Q&A for How to Memorize a Song

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What do I do if I forget the song because of stage fright?

Princess7878

Community Answer

Pretend no one is there and you are alone in your room. Close your eyes and see if that helps you remember the lyrics. If you are worried, you can write the first line on the inside of your palm to reference if you think you will not remember at all.

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Question

What if the part of the song I want to memorize is rap that's too fast to follow?

Community Answer

Download an MP3 and keep hitting pause and rewinding the song as much as needed so you can write it down word for word.

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Question

What if we have a song we need to sing in a different language? Are there any tips on that?

Community Answer

When you're learning a song in foreign language, it's often helpful to memorize it phonetically. Instead of writing out the lyrics exactly as they should be, break down the words in syllables that you can easily understand. For example, instead of "dithotonyana," transcribe the word as "di-tho-to-nya-na."

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Question

Can I sing to people I know?

Community Answer

Yes, of course you can. They may even be able to help you memorize the song. It's probably best to sing to a friend that knows the lyrics, however.

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Question

What if you're tired of listening to the song?

Community Answer

If you're bored with the song, it may be a good time to take a break. Otherwise, you can move onto to writing out the lyrics or singing without the recording to help you memorize the song.

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Question

How do I memorize cues if I am only singing a portion?

Community Answer

When you're only singing a certain portion of the song, it helps to practice with the other singers. That way, you can get a sense of how they are performing the song, so you identify the cues that signal your portion.

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Question

How many songs can someone know at once?

Community Answer

It's different for everybody. Some people are very good at memorizing and can hold lots of information in their brains at once, and some people aren't as good at it. I would advise you to try to learn one song at a time and just see how many you can work your way up to.

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Question

What if you don't have internet access to download the song or find the lyrics?

Community Answer

If you can't download the song you're learning, ask friends or family members if they have a copy, and borrow their CD or iPod so you can listen to it. Music stores sell sheet music for a wide range of songs that include the lyrics. It's also a good idea to ask your music teacher if he or she has a copy of the song and lyrics that you can borrow.

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Question

What if the song has no words -- only violin and beats?

Community Answer

I recommend singing the song along with the recording in your head. Think to yourself,"OK, this is where the drums come in" or something like that. The only way to really sing the melody is either to memorize just one instrument or memorize the general melody.

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Question

I want to learn a song that I wrote. How do I do that?

Community Answer

Practice regularly with the lyrics in front of you. Try recording yourself and then continue to practice by singing along with the recording.

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Question

I try to sing songs to my friends, but I get nervous and embarrassed. What can I do

Community Answer

Ask them if there is any song that they like and discuss that with them. Also, ask them to sing with you. But, before doing that, agree on one song that you also like. And, don't be embarrassed, as they are your friends.

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Question

What if I have a talent show very soon and I just learned the song?

Community Answer

Listen to the song as many times as you can in that time. Then, try singing a karaoke version of the song over and over until it's committed to memory.

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Question

How can I memorize a long, wordy song in a day?

Piperh

Community Answer

Listen to the song as much as you can. Get it stuck in your head. Sing it to yourself, and if you forget a word or something sounds wrong, look up the lyrics, and sing along with them.

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Question

What if the audience says discouraging things when I am trying to sing?

Community Answer

They probably won't. If this does happen, most likely they are just jealous. Hold your head up high, thank them for their input, and walk away.

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Question

If I stumble on the lyrics in the middle of it, what can I do?

Community Answer

Just make something up! The person you're auditioning for will be impressed if you stumble and improvise to make it sound good.

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Question

I am good at memorizing songs, but I cannot seem to get this one I am doing at karaoke tomorrow. What should I do?

Community Answer

Try to go one line at a time. Read it five times, speak it three times and sing it twice until you have it down.

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Question

What if the song has lots of notes that you have to hold?

Community Answer

That is all a matter of breathing techniques. If you are having trouble holding the notes, it could be that you are not taking a large enough breath. This happens to many people with stage fright when they are singing in front of people. Their singing gets breathy, and they cannot hold the notes as long as they need to be able to. If that is not the case, take larger/deeper breaths before holding out these notes.

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Question

There are a lot of pauses in the lyrics of the song I'm sing for the talent show to let instruments play. How do I know when to sing and when not to sing?

Community Answer

You have to keep track of the tempo. Count how many beats the instrumental part is, then when to start singing again. Listen to where these sections are, then memorize it.

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Question

I have an incredibly bad memory and each time I try to sing, someone discourages me. What should I do?

Community Answer

The discouraging person is not your friend. Don't let them stop you, keep trying to memorize it. What you can try to do is listen to the song over and over again and sing it over and over again. And if you still can't memorize it, then just bring out the lyrics and look at them, there is no shame at needing to look at the lyrics at all.

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Question

Will learning to play the song on a guitar help me remember the melody of the song?

Guitarist

Community Answer

Yes, learning to play the melody on a guitar will help you a lot to remember the melody. Also, try singing along playing the guitar to remember the lyrics as well as the melody.

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Question

What if the song is long with lots of words?

Community Answer

Learn one verse at a time. Rehearse for as long as it takes you to learn the whole song.

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