When do you stop learning how to play a song? Haters are encouraged to reply!

[garbeaj]

I’m very curious to know at what point, if any, do you stop learning a song. When do you say to yourself, “Self, I know how to play this song!”.

I’m particularly interested in this because it has been made clear to me that there are many different answers to this question. So many answers that I’m really fascinated to hear when this specific point is reached for different players, especially those that strongly disagree with my definition of this time when learning is ceased.

I give guitar lessons and it will come as no surprise to those who have read my posts over the last 15 or so years that my answer is “never” and I teach my students in extreme detail and I explain to them why I teach them in detail and why I study in the detail that I’m somewhat “known” (for lack of a better term) for, but I’m super interested to know when, why and how this point occurs for YOU!

[fudd]

I think most people probably stop when they feel they have it right.

Of course the mantra in life is remain teachable but some folks don’t see it that way.


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[Jedi McFly]

I agree that you never really stop learning a song. I learn things today about songs I first learned 20 years ago.

If it's for recreation or passion I'll continue chasing it down. But if it's just for practical purposes (gigging) then depending on the song/part I'll accept close enough for the rest of the band to deem acceptable and the average audience member not to notice.

[noise next door]

You will hear it in the playback of your live performance with your band... PLUS... if the overall arrangement is sounding killer, and specifically the audience is loving what's coming out of the PA (which you can easily determine visually), you are done... what you are playing is working musically and that's all that matters.

But, make sure the audience is transfixed... to me the real goal is the mix of all the instruments playing together at high volume live.

[Brett]

I think it depends on the purpose of learning it. If it’s just to learn a cover to play with your band, I don’t think the details matter nearly as much as they do if you’re recording it or something. Like when I do a recording of a cover, I really get detailed about everything because I want it to sound pretty close to the real version.

But I’ll be honest, once I delve deeply into the song to do a recording like that and finish it, I pretty much forget everything afterwards. Lol. Like if I had to play it with a band or something, I’d have to relearn it again. But once I’ve recorded it and I feel like I’ve gotten it as close as I can, I move on to something else.

If you’re just playing a cover in your band, the audience doesn’t realize if you’re playing every little note correct or not. And a lot of times when we did covers in my band, I often did my own take on a solo a little bit sometimes because I wanted to make it my own. We weren’t a cover band, we were an original band who threw in a few covers. Now if you’re playing in a tribute band, then yeah I think you need to get the nuances down, because people are listening for them.

But I’m also really just a hobby player at this point. I don’t even play very much anymore, so when I do play, it’s usually to try to do a cover and record it for fun. I’m not writing my own music anymore. I’m not really learning anything new in terms of my playing style.

[rvk5150]

I agree with what has been said...I am just a hobby player and do it because I love music. I play with backing tracks etc....I like to make my own tabs with how I play the song by studying the song in slow mo, looking at various tabs, watching videos of Eddie (my focus is 99% Van Halen) etc. Never been in a band and doubt I will ever be good enough to.

Only a few years ago my family encouraged to post some stuff on socials and I did...with mixed results. Some people came out both privately and publicly making negative comments while others said rock on and I have built a small network of new friends to talk about and watch their playing......

So for me I update my notations all the time if I hear or see something different, check it out, and then realize it sounds better or more accurate. Other times; as in the case of you Allen; I see an updated tab and bits and pieces make sense to me....some of your stuff is so technical though I admit I am not good enough to learn it or struggle to "unlearn" how I have been playing it so I let sleeping dogs lie, lol.

[CaboChris]

I'm not understanding the "haters are encouraged to reply." Is there some underlying thing going on here? It's a good question.

[ScottyBHarris]

I’ll learn songs with the intent of learning it as much as possible to the album version. After a while though, I’ll forget certain parts, or fuck up a chord or passage while jamming with friends, etc. and I’m OK with that. I’ll recover or make something work on the fly. You have to move forward. I don’t see the need in learning every little nuance of a player’s style. In my opinion, you want to eventually become your own musician. Be yourself as a player, not a clone of someone else.

