IDEAS?

[Basil Henriques]

OK Terry, understand that to some it comes easier than others. I don't think that memory is as important as the "Here and Now" approach, BUT we ALL draw on a pool of memorised conditions.

I was born to play music and I understand it intuitively. It's really just mathematics and the laws of probabilities. Those I can't teach unfortunately, BUT I can tell you that all the scales in the world won't let you know as much, as learning where all the CHORDS and keys are. NOTES on their own are not going to let you understand the structure of a song/tune, whereas chords will let you know where it's all happening.

I can lead you along the course, but there's no substitute or quick fix for dexterity and comprehension..it's HARD work.

Just to let you see what I mean by playing intuitively,
This is myself 3 years after starting to play Hawaiian Guitar, (And Pat had just learned guitar about six months prior)

12th Street Rag


Honolulu March


ANYTHING CLICK HERE was played when I had been playing for JUST 3 years..

Then:- After 5 years,
Sweet Leilani


This was after 7 years playing..

Gentle on My Mind from the EMI Studio 2 Recording TWO-290


Little Green Apples from the EMI Studio 2 Recording TWO-290


This was a hit for me in Japan, it was the theme for a Japanese/Spaghetti Western.
Scat in the Dark (Strange title if you're German)

[telboy]

thanks basil, when i talk about memory im refering to trying to remember how to play the song, i could do my bit, things go not too bad, then 2 days later everythings gone, so have to relearn from scratch! so what ive just started doing is recording my noise onto CASSETTE hopefully itll help...well in two years time if im half as good as you were ill be a very happy chappy 12th st rag is right up my street and a very nice sound on sweet leilani [what tuning is that/pedal?] i wonder if there's anyone local to me, could maybe show me where im going wrong and if im doing summat right?

[Basil Henriques]

Patterns are the answer to memorising a song.. Patterns along with the chord structure.. Chords are an ESSENTIAL and integral part of all music..

Learn the words, tie in the chords to the relevant words and then It will all fall into place.

You should also develop a memory regime, i.e. revisit the tune you've learned and practised at the end of your practise session, THEN in your mind in an hour or so, replay it.
Play the tune again a few times the next day and again replay it in your mind. After a week of that regime you'll just need to recall it mentally, now and then, to keep it "At your Fingertips"..