The Ultimate Memorizing Technique for Musicians! (for lyrics, progressions, riffs, and more)

[@stefanos7724]

This is great! The technique you are using is very similar to one of the best working memorization techniques used by many professionals to memorize virtually anything. It is called the method of loci, or a "mind palace" and involves visualizing a location, walking through a select route in your mind and "placing" items in specific parts of it. To then recall said items, you visualize the location again, and go through the same route, visiting each place and "finding" each item you placed. Its not the exact same, but the visualization principle really reminded me of that!

[@Karl_Drogo55]

hannibal is that you?

[@ReavoEnd]

Maaaan this is crazy to me. I feel like you unlocked a part of me I forgot and almost left behind. I back when I spent way more time playing video games and being creative in general, I would do things like this *for fun* because I was amused by it. I would create bizarre and unusual scenarios in my mind and tell my friends about it. I often think back to those times as some of my most productive, when I would effortlessly fall into a groove and make tons of progress on a hobby or project. Time would fly, and it all came so naturally back then. Thanks to this video I can see now that I was painting my world with these memory devices. It made it easy to jump back into whatever I was doing after tending to any interruptions, simply because I had inadvertently been constantly creating spaces to keep those mnemonic associations safe.

[@DirkRadloff]

Great lesson, this topic is seldomly covered by music teachers and your strategies are very helpful.

[@alanguitars]

Reminds me of an episode of Facts Of Life. Tootie had to memorize the periodic table. Au is the symbol for gold, she remembered it by saying “A U give me back my gold chain!”

[@yourguitarist]

This has been a huge problem for me in the past...I have heard about this technique before but of course...I forgot it! 🤪 thanks for the refresher 👍

[@TheNothing6]

I don't mess up playing much, but I'll forget lyrics. I'll recycle the first verse. But no one notices. I play in a lot of bars. People are too drunk to notice.

[@lanasharawy2360]

I don't have bars where I live

[@TheNothing6]

@@lanasharawy2360 It happens to me at coffee shops, too.

[@Cosmefulanito2812]

Lol it's ok. The lyrics are the least important in my opinion

[@thejship]

Same here

[@Fred-gi4uz]

They notice, they’re just to drunk to remember at the end of the set to say anything

[@Darla_Lo]

Preschool teacher here, we use this technic for memory and cognitive development. This works great!

[@Jaymze13]

2:42 - Wilhelm Scream. Brilliant move sir. Brilliant

[@paulebien-pesa6513]

Mike I would just like to say you a fantastic teacher. I watch this method it would make so much more efficient. Honestly I have major memory problems. I had major surgery when I was 19 and the operation was a very big success as far getting the very large tumor out but it left me a ton of memory problems. I can play pretty good but I can’t get past that hump of “ oh’ I know this tune , I can just bust it out. I’m older know but very progressive view on talent. Pop music hasn’t been this bad since the early eighties!

[@DougMarks]

Very clever Mike. I used this technique many years ago. Thanks for reminding me how effective it is. I particularly liked what you said at the end, it does take some effort beyond reading lyrics and tab.

[@games_are_good]

Watched your channel for awhile, currently learning Black Sabbath songs and trying to memorize the chords & strum patterns in Across The Universe

[@JA-ut8fi]

More memorization videos!

[@cameronjoyce2368]

Great 👍 thank you. I’ve used this technique at work and I never thought about applying it to my music.

[@vladimirdyagilev8946]

This is a version of Memory Palace technique without the 3D-spatial aspect of the technique. I've used it to memorize poems visualizing exactly how you describe, but try putting all the objects within a real-world location you know, for example, take your house and when visualizing put the objects onto the table, hang it up, etc. then you can retrace your steps within memory and all those visualized objects remain!

[@mikehaisell4301]

I have been doing some mind maps to remember lyrics but it takes forever to draw it all out. I think the story method is going to be quicker and more memorable. Thanks, you are really on to something. Look forward to seeing more of your videos.

[@schifoso]

Bow down before the one you serve, You're going to get what you deserve. What imagery would you use to remember those lyrics?

[@TheArtofGuitar]

I don’t know but it’s hot! 🤣

[@2760ade]

I would tentatively suggest imagining yourself playing a stringed instrument that requires a bow (cello/violin) in front of a King/Queen who is going to present you with a knighthood (or some sort of award). You'd have to put the bow down in order to receive it!😂 I think this whole memory concept is kinda fun!!

