When I learn how to play songs, I start slow with my metronome and I eventually learn the song. However, this doesn't help me learn songs in general. Every time I learn a new song, it feels like I am starting from scratch. I have no foundation to build off of to help me have an easier time learning songs in the future.

The thing that mainly slows me down when learning songs is that I have a hard time figuring out the right fingerings for the notes. My sight reading needs work also, but I am working on that, but I don't know what to do. Is there some fundamental skill I should know (besides sight reading) to help me learn songs easier? I have friends who can take a piece of music that they have never seen before and play it relatively well. I wonder how they do it.

Thanks

Hi...

I have been playing for years as a professional and still am not a very good sight reader. I can however listen to a song once and sit down and figure it out in a few minutes. That is because I learned piano theory and about chords and scales and chord progressions. Once you learn about how music is made you will start to hear common progressions in all songs. It takes time but developing your ear and theory will help a lot. Especially if you want to play with others in a band. You can get some basics at http://www.piano-lessons-for-life.com

Thanks, this may be just what I'm looking for

Hi Alexamasan,

All is true that is said in the previous answer. Some things to add.

The core of the song is the melody. The more easy it is for you to play the melody by using your ears the easier it is to learn a song quickly.

One thing that helps to develop ear is singing. If you sing and use note names at the same time, it is a good ear training. Also improvising while singing. Improvise on random notes and try to sing the right pitch - this is a thing that most good jazzplayers practice and are able to do.

The other thing - be sure that you can really sing the melody in your head. All music making is strongly connected with your inner imagination of the piece. All the books written by top musicians I have read pay much attention to the mental play and clear vision and imagination of the piece. The clearer the melody is in your head the easier it is to play and memorize it.

After you are able to play the melody and imagine it clearly, the next step is harmony. This needs theoretical knowledge of chord progressions or/and experience, just as it is said in the previous answer. There is much more - bass, rhythm, how to combine the chord so that they sound beautiful and appropriate etc.

Sight reading is also a skill that can be developed with full awareness. I have learned quite a lot about how to develop sight reading. But about this maybe in another topic

Best wishes,
Jaak

PianoProf,

Just curious.... your affiliation with the website you posted is...........????????????????

I have to admit to being a complete cynic. I always wonder, when someone posts their first, second, third time, and immediately a new person, who may have something to sell, or a click-thru revenue stream, makes their very first post in reply, who's shilling for who

But then, I really am a cynic :\

Cathy

It just takes time. By the time you have played your umpteenth "song" you will have already encountered many of the notes, scale fragments, and chords that you see. They will be familiar and readily recognizable, just like reading words instead of reading letters.

If you're talking about classical notation, maybe your friends have more experience and are more familiar with the notes. If you're talking pop music or hymns, they may understand chords and keys better.

Really depends on what your goals are. If it's classical style reading, make sure you don't spend too much time on one piece, or make notes to yourself on the music. Memory tends to kick in and you play from feel rather than reading. You're not trying to necessarily learn that song. You're trying to increase your recognition of notes. One thing I suggest is to have a couple main notes that you know where they are, like all of the Cs. This helps you anchor around a few recognizable notes. If you know C, then D is the note above it and B is the note below it.

It does take time. Just be sure that, if sight reading better is your goal, you're spending a good portion of time reading a song you don't know yet.

Comparing the site and the username, it looks to be the 'prof' himself.

A cursory glance, and the site looks pretty darn good. I checked only the lesson on chord progressions, though, so will reserve 'final judgement'.



(And, for the record, I have NO affiliation with prof or site.)