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Have you ever noticed….?
I consider myself kind of an advanced beginner hoping to be intermediate someday. Have you ever noticed that some songs you are trying to play seem to almost come to you overnight. An example of this for, me is Girl From North Country, where after I decided that it did not have to be perfect or note for note but rather from the heart and my own twist it just came! On the other hand a song I really like and feels a lot like my places I have hung out in my life can be really tough to learn for some reason. The example of this is Piano Man by Billy Joel.It just is taking me so long. Im not really bitching ( well not too much) but just kind of an observation. I am going to keep on it no matter how long. Im also working on Don McClean Vincent which means a lot to me since my father was an incredible artist.Think Ill get my version of that fairly soon. Thanks for wading through my little semirant/observation
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11 Replies
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Yes, some come easier than others. What version of Piano Man are you trying to learn. I would like to work on that one too? I have wanted to learn And I love Her. I have seen some beautiful fingerpicking versions of that on YouTube but haven’t gotten a source to try to add it to my ability to play. So yes, I get it.
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thanks for your response. Im using the Jinsung Lee version which is on youtube and has tab as well.
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Never tried Piano Man on the guitar. But I do love playing “Just the Way You Are” 🙂
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@Mrfredsporty , YES!! I was just thinking the same thing just the other day. I have memorized some songs that are kind of on the hard side. Then I have a song I really want to learn and I can remember the chords to it or the finger style to it. I have to keep pulling out the song sheet. I do want to thank you for mentioning Jin-Sung Lee. I just went on the site myself. How nice that he adds the tabs.
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You are so right. Btw he is a really good player
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I wonder this all the time @Mrfredsporty ! I’m so amazed when I can pick up a song and play it almost immediately, and then Bam! I wonder if aim just that poorly skilled when another song just doesn’t come together for me so easily (and one I don’t think is much more complicated than the earlier one).
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You summed it up perfectly!
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I generally find it easier to learn “songs” when I know the melody and am singing along. I struggle with instrumentals, trying to learn from tab. Especially trying to memorize and play without the music in front of me.
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I completely agree that it is much easier when I know the tune and lyrics well. I struggle with memorizing anything, so that’s out. Of the question for me. I have to rely on chord sheets or tabs.
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Yes @Mrfredsporty , I have had this same issue. I find I struggle the most when a song is written and performed on a piano. I also agree that if I can sing the song the guitar parts usually come a bit faster. I have also had this experience: I am struggling so I put it in the back burner for a while. When I finally pull it back out to get again things begin to fall into place. I have begun to follow the Tony P method of learning a song – break it down in big sized sections and conquer the first section before going in to the next. I also play as slowly as I need to I order to play that section perfectly. Then in to the next section. Accomplishing each section is its own little reward. Yes it takes time however it is gratifying when the I can eventually play the song in full! Thanks for identifying the learning source. I will take a look at that!
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Excellent advice, KM (as always).
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