[@michaelmerrullo2043]

I love the story! Especially the sound effect on Kenny Rogers getting stabbed by a unicorn. Great lesson, very helpful

[@cc_1983]

Memorising got easier and I picked up songs quicker - usually from videos and tutorials as opposed crappy tabs. I found I retained things better. That said remembering it for a gig I can easily think how you can go blank. I think you need to know it so well that you can afford to lose yourself in the music and whatever else is happening

[@z.c.humphrey8457]

Thanks, I've been needing this

[@davidhanksguitarist9388]

I had my son remember a list of about 12 items from the store. He can still quote me item per item in any order. This was 20 years ago. And it has to be weird or odd or huge or whatever as long as it's outlandish. I don't use it for guitar but I'll reevaluate that for sure. Good video and unique.

[@noxiousbaz]

I love this video so much. Fantastic technique and advice, but the story and animation is absolutely hysterical! Thank you sir xxx

[@MashaT22]

This is a great technique for a lot of people! The problem is that you’ve been doing this your entire life. You probably did it at school when you were a kid/teen. I had friends who did this to memorize info before exams when I was a kid/teen. I wasn’t the type of found it helpful, as I’ll explain in a moment. Many people would find this suggested technique even more difficult. The problem is this technique may not come naturally to people who have trouble coordinating multiple difficult tasks (ie: singing AND playing guitar), have cognitive issues, and/or aren’t so young anymore. Other people may not jive with it even if they don’t face those difficulties day to day. It adds another element to coordinate and may cause some of these people to lose focus on playing the instrument or even forget the very lyrics they’re trying to recall because they’re so busy trying to recall abstract picture stories in their mind. The best chance those people have to use your suggested technique is to memorize the music first, get so good that it becomes virtually automatic, and then fill in the lyrics while recalling the abstract picture story - but that’s a massive ask for many people. (I also don’t see how this technique would apply to memorizing tabs/notes - since you can make note associations in this manner being that they’re already abstract symbols). I’ve been a Higher Ed CRLA Certified Level 3 Master Tutor since 2003 (and studied early childhood and childhood education + sociology). Let me suggest an alternative method that may work better for those who struggle with some or all of the above roadblocks that may make your suggested method too cumbersome/difficult. I’ve used a version of what I’m about to suggest with my students to help them write papers, prepare for presentations/exams, etc. - mostly using what us music fans, poetry fans, actors do as a guide. First, I advise internalizing the lyrics in a more simplistic manner. Instead of memorizing abstractly, make the story of the lyrics associate to your life or the life of someone close to you, a famous figure, etc. When you sit and take a little time to get to the heart of the message the song in conveying, you’re more likely to associate with it and recall the words. Sit there and really analyze the lyrics. Once you understand them, picture how the song applies to you and picture the scenario playing out in your mind and lean on the emotion. Do this line by line while you keep playing the song back - stop at the end of each line and feel the emotion and think about what that line means in your life. And then chunk it together by each verse. It’s like making a music video in your head that applies to you and you alone - and before you know it, you’ll have internalized the powerful meanings/emotions in the song and have repeated the song so many times that the lyrics and general tune will just stick naturally because it bears some kind of meaning to you. Think of all the famous songs whose lyrics we all had memorized in mere moments after it was released. This is how most of us naturally do it. If we can do it easily with a famous song after it gets released and recall that song even years after not hearing it, it can also be done relatively quickly with obscure songs and even those we don’t personally relate with too much (which is why I said it can also be applied to a close friend, a famous figure, a famous circumstance, etc.). Now that you know the general tune and lyrics, it’s time to memorize your specific guitar part. That’s going to be the hardest part, but again, lean on the emotional aspects the music coveys with the lyrics. Using Metallica as an example, think of the emotions conveyed by both guitars as they relate to the lyrics. Some parts Kirk plays often are akin to crying, others are powerful riffs that are like someone standing up for themselves against someone/something or yelling out in pain. If you take it piece by piece and relate the emotions of the music to the lyrics, you’ll usually get it exactly on point or close enough to make it where it would still be fitting even if its not being played note for note. Emotions are powerful, and breaking the song down in this manner just makes it stick more naturally instead of trying to recall abstract scenarios that have little to nothing to do with your life. It’s like juggling with three balls and adding a fourth into the mix to memorize lyrics and a fifth ball to do the same with the musical notation/tabs. Again, if this abstract method works for you, use it! I’m not saying one methods is really better than the other. However, we all learn differently and face unique obstacles and challenges when it comes to remembering anything let alone music. I just felt it’s worth suggesting a method we all naturally do every time new songs get released - we all do it so it already comes naturally to us and can be applied to any song out there. Even a song you don’t necessarily relate with on a personal level can be related to the life of a friend, famous person or situation that you relate with, etc. - and can be done in a hurry! The suggested method would likely take much more time to internalize because you have to create an abstract picture story in your brain and then memorize that - and then juggle trying to recall that abstract story while playing an instrument and trying to recall the actual lyrics. At the end of the day, so whatever works for you! There’s no right or wrong! Oh, one more thing: is it really so terrible if people have to glance at the written music or lyrics from time to time. As long as it’s not done noticeably and the musician/singer is still engaging the audience, so what? I mean, lots of famous musicians have done it for many years whether on paper or screens. If it’s a bands own song, there’s no excuse unless it’s a song they rarely play or is literally brand new and the first time it’s being performed to gauge audience reaction (ie: like it’s something the performer is working on and not a finished song) - even if it’s new, they better know it. But if it’s someone else’s music, so what as long as the performance is still engaging and meaningful? Orchestras do it. Heck, professional speakers do it with notes and teleprompters. Is it really that terrible?

