@Rendar There are some good tips in this topic - started by a Grade 2 player also finding this a challenge.
I hope that helps. Cheers 
| Richard | JustinGuitar Approved Teacher, Official Guide & Moderator
Hello Darren @Rendar, I’m very sorry to hear, that you’ve lost your brother. I can totally understand, that you like to learn to play a particular song to express your feelings.
Wish you were here is definitely a challenge, but maybe that’s exactly what might help you right now.
Do you want to learn to play the songs or to play and sing? Without singing, it probably won’t take too long to memorize the easier songs. As others have already said, write out the chords and figure out the chords structure. And then, of course, play it, play it, play it 
.
If you like to sing along, as well, it might last considerably longer. But it’s so worth it 
.
Normally, I concentrate on the playing and the singing part seperately. I want to feel quite confident with each part, before I mix them together. Some lyrics come ease, others don’t. So, don’t get frustrated if some songs need more time and effort than others.
All the best 
.
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Thanks. The good thing is I pretty much know the words to the songs I want to play so it will be just playing/singing at same time that will be hard.
Thanks!
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I can play Wish you where here decently, still having some issues with C chord changes so been working on them a lot last week or so. Learning the chords for WYWH and memorizing them maybe a bit more difficult than the other songs.
Most of the songs I picked I know the lyrics from listening to them all my life so that will make it easier but playing while singing is the tricky part and sure it will take some time. I figure I won’t worry about singing until I get the chords/song memorized.
One thing I am in no hurry, If it takes me 1 month or 3 just want to get it right before I move onto Grade 2.
And Thanks for the condolences for my brother.
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I am 50 years old so maybe not older than me? The good thing is all of the songs I picked I know the words from listening to them and being a fan of classic type rock. I use the justin song app that also has the words so that helps as well.
For me it’s just learning the chords of the song. I guess the good thing is most of the songs I been playing/using to practice since module 2.
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Yes, learning from JG song app. And the good thing I been playing the songs for weeks because used them for practice and for Love Me Do started around 80 BPM but now playing it at 146 BPM. Just as much as I played it still really don’t know it.
I will try with writing chords down.
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65 here!
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I have the hardest time trying to remember songs without tabs or chord sheet in front of me. Not sure if it’s my age (67) or what. Also I have 5 songs I’m learning, but I’ve set my bar kind of high. The main one taking the longest is Pink Floyd’s “Wish you were here”. I’m almost there with that one but it’s taken a while due to the mix of chord and individual notes. I’m determined to get it polished and ready. I want to move on to grade 2, but need to I nail down my 5 songs.
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Hi jomal.
Don`t get too worked up about Wish You Were Here as it is used in the first lessons of Grade 2 as riff practice. Plus the scale work you will also be doing will help towards it.
I am of a similar age as you and have just started Grade 2. I also struggled trying to remember the songs and chords and found it very helpful to jam along with Justin in his Nitsuj practice sessions for Grade 1.
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At 50 I just kick myself not learning to play sooner.
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You can move on without having committed five songs fully to memory. Using chord charts as you play them is fine.
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Thanks Richard. That’s what I’ll have to do. At my age (67) and with my memory capabilities, I think for some songs I’ll always need the words and chords in front of me, lol. The fact that I don’t have a good singing voice makes it hard to preform in front of even my family.
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Hi Rich,
I do the same thing! At 62 I need all the help I can get to remember things!!!
One variant of this - IF it’s a song I really like, I play it on a loop/over & over during my morning walk while reading the lyrics. If there’s nobody else around on the walking path, I’ll “strum” & sing along too. So, at the end of my 30-45 minute walk, I’ll have them memorized for the rest of the day!!! (Sleep seems to “reset” everything often!!!)
Tod
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Hey Darren,
THIS!!!
I love the guitar karaoke aspect of the app but don’t think it’s very good at helping to memorize song structure - so I either get the TAB for the song or just go through the song on the app & write the chords down with some notes like original BPM, any “pushes”, places where I might want to add strum variations etc.
This way, I can play the song WITHOUT the app & do my own thing. Then, I’ll play again WITH the app & make sure my timing is ok. It has really helped me!
Tod
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I’m a little confused on how to structure my practice routine in the consolidation phase after completing all the modules of Grade 1.
Should I still be doing the OMC exercises every day? I am at 40-60 on all the major combinations but after weeks of consolidation am still really struggling with chord changes when it comes to playing songs.
Even with something pretty slow and simple like “Three little birds” if I try a simple downstrum on every beat of the bar I struggle to make the changes cleanly. Anything involving the C chord is even more sloppy. Should I be just focusing on one song at a time until I’ve “mastered” it? I am just feeling a bit unsure on how to divide my time between the OMCs, the song app and practicing songs without backing. Any advice from more experienced folks would be welcome!
Hi David…
I am a bit hesitant to send you in the wrong direction but I personally would keep up the various chord changing practice items until you feel better about your progress.
I’m kind of in the same boat… finished Grade 2 & have been watching the videos for Grade 3 without actually doing them. Instead, I’m doing Grade 2 review, consolidating & playing lots if songs. In particular, songs I don’t know already just to practice smooth, “perfect” chord changes!
I think this is helpful… Grade 3 preview is pretty cool… listening to Justin but no pressure yet to practice what he preaches!!!
I’m just trying to firm up my foundation before moving on… might help you too!
Good luck!!!
Tod
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Hey thanks Tod, for this and your response in the other thread! You’re right that I probably just need to relax about it a bit I am a bit of a perfectionist at times and I can see that’s probably something I need to let go of here. I know in other areas of life that often 90% of the battle is just showing up. So if I keep up the practice, eventually the results will come. At least that’s what I’m telling myself! I can’t wait to move on like you to Grade 2 and beyond.
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Hi David. Concentrate your OMCs on the chord progressions you need for the songs you want to play. Don’t waste time with combinations that you don’t need at the moment (or are unlikely to ever come up in a song). 40 to 60 changes is more than fast enough. Remember that you only need to change chords as fast as a particular song requires.
You mention 3 little birds. That is a slow ADE song. If you’re having difficulty with those chords perhaps you should be concentrating on the ‘slow but perfect’ chord changes. There is no point in being able to play 40/60 ‘sloppy’ changes per minute.
Have you fully completed all the modules in Grade 1?
I ask this because you say you’re having difficulty with one downstrum per bar. If you have completed grade one you should have covered strumming patterns, dynamics, note picking and a load of songs at a higher level than 3 little birds.
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Thanks sairfingers! I am now focusing on the chord progressions I need for the songs I am learning. I decided to just slow down a bit and practice those chord progressions with a metronome (eg. C G D A E for Hey Joe), making sure they all ring out cleanly. Then I gradually increase the speed. It feels like I’m making a bit more progress with this approach. And I no longer have any trouble with Three Little Birds.
To answer your question, yes I’ve completed all the Grade 1 modules. Don’t have any problems at all with the various riffs and strumming patterns in general. Changing chords cleanly in songs has been my main issue. So that’s the key thing I’m working on before going forward.