself by hand on my iPad. I save them to my UG profile just so they are there but writing it out manually helps it sink in.

[@thecaveofthedead]

As an older player between intermediate and advanced, I never fail to be impressed at how great your advice is. I keep on watching these beginner vids you're doing because even I'm hearing some stuff I hadn't thought about. You're really helping a lot of people get started on the right foot instead of stumbling their way through realising this stuff over an unnecessarily long time.

[@dimitrifyodorovickaramazov]

Justin is not only a teacher, he is a lifelong mentor. Thank you for everything!

[@chuckfinley3542]

Justin offers good advice here. The more songs that one really memorizes, the easier it will be to learn new songs, since chord changes will look/sound familiar to earlier tunes. Learn & practice the melody alone and create some simple leads that are based around the melody. Hang out with players that are better than you.

[@bmshadmansakib1142]

Justin I am trying to learn guitar by seeing your video there is only few video player who always speak honestly and clearly

[@bmshadmansakib1142]

If I will be able to learn guitar 🎸 it will be better

[@bmshadmansakib1142]

My hardwork will pay off properly

[@johnthelad]

Great advice here. I've played and gigged with backing tracks for the last 15 years, before that I played in bands. Backing tracks stunt your playing progress terribly. You let them cover your poor playing and timing, and even your memory isn't fully used, if you forget the next chord you just back off and the backing track will cover you. There's no more satisfying than playing in a band with friends. Justin is right on the mark with this Vlog.

[@Yet_another_placeholder]

I've been playing guitar for over 8 years and I still feel like a beginner... 😅 Guess I should consider watching some of your videos and see if they can help me become even intermediate

[@spankystrat49]

I've played for 30 years and Justin helped me as well

[@reservoirfrog1]

Hey mate. Been playing (and watching your vids) for around 9 years and even though these are “beginner” tips, as an intermediate player, I’m finding it really helpful steering me away from bad habits by going back to basics.

[@ToastandJam52]

I have been playing finger style for years. Not something a beginner might want to tackle. What I have found to be immensely useful is to video myself playing the tune I am trying to learn. You don't need anything fancy. I use my old iPhone. Just film your hands. This will reveal where you are going wrong. The best aid the learning I can think of. What am I working on right now: my arrangement of Private Investigations.

[@shaunethompson2652]

Being new to guitar, and still in stage one of your beginners' course, Justin, you have already helped and inspired me to learn and become better. Thank you, maybe one day, my dream of performing in an open mic session may become a reality.

[@edeeland9794]

Really like your help with this, you are a good instructor. I feel you are one of the best in clearly showing how to play songs , it seems like you really care, that is a gift in it's self. Hope you always do well so as to continue in this. Thanks

[@patrickfarley8036]

It's even more effective to print out a copy of the music or tab or even lyrics to memorize for your song book BUT.... on a separate sheet of paper (or sacrifice a notebook) and hand write the info!!! It's amazing how subconsciously you'll remember the music or lyrics and improve your recall. I've been doing it for years and recommend it highly! ✌

[@MacKinnon2k13]

Me too. I keep a notebook with song all hand written including any tab that I may need. Sometimes the notes only make sense to me but I can see where my improvements have been. It really is a great idea to hand write your songs. Even if you are copying it from a book/screen.

[@ianguitar7532]

Great advice, as always, Justin. There is so much material available on KZbin that you can get continually sidetracked into trying to learn new stuff before you've got the basics down. You can do that, for fun, but make sure that you are also working on completely nailing one song at a time. Oh, and don't forget to learn 'Happy Birthday'! : )

[@pieterdekam8492]

Thanks Justin. Been following your song lessons for quite some time now, and really love the detail and care you put in to that. I can only agree with most of the other comments on that count. What I would like to add is this: when I want to learn a song I search a few tabs in my guitar app, try playing them and select the best for me. Then I save that one as a personal tab and start listening and playing and adapting the words, postions of the chords, add riffs etc to the tab until Im satisfied with the result. I often slow down the original to find out the riffs and rithms and timing. In the end most of the time I know the song by heart. Cheers Pieter

[@eriksmit1804]

And so it is...quite a few time we were all around the campfire and they looked at me...and I was getting the guitar out and played and sung a few times.. Reality is much better than the cliché. You geta true buzz..you feel it in the body...however I used my iPhone as back up ..so this lesson stimulated once more to pull it through. A fun thing to do is improvising lyrics and making it personal. I did it a few times and people do not know where the story is heading to..AMAZING.🙏👍🏼

[@perro0076]