[@jonathanyun7817]

tldr: Mike's method is good, but might not work for everyone. A better technique might be to relate bits of the song to personal experiences and emotions so they stick well, and then chunk the bits together. At the end of the day, do whatever works for you! Also, I agree that people should be allowed to use visual reminders, but I think being able to perform entirely from memory is its own rewarding experience, and it's a little disappointing to see that a lot of people aren't pushing themselves to reach that level.

[@NoahNCopeland]

Today I learned youtube comments don't have a character limit

[@macleanclassics]

One thing I learned when you started the lyrics.... this probably works way better when it's your own story

[@BeastCake1349]

100% true.

[@andreasberglund]

Wow this is such a good tutorial! Thank you!

[@bernieconatser1028]

Well, it’s been 24 hours and I’d like to thank Mike for the ridiculous imagery and Linkin Park song that have both been on endless loop in my brain 🤣🤣

[@HannahCope88]

Congrats on 736K Subscribers! 🤘🏻🔥

[@Benjovi76]

The Bobby effect 😃

[@craigghelfi3796]

Very cool. Harry Lorraine (sp) wrote the “Memory Book” decades ago and its principles are the same. Great video!

[@jdude9002]

Awesome i read off of 100 plus songs for my gigs ill try this.

[@chiparooo]

Good techniques! Love memory hacks. Thanks for sharing!

[@aprylrittenhouse4562]

Back in 88 I had to memorize three new song lyrics in 8hrs and ended up writing some of the lyrics to a priest song on paper taping it to the floor next to my mic stand. The good old daze

[@TheTimeProphet]

I understand what you are saying, but if you have a bad memory like I have. I can't remember the pictures, let alone the lyrics.

[@pdm-vz8uq]

I never knew Michael McIntyre was so good at guitar!

[@michaelcotner2871]

Very good tip and it's not as dumb sounding as you may think. I'm Naturally very pictorial in my thinking and I love songs that tell a story, especially Pink Floyd. And , they use story and dual meanings in their lyrics. But yeah, finding things in the songs to remember the Chords, good idea,

[@Burnt_Gerbil]

2:41 The Wilhelm Scream lives on! 🤣

[@NotBenCoultry]

Hey I can actually pay you back with an additional trick: 1 to 10 numbered list where you can remember the items in any order, using 10 images in a rhyme scheme. None of the keywords rhyme with each other so images don't get confused on which number they're pegged to. You memorize this list, and create a combination image for each item of the list you want to remember with the images in the rhyme list. You could even do this with a shopping list if you wanna clutter up your mind with images of guns shooting steaks and butter shoes. 1. gun 2. shoe 3. tree 4. door 5. hive 6. sticks 7. heaven 8. gate 9. wine 10. hen Once you've created those pegs, someone could say "six" and you'll think of the image you made with "sticks."

