How to Memorize Song Lyrics for Your Next Gig

As rock vocalist and rhythm guitarist in a rock band I can tell you firsthand that memorizing lyrics is hard work. Having just three weeks to learn 10 covers requires hours of playing, listening in the car, and reviewing lyric sheets again and again. But my experiences of memorizing lyrics pale in comparison to those of my friend Zoe Friedman.

The NYC-based vocalist for the original band Thrilldriver is a sought-after cover band singer not only for her powerhouse vocals, but also her ability to memorize lyrics and engage the audience (without relying on an iPad). It’s hard work — but truly makes the difference when she performs.

“Being a wedding band singer, too, demands a TON of memorization,” Zoe tells Rockmommy. “When I first got started it was a lot to learn and you never knew what the band leader was going to call so this is a super valuable skill.”

So let’s say you’ve got 2 weeks to memorize 3 hours’ worth of Guns n’ Roses songs, and only get 3 hours to practice with the band before you hit the road. Here are the steps (and tricks) Zoe employs to memorize every last song lyric on the set list:

Step 1: Cull the lyrics into a setlist app

First, Zoe pulls all of the lyrics into a setlist app such as Songsheet Pro. “You don’t want to waste time navigating to this and that URL for lyrics,” she explains. “I find that lyrics from AZLyrics.com require the least amount of formatting after you copy/paste, because that site has very little embedded styling. And apps like Songsheet Pro make it easy for you to reorganize setlists, move stuff around.” Also, looking at a “sheet of paper”” style format like Songsheet Pro helps her lock lyrics mentally and within the context of the song form.

“I swear, sometimes when I’m on stage I can almost see the lyrics I’ve copied in my mind,” says Zoe.

Step 2: Incorporate lyrics into other apps

After pulling the lyrics into a setlist, Zoe also pulls all of the songs into a playlist she can access in places like the gym or a car. “If you’re using Spotify, they have scrolling karaoke-style lyrics for many popular songs that come in handy if you want to get some memorization practice in at the gym or something. It’s not the best way IMO to learn lyrics en masse, because the scrolling doesn’t lock it in my mind as easily for some reason. But if I’m just trying to learn one song casually for a one-off, this is a good low-effort trick.”

Step 3: Start drilling

After prepping the material to memorize, it’s time to drill. Zoe starts at the top of the song and works her way down in chunks with the recording playing, stopping and starting. “I play the first line of a verse, then I play it again singing along, then I try to see if I can sing it myself lightly out loud,” she explains. “Then I move on to the second line of the verse, get to a point where I can sing it alone. Then I go back to the first line and see if I can do them back to back. I get through one verse this way, one line at a time, stacking them on top of each other. Then I drill the verse a few times quickly out loud before I move on to the next section.”

Pro tip: Never sing full out in these moments, just super lightly to not strain your voice.

Step 4: Break down the song form

Something a lot of singers ignore, but which separates memorization whizzes from the iPad devotees, is paying attention to the song form. Start by counting the number of bars before you come in. “I use my fingers. You can’t necessarily rely on musical cues from a recording to get into something, because you don’t know exactly what your musicians are going to play if you haven’t rehearsed much together or if you have a sub,” says Zoe. “I am always prepared to start singing exactly when the original singer does. You have to be flexible when the time comes — if the band needs a longer intro or is taking more time for a solo or something — but knowing when the fuck to come in is almost more important than knowing what the lyrics are gonna be. This ALSO goes for intros in BETWEEN verses. They can change from verse 1 to verse 2! How long is the guitar solo?? I can tell that band leaders reeeeally appreciate my confidence knowing that stuff.”

Step 5: Tighten up at the Pre-show Rehearsal

Once you’ve memorized all of the lyrics and have gotten a feel for all intros and solos, it’s time to test it out, a la pre-show drilling. Zoe starts with focusing on the first few words of each verse. “Odds are by now the choruses are totally IN me. Songs rhyme… usually if I can just get INTO a verse, I can get through it. So I go through each song in my setlist occasionally and drill myself just on the first couple lines of each verse in order. I do a super fast, soft ‘rapping’ sometimes of this sort of thing. Singing through all of these songs over and over the day before can really wear you out and you just need that muscle memory of the shapes.”

Step 6: Get On stage

Now all the prep is done and you find yourself in the middle of some crazy four-hour night of Top 40 songs … odds are you’re not going to nail all of them. Don’t panic. “I’ve really learned to be okay … my #1 trick here is to repeat a verse if possible,” says Zoe. “Don’t stress yourself out that that first word of that second verse isn’t coming to you… if it comes to you, it comes to you. If it doesn’t, just sing the first thing that comes to mind, which is usually another verse or another part of another verse. Zoe’s #2 trick: “I’ve also been known to walk up to another musician, maybe signal another round for the intro with my hands in that circular pattern people do, and ask someone else who’s been in the band longer or knows the music better, “Hey, what’s the top of this verse?” Sometimes they can jog my memory with just something like “I carry my crucifix!” and you’re in! “Half past 12!”, “He worked on the docks!”, “Double time!’”

Zoe Friedman is the New York-based vocalist for Thrilldriver, with experience ranging from tribute bands like Girls Girls Girls, VIPER, and Dum Cheeta to high-end wedding agencies like Hank Lane Music and beyond.