Hi Rob…

That was me a bit ago..but Mandy set me straight..you have to do one  song…till you memorize it…get it in your brain.. work little parts of the song that u have trouble with… you will get it..takes time..and a metrodome….helps…hang in there….oh..my dogs run too…

Hey Rob,

Lorrie is exactly right!  STOP 🛑- hit the ⏸.   LIVE in one song for quite awhile.  The better you get at that 1 or 2 songs you are working on, the better all your future songs will be because of it. That time and dedication into that 1 song will pay off I promise.

All my lessons can have your head spinning!  Don’t fall into that trap.  I give a lot of variety because each person likes a different thing.  There’s no rush and take joy in the entire process.

Here’s exactly how I learned.  1 – Listen to the tune.  2 – Listen to the tune.  3 – Listen to the tune.  You catching on yet?  You need to be humming that tune and melody before you try and pick it out.  4.  Start in small sections (either with the tabs or by reading hands or by ear).  5. Learn each small section (just a measure or 2 here) until you know it all.  5.  Play through the song over and over until you play it completely in time with no stops or slow downs.  6.  Play it with 2 or fewer mistakes.  7.  Try then to add some speed (to whatever the normal speed or your preference).  8. At this point you are never looking at any tab for this song.  9.  Play it more, play it with variation, play it adding embellishments.  10. Play it in multiple octaves, add chords, just beef it up.  11 – now you can say that you “know” a song.  12 – Time to add a new song.  😃 13 – continue with this “learned” song by playing it at least once a week or so just as a quick warmup.  Been learning songs this way for 18 years now on banjo, 12 years on dulcimer, and several other instruments.

You can do it.

Rob- we’ve all been there!!! And still are on some days. Dido all the above. Take it slow, enjoy the process. Find a song, the song, that will work for you. Mine was Boil that Cabbage down, nobody in the house knew it before but they sure do now 🥴😀. I practiced that song until I had it and the feeling is great. But practicing, using “Mandy’s 13 steps Program” 🙄😳 works. But I for one don’t do every song, like she said, some are not for me. Hang in there and keep in touch, we are here for you.