How many songs can you do completely from memory?

dreadnut

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How many songs can you do straight from your head, both lyrics and music?

I don't rightly know the answer to that, but I have to think for me it's a couple hundred, between Rock oldies, Folk, John Prine, Bluegrass, and Gospel songs. But I've had lots of practice, having the privelege of doing over 1,000 gigs at nursing homes and elsewhere over the last 25 years. And most of them were wth my trusty old D25M.

And apparently I've been blessed with great memory, so I'm thankful for that. No one likes to play Trivial Pursuit aginst me. I guess they'll know when I get Alzheimer's. Except I bet I'll remember the songs; they all do!

I wonder if doing recurring posts on the exact same theme falls into this category, which I have been guildy of here a few times recently :rolleyes:
 
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Nuuska

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In past - I used to have a repertoir of about 400 songs - how accurate they were? - who knows 😂

By now it must be less than 100 - including all new songs after the past - and my own compositions.
But if I'd be playing in public - I figure I'd take back quite many - perhaps up to 300.
 

JerryR

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How many songs can you do straight from your head, both lyrics and music?

I don't rightly know the answer to that, but I have to think for me it's a couple hundred, between Rock oldies, Folk, John Prine, Bluegrass, and Gospel songs. But I've had lots of practice, having the privelege of doing over 1,000 gigs at nursing homes and elsewhere over the last 25 years. And most of them were wth my trusty old D25M.

And apparently I've been blessed with great memory, so I'm thankful for that. No one likes to play Trivial Pursuit aginst me. I guess they'll know when I get Alzheimer's. Except I bet I'll remember the songs; they all do!

I wonder if doing recurring posts on the exact same theme falls into this category, which I have been guildy of here a few times recently :rolleyes:
I cant remember🙄
 

dreadnut

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I bet you and I could have some fun jamming, Nuuska! Maybe when we go to visit our friends in Denmark.
 

dreadnut

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Here's another one I'm learning; actually it''s an old Jim Reeves song; my Dad had every Jim Reeves record made I think.

 

Stuball48

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Not nearly as many as I thought I could be- even the old favorites I have been singing, incorrectly, for years.
One was "Bringing in the Sheaves" but to me, as a little boy into adulthood, it was "Bringing in the Cheese."
 

fronobulax

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Wrong question. I choose not to sing and play at the same time so I guess the answer is zero ;-)
 

walrus

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Seriously, I've stopped playing, and therefore purposely forgotten, about 200+ songs that I had memorized over the decades. Currently, there are 133 songs on my "list" that I play often, some I've played for a very long time, some relatively new. Yes, an actual list. It's been a habit for a long time. I love learning a new song, but then it has to really be enjoyable for me to play every time, or I may drop it. I have a habit of culling them out every once in while. Trying to stay out of a rut, so to speak.

walrus
 

F312

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I know a lot, (500) at least, however, I get tired of reminiscing them, so it's a matter of time to find out what needs to be played at the time.

Ralph
 

Keefinator02

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How many songs can you do straight from your head, both lyrics and music?

I don't rightly know the answer to that, but I have to think for me it's a couple hundred, between Rock oldies, Folk, John Prine, Bluegrass, and Gospel songs. But I've had lots of practice, having the privelege of doing over 1,000 gigs at nursing homes and elsewhere over the last 25 years. And most of them were wth my trusty old D25M.

And apparently I've been blessed with great memory, so I'm thankful for that. No one likes to play Trivial Pursuit aginst me. I guess they'll know when I get Alzheimer's. Except I bet I'll remember the songs; they all do!

I wonder if doing recurring posts on the exact same theme falls into this category, which I have been guildy of here a few times recently :rolleyes:

A couple John Prine songs over hear & some country blues. (maybe 10 total)

Dreadnut,

Have you seen the John Prine songbook, I got it for Christmas and it is very nice.
 

dreadnut

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Yeah, I've got it Keef.

Have you heard the John Prine/Mac Wiseman album? A real gem.
 

Opsimath

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I don't sing around other people due to concern about being arrested for cruel and unusual punishment. However when I (try to) play something I run the lyrics in my head.

Unfortunately I have not played/practiced much in the past few years so I've forgotten almost all of my previous repertoire. Right now I can do 2 songs, For What It's Worth (strumming), and Hallelujah (fingerpicking).

I really need to get back at it, but I'm in such a rut just doing the same things over and over. Yes, I do more than the two listed but I need my books to do them. Over and over.
 

walrus

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However when I (try to) play something I run the lyrics in my head.

+1. If not singing out loud, I also do this. It helps with remembering the structure of the song, not just the lyrics. I always find instrumentals harder to lock into my memory because of this.

walrus
 

HeyMikey

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I can’t remember stuff any more like I used to. If I don’t play a song for a few weeks it takes me a night to relearn it. So I still use a book for most songs.
 
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