Justin. Thank you so much for your advice. So much to think about. From my days when I used to be a DJ it is also important to choose the songs carefully. As a DJ there’s nothing worse than playing a song you really like only to see that it instantly clears the floor!! Then you need 2, maybe even 3 (if you’re having a bad day at the office) to fill it up again. So make sure you find songs that your audience like. Which ones would they be? …… that is what separates a good from a not so good entertainer (entertainer as opposed to performer). If you’re doing covers it is not a bad idea to find yourself an actor/actress to help you to take ownership of a song …… that is a whole new level!!! Think 'stage craft'. I just had a thought. If you're stiiiiiiiiiiill stuck with what your audience would like. Spend some time at a kareoke club for pointers. I can put good money down that 'Dancing Queen', 'I will survive', 'Radar Love', Mustang Sally', Lady GaGa will be there somewhere!!! Sorry, I forgot about lockdown (how could I!! duuuh). Find a kareoke top 100 chart on the interweb then. :-)

[@Doowopsid]

I really appreciate this video as well as all of your others but having reached the age of 70 memorizing and playing is more challenging than ever. Please continue to post your videos as they have been very helpful in my continual attempt to improve my guitar playing.

[@azmark6894]

Hands down the greatest guitar instructor online, thank you for all you do Justin! For 3 songs, pick anything from AC/DC, GnR or Van Halen and you've got a party :)

[@ricomajestic]

Depends on the audience. If there are a lot of women they might not dig GNR or Van halen since they dont have many danceable tunes. AC/DC have some groovy tunes but not all of them are danceable!

[@Justin-jr6ny]

Deep wisdom shared with heart. Thank you.

[@PeteFolksinger]

Great advice. I have tried a lot of these steps. I joined a swing band in 2006 and it really helped me with rhythms, chord vocabulary, and changes that permeated my other genres of playing. I did FB live "shows" weekly during COVID. Have done open mics, but have mixed feelings. Sometimes the other performers can be catty, and I feel obliged to listen to a lot of music and performers that I do not find particularly enjoyable.

[@miguelpanta]

you such a kind guy, this is awesome! thanks for your videos!

[@michaeldrevyankosr6180]

Justin , I have one of your books, it is a good book , but I wish you would use larger pages 8.5 x 11 , I’m old and do it see very well

[@Fender56]

Great advice. I have been playing for about 50 years one thing I wish I would have done is kept a book on all the songs I have learned over the years.

[@judesudbury3967]

Justin still keeping it real after all these years. No need for artsy production, just straight to the point. Thanks man, appreciate it!

[@justinguitar]

Thanks!

[@joepregiato1987]

Great tip Justin! It was just what I did years ago; It’s exactly the numbers of songs too; 3 perfect in public and 5 or 6 in front of friends!

[@BeowulfGaming]

i feel like a should leave a comment on this one, i picked up guitar for first time in my life 5 months ago, i love rock and metal but like playing everything except pop songs, my biggest influence would be eddie van halen, hendrix, SRV, Mick Mars, BB King, and Freddie King, but if we are talking about goal or endgame, one day i would like to be able to compose simple beats in deep house genre and improvise guitar over it, its a very unique and not mainstream style and i havent seen a lot of people doing it, i love it, and it mostly involves effects like delay, reverb, chorus and playing scales and perfect phasing, that would be my goal to learn one day, still working through hundreds of hours of courses and practice but i1-2 years from now i see this quite possible :)))

[@justinguitar]

It sure is! you need a little music theory to know where to start instead of just playing random notes until it sounds right. Theory doesn't mean you need to read notes, it means: why are scales useful? how are chords made? (spoiler: based on scales), how to improvise over songs? why do some chords sound well together? www.justinguitar.com/classes/practical-fast-fun-music-theory | LievenDV | JustinGuitar Official Assistant

[@BeowulfGaming]

@@justinguitar thanks justin, i am still amazed you still reply to people on your older videos, much appreciated buddy. I just finished your beginner course 2 and it brought me to your "effective practice" course, so heading there, so far you have shown in these courses open C major scale and i know 2 pentatonic shapes to improv on, i will look up if you have any dedicated course to blues which might help immensely with scales and shapes in the future, watching you 45 minutes every day :)))

[@jeffkuhn6003]

Best thing for building my repertoire was purchasing GuitarTabs on my iPhone. Love adding the chord tabs to my favorites and practicing different song different days. Love picking songs with pesky chords to get better at them

[@joebloggs4754]

i agree..a friend of mine always says he wishes he would have LEARNED more songs....i agree...i write down everything i like..THATS the key...its good practice too....so, i tell him..yeah, you didnt learn songs and you regret it ok, so LEARN THEM NOW!