[5150rob]

I’m very curious to know at what point, if any, do you stop learning a song. When do you say to yourself, “Self, I know how to play this song!”.

I’m particularly interested in this because it has been made clear to me that there are many different answers to this question. So many answers that I’m really fascinated to hear when this specific point is reached for different players, especially those that strongly disagree with my definition of this time when learning is ceased.

I give guitar lessons and it will come as no surprise to those who have read my posts over the last 15 or so years that my answer is “never” and I teach my students in extreme detail and I explain to them why I teach them in detail and why I study in the detail that I’m somewhat “known” (for lack of a better term) for, but I’m super interested to know when, why and how this point occurs for YOU!

Well bro first off I have been playing for 28 years (I got a late start didn't start till I was 23) and I wish I could have you as an instructor as I am sure there is a lot of amazing stuff I'd pick up from you. Now to answer your question, you know it's a funny one for me, I don't think I can play ANY song perfect and that even includes the easy ones like ATBL or Panama, Unchained etc. Sure I can play the whole song and have my good days where I am like, "damn I smoked that one today" and typically those days are when no one else is around or watching including the video camera hahaha... or sometimes folks or friends go "wow man your a great guitar player" to which I just laugh and go "nah I am just a hack" but I would say I never get tired of learning a song and the times that I move on to another one or another drill or technique etc is when I get bored playing it you know. That goes for a riff too or a solo etc I try to get it down pat to at least where I can play it all the way through at least to almost up to speed but my problem is I have such a short attention span (even at 50 haha) I get bored and move on to other stuff but I always seem to come back to it one day and its fun to relearn it again hahah.

Not sure if that makes sense but my guitar playing habits come and go but I can tell you this.... I still always try to have fun and enjoy myself no matter how good I do . Great question my friend.

Rob

[Brett]

I'm not understanding the "haters are encouraged to reply." Is there some underlying thing going on here? It's a good question.

Basically, he’s just talking to BC. I’m sure he’ll be along to reply soon. He and Allen are good friends.

[Little Intruder]

I've been playing guitar since I was a kid but it's been a long time since I actually wanted to learn something new. I'm pretty satisfied playing the shit I already know, whether it's originals or covers. It's been years since I even played in any bands so these days I just fuck around on my own. I still jam with certain friends on occasion but not very often, sad to say. I guess it's just old age catching up to me!

[joezlo]

You stop learning when you stop caring.
NUFF SAID.

[LilDreamer81]

This is a great thread! Like many of you, I’ve been playing since a kid and now at 43, the internet has been amazing with tab and YouTube. Songs I’ve played on guitar for years I look at on Songsterr now and am like, fuckkk I was missing that one little detail hahah! It prolly made us all better but there is a lot to be said as far as the days of training your ears and learning to play along with tapes/cds etc….

[Naked Wake]

I started playing at 5, but didn't take it seriously until I was 13 or 14, and other than learning main riffs, I've always just wanted to write and play my own stuff. Every band I ever played in was an originals band. Unfortunately with a hectic work schedule and family life, I haven't played in a band since like 2004 or 2005, and I haven't written anything since about 2014. I hardly play anymore, other than to pick it up and noodle with it for 5 or 10 minutes. I can't remember when the last time I plugged any of my guitars into an amp was.

[Little Intruder]

NW, I'm much the same way. I still love plugging in my Strat or Ibanez and messing around, especially if I'm under the influence. But since I moved here to NM there aren't very many others that I've played with. I do have a couple of buds that I've met but we're all pretty busy with our lives to jam very often. My best days were when I lived in Bakersfield and Berkeley back in the late 80s. I think the last song I learned was something from Fear Factory. That's the kind of music that I'm into and like to play. Unfortunately I haven't met very many others here that are into that shit!