[@Doombap4life]

Absolutely awesome ideas! Many thanks for this video! Question: Though your channel is about guitar, will you expand your exploration into the other areas of music? You have a really great insight on some of the unspoken elements to performing live. Peace.

[@slimsantilli4476]

I used to play open mics. And I didn't often repeat songs. My trick was to write down all the lyrics on a legal pad. And I would work on the last verse the most.

[@minihercules317]

This is bat shit insane and I love it

[@couchbuddha]

For everyone interested to take this to next level, checkout "Moonwalking with Einstein" by Joshua Foer. Great video 🎸

[@joebob344]

My mind works that way also. Associating things works very well to remember. I always tell ushers by my section at a concert a code word to be funny. Just some random thing I think of. Then I don't have to show my ticket everytime I come back. They remember me every time.

[@mrotta6079]

Thanks I have a feeling I’m gonna use this for a lot more then just music

[@JonathanGasper]

I am the worst at remembering lyrics. Intrumental parts, I do better with. One thing that helps me learn complex music from sheet music/tab is working backwards, phrase by phrase. It is easier to be focused on the part you are learning when you already know what comes next.

[@christopherhawthorne5395]

Awesome !

[@Sandy.Squirrel]

Hi Mike, I'm back. And I'm over here cracking up cause you had to have that little bit of sadisticness in that memorization exercise.

[@ChrisBrown-oo4bf]

Really good.

[@iaov]

Love your shirt!!

[@Someguy-ic3mu]

Love your videos mike!

[@bangkokskater]

6 days in n could still recall

[@BitcoinAndChess]

This is the exact technique that "power memory" users use. There are even organized competitions to see who can memorize the most in a short amount of time. A good book to explore this technique further is called "Moonwalking With Einstein".

[@BeastCake1349]

A sheep falls out of the tree. This is actually a better book. Check it out. Also Ageless Memory by Harry Lorayne.

[@Nick7842]

I was learning a song that had a whole bunch of different licks in it spread throughout and it became challenging to remember what came next. I ended up just naming the ones I kept forgetting with the first thing that I thought of: "Ok, next we play the Washing Machine lick and then the Mouse lick" haha This stuff really works and after a week or so I could play the entire song without stopping! :)

[@patstuker]

Mike finally remembered to upload as well as remembering lyrics 😅

[@sairaleblanc5329]

I forgot a task on my list app yesterday and my teen blamed the Bobby effect. LOL Looks like I need to start memory exercises.

[@ryanscott8770]

Hey what do you think of other guitar styles like flamenco or classical guitar? I’m finding it hard to balance these playings with electric and pick technique work is there a method to really get efficient at all styles? Or is it better to specialize? I always hear something in another style and think “damn I wanna learn that” and then I get on 3 month tangent learning a new style of guitar. Any thoughts would be cool

[@skipneumann1]

Thanks-great ideas! There are a few songs the band does that I just forget the chords in certain spots… gonna try your ideas and see if I can get it

[@brylidan]

damn i was watching this high best video ever

[@Derekanic.]

3:11 OH MY GOD THEY KILLED KENNY

[@cc_1983]

This is an awesome technique dude and I think I need some jelly beans now lol 😂

[@TheAntiburglar]

......Wilhelm Scream got me cracking up every time XD

[@jimbubbatube]

When I was in music theory and had to memorize the modes, I would picture a gigantic onion with a huge eyeball (EYE ONION) walking through a gigantic DOORWAY and stepping up to the only object in the room, a FRIDGE. He opened the refrigerator and grabbed the only object inside, a Tupperware container, and pulled off the LID, then shoved his hand inside and started MIXING the creamy, gooey AOLI inside, when suddenly, he pulls out a giant, rusty padLOCK. Still remember the modes 30 years later.

[@hoosierdaddy2308]

Very interesting. I have played gigs at small bars with 40 songs and I just practiced over and over and over until I had it down, but what a great concept. I don't sing though at all. Guitar is enough for my dumb brain.. Great idea. Association I guess. ♥️🤘♥️

[@Guitarprincess284]

To let you know Mike rocksmith has an option to lower the volume on a song to where it's only the user being heard without all the music on the track.