[@ponzo1967]

Nothing more frustrating than getting a request in public for a song you knew a year ago but can't remember on the spot 😂

[@lordfarquaad6189]

Having a songbook helped me along. I've learned more songs than I have ever before.

[@delbertstringbreaker7686]

I think my ideal is to be able to play the guitar as if it is an extension of my body - fingers instinctively hitting the notes that convey the feelings I am trying to express. The songs I would like to play are the ones that stir me most - Blues, Rock, Folk and more!

[@robertdiehl1281]

Justice absolutely the best advice to be given. People can put their own little spin on or into intro or outro solos and make the song their own kinda. Great video dude. Cheers mate.

[@JTPMcC]

Hey Justin, took your advice about not looking at the fretboard while playing and I must admit my playing does sound better.i know the chords by heart (most not all 😀) so I should know where my hand should be for different chords. But I do find myself looking down at the fretboard, just glancing at it.

[@mattousley2125]

Best teacher on the web. Really enjoy l learning from you!

[@williamocallaghan5504]

Justin when I was playing drums in a band we kind of knew when we were in the zone we called it! Now with guitar I know what you mean you just fall in with the song🎸

[@44scoots]

Thx Justin! We have open mics but they are usually attended by local "professionals", beginners and/or intermediates can't get on.

[@gristamshackleford2102]

yea i hate that. we have some here and its more of a club for the guys that are good and theyre all friends with each other. the best thing is just to get your own garage band and throw your own parties

[@SeadartVSG]

Try busking, do it with a friend who is a good singer if you don't sing. Christmas Holidays are a good time to try this your first time, people are already in the mood and will be more forgiving if you are not that great. With Covid you need to pick a spot where you are isolated from the people passing by, like standing on a retaining wall or in a side garden, if the police stop you be polite and apologetic and ask where you can play.

[@patrickfarley8036]

44 Scoots, you have to remember the clubs have open mics to get customers in the door to eat and drink so they need entertainment (that they don't want to pay) yet, they want people who are good and bring people in and keep them there. It's not a "Talent Search". It's a business strategy that is designed for the club to make money on an otherwise slow night, period. Club owners don't know all the acts around town or who's good or bad so they rely on the host (who gets paid) to bring in the right people. Of course they're going to bring in other proven acts who are reliable and these working relationships breed friendships so don't get all indignant that they won't let you play! You haven't proven yourself or paid your dues yet. And no one is going to take a chance on a nobody! This is a lively hood for some folks and an income supplement for others. Hobbyists don't have enough skin in the game and are usually given spots that weren't filled. Call it a lucky break. But if you tank, you'll never get another shot. if You need to get friendly with all the hosts of all the mic nights in the areas as far as you're willing to travel and get them to know how good you are and play the material that is suitable for these places or they won't ever call you no matter how great you are! Remember you're gonna pack 5 grand worth if gear to travel x amount of miles to play for 20/ 30 minutes for a free beer if your lucky. The thing you're really after is exposure and that is worth its weight in gold if you're good. Plenty of people have gotten good paying gigs by audience members who said to a performer something to the effect of "hey I thought you were great! We're having a whatever and youd be great, would you want to f do it? Can I have your number?" I know this first hand. And one gig leads to another and another and so on. Also the club owner may give you work after hearing you and other people on the bill that night might turn you on to a good gig hoping of course somewhere down the line you'll return the favor. It's called networking today but it's the way the industry has always worked! Play the game or keep belly aching. Which ever you choose will be right for who you are. ✌

[@SeadartVSG]

One other thing to try is to organize your own open mike or song circle. You can approach businesses that have outdoor eating areas and are not busy on a weeknight like a Tuesday or Wednesday. (Bad Pizza restaurants are usually good for this.) Ask them to try it out for a month and line up as many good players as you can find to kick it off and invite your friends and relatives to come in and buy beer and pizza. Use some experienced people to kick it off and you can then let less experienced people play the early slots once you have established the relationship with the owners.

[@44scoots]

@@patrickfarley8036 Belly aching? Just making a point, I'm already in a jam band, we get together once a week at a local studio. You must have a lot free time... hmmm. Anyway, thanks for the sermon.

[@MichaelHarrisIreland]

This guy is a philosopher. ....from Ireland.

[@stephenmcconnell7868]

I have no problem remembering the music. I hear it once and that’s what is EASY. It’s the WORDS that I have trouble with. I play over 450 songs. So, I keep my music on an iPad/iPhone. I know about 100 of those songs by heart. (Jimmy Buffet, James Taylor, Simon and Garfunkel, Bob Dylan, Jim Croce and Gordon Lightfoot). Working daily on remembering the words for others.

