How do I learn a song for a gig fast?

By the RepeatWatch team · Updated

Quick answer

Map the song into sections first, then spend your time only on the parts you can't already play. Loop each hard part slowly and climb to full tempo, practice the joins between sections, and finish with full run-throughs in a queue at 1×, because the gig is played at full speed, start to finish.

Try this now: play the song once along with the video without stopping, and note every bar where you stumbled. That list, not the whole song, is your practice plan.

How to learn a song for a gig with loops

  1. Map the form. Import timestamps if the video has them, or save sections for the intro, verse, chorus, bridge, solo and ending.
  2. Play through and mark. Play along once at 1× without stopping and note the sections where you stumbled.
  3. Loop only the trouble. Loop each trouble spot at 0.7× with the speed trainer on: Step +0.05×, Every 3 loops, Goal 1×.
  4. Practice the joins. Set A two bars before each section change and B two bars after. Transitions are where songs most often fall apart.
  5. Rehearse the start and the ending. Loop the count-in and first bars, then the last bars, so you know exactly how the song begins and stops.
  6. Run it in a queue. Add the whole song to the queue at 1× with a repeat count of 3 and play through without stopping, even after a mistake.

Try it now: paste a YouTube link.

5 common mistakes

  • Starting from the top every time, so the intro gets dozens of repeats and the bridge gets two.
  • Never practicing the ending, then fumbling the last chord.
  • Stopping to fix mistakes during run-throughs instead of recovering the way you would on stage.
  • Learning a different version of the song from the one the band plays.
  • Staying at slow speeds too long; the last sessions before the gig should be at full tempo.

Frequently asked questions

What should I practice first when time is short?

Practice the parts you can’t play yet, then the transitions between sections, then the start and the ending. Parts you can already play only need run-throughs.

Should I learn a gig song by ear or with a chart?

Use both if you can. A chord chart or lead sheet keeps the form in front of you, while looping the recording teaches the feel and the details.

How do I remember the song's structure?

Save each section with a clear name in the order it happens, and say the form aloud: intro, verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, chorus. Then run it as a queue.

Which version of the song should I learn?

Ask the band leader which recording they follow. Live versions can change the key, tempo, length or ending, so learn from the one the band will actually play.

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