Guitar Players: Whats your strategy for learning a new song?

I don't really try to learn other people's songs anymore, but back when I use to do that, I would just kind of learn the groove of the main progression first. Then I would learn all of the lyrics, and learn to sing them, or at least hum them, as I learned the other parts of the song. That seemed to help me. Usually I would have to adjust some things or transpose it to a key where I could sing it.

to learn: I've started breaking them into pieces, learning the pieces, then putting them together.

Meaning don't try and run through the whole song from start to finish. Do the verse or chorus or bridge as a stand alone, get it down. then add another section. 3 or 4 steps later you've got it.

most verse progressions repeat over the different verses, chorus is usually almost exactly the same when repeated (end measure may change a little). bridge is its own thing most of the time.

to remember: just need to play it 1,000 times.

I'm a fan of the ultimate guitar app. You can view lots of versions of tabs and you can have it auto scroll through the tab while you play. Since the tabs usually have the lyrics in there too, you don't have to memorize them or the chords. You just follow along as you play. You can control the speed of the auto scroll if it is moving too fast or slow as well. It's helped me learn songs much faster than before.

In general, if you are sort of a beginner, try to pick more simple songs with easy chords. You'll get less frustrated and feel more confident when you try more difficult songs to learn.

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Learn it in pieces. I have a terrible attention span, so I tend to learn bits and pieces of songs. Honestly can’t recall one song I’ve learned start to finish.

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Sounds exactly like me.

I'll find the parts of a song that I think sound cool af, learn to play it, then tend to get bored with "going through the motions" for the rest... then I'll rinse and repeat with a new song

My fiance is talking mad shite that I have been playing for 8 months and still cant just play through one entire song. I guess it is annoying for her, but to me I learn something new from every part of a song I like so it doesnt seem like its impeding my progress, but thats why Im here asking you boys

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My fiance is talking mad shite that I have been playing for 8 months and still cant just play through one entire song. I guess it is annoying for her, but to me I learn something new from every part of a song I like so it doesnt seem like its impeding my progress, but thats why Im here asking you boys

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Just try a couple of 3 or 4 chord songs, Like Simple Man, Knockin On Heavens Door, Dylan's All Along The Watchtower..
Those progressions repeat themselves over and over again and are easy to sing. That will make your GF happy maybe. There are a lot of songs like that, I'm sure you can find something you like.

The more you learn the easier they get.

The boys I started with made me/us start over (at the very beginning) whenever making a mistake. Miss a step, let's start over, ....(advanced assholes). I do think that helped. If nothing more than staying withing within a comfortable speed and tempo. Fast and up to speed comes with practice.

Honestly the more you learn, the more you can play the sound you want, instead of just thinking there's a G next. Plus you kinda of group the chords in a key with experience. We all learn x-y-x in key EZ, but the more you flesh them out the easier they come, much like taking batting practice. The ear training becomes better, and you'll soon be throwing in 7th's, minors, and suspensions where the internet version doesn't.

The Ultimate Guitar thing sounds good. I don't have it, but like going through their different versions. And lots to be learned from the comments. When starting out I'd play the good ones, as well as struggle through the better, and also the not so good. The ear training is invaluable. You soon start to hear bad and it's not you.. it's the author.

When just starting out I'd also make a cheat sheet of what we'd play. Just a sheet of paper with a list of names and chords in order. ON a single line. I think it helped to remember structure and order better, while not having to think about what's coming up next. Before long that's what I'd practice from, instead of looking at the complete version of song.

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The Ultimate Guitar thing sounds good.

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They were running a deal for pro version for like 20 for an annual membership so I hopped on that.

What kind of music does your GF like? People on here could give you suggestions on really easy songs to learn, that she would like.

Pick one well beyond my ability. String 8-10 notes together. Get to impossible chord or chord change and get angry. Then noodle around until sleepy and go to bed frustrated.

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But throw her in the generic radio pop group

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That's a pretty big group. Can you narrow it down? strictly new stuff? Older stuff? examples?