[@DirtJutter]

I like to use ChordU. With plenty of songs, and a bit of transposing (combined with a capo on the apropriate fret) a lot of songs can be played without bar chords, which is nice for beginners. You can also slow the song down to make practicing easier. The algorythm for extracting chords isn't perfect (sometimes you'll get an Am where an A should be, or something like that), but once you get the hang of it ChordU is a regular candystore of songs to stroll through.

[@frmacleod]

“Call a big party and invite all your friends”. He knows he’s talking to people on the Internet right? 😂😂

[@theblytonian3906]

Hahahaha ....

[@matwhite57]

It took me a minute to get it, made me chuckle.

[@ChewieLuke]

Hey, there is Zoom...

[@jimbobur]

And during lockdown too 😄

[@brushstroke3733]

All my friends are imaginary, and even they rarely come around! 😂

[@lengross4126]

As usual your advice is spot on and in this case aimed right at me. I'm one of those people who learns a new song every day and forgets the words the next. I may be doing the world a favor as my playing is actually pretty good but do I have a voice like a donkey. Even me hearing myself sing a song once or twice is enough.

[@pjbsailing]

Great advice. I got to tell you it was pretty damn exciting to play a song to a record all the way through and getting it right. I've got one! Next!

[@MikeRushRealEstate]

Needed to hear all of that! Thank you, Justin!!

[@chrischamberlain701]

I love Justin. He's helped me so much. Thank you Sir!

[@Sportingalagrieska]

You are my guru, a spiritual leader 🙌🙌🙌

[@justinguitar]

Wow. Cheers 😊 | close2u | JustinGuitar Official Guide & Moderator on JustinGuitar Forum [ www.justinguitar.com/ ]

[@jimtessin4130]

Excellent!!! Thank you!!!!

[@drgonzosfear]

I’ve been playing for 15 years and always improvise and try to find licks and arrangements that fit the mood at the time, i do not know one song or scale by heart, but after a few minutes of pouring myself into the neck I catch someone around me humming what I’ve made later on. I can listen to a song and play along with harmony but I cannot memorize anything and it’s brutal.

[@thomascopeland6594]

Everybody should listen to your heart to heart advice to inspiring guitar players. I wish I had this advice when I started. Good stuff for any level. Thanks mate :) to use your words lol

[@mikeneal8651]

Man i love these lessons and tips . . Thank you SO MUCH for everything you do !!

[@Crinkle65]

Great practical advice. So important. Especially in this KZbin/ bedroom playing time. It’s a whole different thing playing out.

[@pouyan_m]

Thank you Justin, although I've been learning guitar for 5 years from you, I learned alot from this video

[@BobJJ9999]

Justin, I hope you don't mind me saying. I’m a big fan and long time subscriber. At the beginning of lockdown, open mics we’re stopping. I started a Facebook group called openmicsolate. We have a no negativity rule to weed out trolls and try to be an online open mic. Any style any standard. If anyone wants to perform, but is nervous, they can post their performance there. We have got over 6500 members now. Openmicsolate on Facebook. Thanks for all you do justin

[@cazung119]

Hi Thankyou so much for your time and effort in making free guitar lessons. I started practising and my fingers hurts but that's to be expected. And excited at the same time. Gotta be patient. I l love so much when you play the demo of fun play along song

[@JKyfdo]

Your a top guy Justin - great info for all

[@alexanderhammer688]

Justin is awesome. Very knowledgeable teacher.

[@godfreytan1001]

Very valuable advice. Thank you.

[@jswen2477]

thanks Justin you are the one who help me self taught guitar, glad you still making guitar tutorial videos.

[@blackfishgaming7145]

You're a great teacher man. I've watched and learned a lot from you. Thank you

[@DavetheIV]

Just a thought, rather than play along with the original recording I've found loads of Karaoke tracks on YT, all in the original artist recorded key BUT the benefit is that not only do you pick up the 'playing along with' skills you also need to work at the singing & remembering the words as well. After all with the K tracks you've almost got a ready made backing band to kickoff with.

[@ElGuindola]

Justin, you are the best. Thank you for what you do

[@Stargazer-px7fw]

Thanks for the tips Justin!

[@simoncammell2675]

Great advice Justin 👌 Your lessons and advice have helped me get to a really rewarding stage of playing. Playing along to the records really gels with me... my top 6: Have You Ever Seen the Rain (CCR) / Maggie May (Rod Stewart) / Link Wray's version of Apache (both the lead and rhythm are equally fun) / You're So Vain (Carly Simon) / The Jack AC/DC / Buddy Miles version of Down By The River.