[@Wiggimus]

2:42 Wilhelm, no!!!

[@rudiyantohalim736]

I understand on how it works with lyrics, how about with a guitar solo?

[@billdux3271]

Cool

[@pecosnick45]

So….. as someone trying to memorize a lot of information for medical, will this work too?

[@laertel2365]

Love this video so much lmao xD

[@msenecal]

There are memory pegs. Learned years ago in a Dale Carnegie class.

[@dobrostarr3759]

What’s on the bridge of your SG?

[@gai73]

Love this. What its the contraption on the tail piece of the sg?

[@RonSavage01]

What's the diagonal metal piece by your bridge?

[@MichaelBuilds]

I REFUSE TO STAB KENNY ROGERS! LOL 🤣

[@MrEmptywindow]

I'm pretty confident I love how nuts you are.

[@vanessaesmeraldamendozabar601]

Gosh dammit adhd u said imagine the jellybeans and I started thinking of candy land 😭 while u were talking

[@hansgettheflammenwerfer69420]

Oh im here early for once! Hi Mike!

[@ronniewetherington509]

I obviously have memory issues. I have been trying to learn to play guitar and other instruments for the past 12 years. No matter how hard I try I can only remember a short part or few bars. I can try over and over but can't get past this part. It's so frustrating and crippling. I've nearly quit trying because of feeling so incompetent to learn. I've been with my wife to some neurologist appointments recently. They used a very similar method as part of her evaluation.

[@ricomajestic]

So did you find what you problem is? What are you doing to try to improve your memory?

[@zakguitar2359]

What's that metal thing next to the bridge of his guitar?

[@reversemitko6103]

blows me away sorta that this worked lmao

[@emi.1735]

ok now i know how i can remember anthony kiedis lyrics

[@TheArtofGuitar]

His lyrics are already so insane it's hard to make them even more nuts. haha

[@emi.1735]

@@TheArtofGuitar that s what im saying :)

[@Daves-not-here]

Looking at a screen is so unprofessional. I didn’t even like using books in chamber choir when I sang. I learn lyrics through repetition. I’m still trying to figure out a way to easily remember what I’m supposed to play on guitar though. I don’t actually know the notes on the fret board I read tab only which I know isn’t great. That said I can read regular notation I just can’t translate that to what to play on my guitar. That said this was a great video and I bet this will help a lot of people in the long run.

[@wfly81]

No Kenny Rogerses were harmed in the making of this video.

[@GoofballProductions1]

he looks like markiplier

[@Derekanic.]

Was that the bite of 87??

[@TheJosherdahl]

Can't see images in my head. Aphantasia. Its a thing. I wish I could do this.

[@thejonathandoan]

Come on, man, you know this video was just an excuse to use the Wilhelm scream multiple times! ;)

[@douglasmiranda9986]

so thats how kenny rogers died 😂

[@MrMetalhorse]

I remember learning this in a psychology class years ago. It sounds like it wouldn't work but it's actually super helpful.

[@leaveitorsinkit242]

I don’t know man. I just memorize it. 😂

[@xliquidflames]

Kevin Trudeau?

[@positiveoutflow6644]

Lol Mike must hate Kenny Rogers with all his heart

[@TubeScrewed]

Ok Car JellyBeans Wilhelm Scream Unicorn Wilhelm Scream Kenny Rogers

[@heartsthekitteh6239]

first!

[@Areo-ui7wj]

damn

[@aimhigh4928]

I want learn how play guitar don't know where to start

[@Johnnysmithy24]

Pretty sure Mike here has a video on where to start

[@sangre_sani]

Just don't stab Kenny Rogers. The rest is simple.

[@globanusopp3046]

Step 1: Get a cheap guitar Step 2: Follow any free Beginner Tutorial (e.g. Justin Guitar) Step 3: Play it everyday, try to figure out chords to simple songs, write some minimalistic songs

[@herculesrockefeller8969]

1. Buy guitar.

[@BlakeSpohn]

@@herculesrockefeller8969 #2 have existential crisis

[@immanuelkantholz9033]

Person, woman, man, camera, tv. *scnr*