[@beemanrunning977]

Excellent tips. Thanks Justin!

[@brwniguurl5888]

Hi Justin - Pam Tillis is on my mind this week! “Maybe it was Memphis”and “Shake your sugar tree!”Have a great week! Thanks

[@guitartalk1972]

Really awesome advice. Thanks Justin. Common sense stuff but stuff that's easy to forget or not even think about.

[@ruthdwinger4887]

Thanks for all your great advice it keeps me practicing the challenging stuff.

[@aaronstonebeat]

The more you memorize, the larger your memory gets. Take Justins advice! I've seen too many musicians reading their music from a piece of paper, a phone or a pad. They're not there on stage as a performer.

[@tonysansom]

As a relative newb, this all sounds like exemplary advice! I will try and remember as much as possible along my journey!

[@oceha2887]

Thank you for all of the amazing lessons! I'm planning on paying for your practical music theory course when I get more comfortable in the intermediate classes.. Keep it up Justin

[@danebrennan4899]

This is a really great tip. I’m already mentally organising the songs I know. Thanks Justin!

[@autarkie123]

This makes tons of sense. Cheers!

[@zhedu6220]

we all love u justin

[@joebloggs4754]

you the man Justin!

[@Mikaflyd]

Really good advice !!! Have been working on learning picking triads and learning triads and grabbing a few minutes each day by myself just doing that has a residual effect that im noticing. Good stuff !!!

[@alesiaarnold4259]

Great advice! Thank you 🙏

[@duazia9737]

Justin, can you add something for singing and playing at the same time in the new beginner's course? The old one is...really old. Also, in the new course, it will fit well!

[@wataboutya9310]

I enjoy playing guitar and try to pick it up every day for a practice. I know quite a few tunes but my problem is that I am a crappy singer with very little range.

[@jasper_north]

Best video ever. Wow. I needed to hear this. I knew it but you just confirmed it. I am working on a 10 song set...just subscribed.

[@angeloweerasekera4687]

Hi Justin I love the way you are teaching. Absolute pleasure to learn. Love it !.❤️

[@MilaMila-zm4qr]

Hey Justin, thanks for your kind and motivating video, it’s really good!

[@KeekoWells]

Thanks for the useful advise

[@345kobi]

If your new - at some point you will learn that Justin is the best there is at teaching guitar.

[@stoatystoat174]

I Will Survive is a super fun repeating loop of chords which you can play a bunch of different ways

[@gristamshackleford2102]

oh my but the singing......if its the same song i'm thinking off. the lady singer? kinda motown?

[@abejacgot]

"..........even if you've had a few beers" That's the test! Try a song after a few beers, thanks Justin!

[@1974xaviers]

Thank Justin..very informative lesson

[@jedikv]

Great advice. Shame open mic nights are on hold right now

[@goten2831]

Great vid, thanks my guy

[@equynenergie]

This is extremely helpful and useful advice ❤️🎸

[@geraldwest3428]

I love you man, thanks!

[@chelofrufru]

Hi Justin, I needed you’re help. I’m a bit confuse with what is on you tube and the app, I recently started the lessons but I’m not sure if I should follow the app or the lessons from KZbin? I also started the theory I am not sure if I’m doing it right, when should I start with the theory? Could you guide me about what path should I take? Thanks ☺️

[@chrisa3961]

I remember chords quite easily. but lyrics are a real pain :-)

[@mrtambourineman6107]

Always been about learning the songs I love for me 😊🤘

[@zeus-bx9xw]

Great advice thanks

[@rachelcook5697]

This was really great coaching. Surely need to work on lifting my game 🤣🤣🤣😎

[@drewdietz2115]

another excellent lesson and suggestions. I have a song book, I print our the song I want to learn from say, ultimate guitar, get the chords down (my wife bought me a fret stamp so I can stamp the page with the new chords I don't know yet), then i'm off trying to learn. last step is playing along with the video.... thanks sir Justin.

[@robinsingguitar8728]

I love you Justin!

[@drsmith4582]

Great advice for anyone

[@freddiebowers1125]

Great video Thanks 🙏

[@gristamshackleford2102]

but whats a good way to memorize chord progressions? im doing a super easy song called hickory wind by the byrds. but the progression is so awkward for me. (maybe cus its country). its just verses and the chords go G D C G D C D C D G C D G C G.....should i maybe use numbers system and try to memorize that? or is there some other trick?

[@asimwilliams2116]

thanks justiin!