Home › Forums › Active Melody Member Challenge Response Submissions › August 26 challenge
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Ben C.
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September 18, 2026 at 6:15 am #422493
Hello everyone,
I think everything about playing guitar is a struggle. In one way or another. It is the most frustrating way I know to relax unwind and have a good time.
I still work full time, 6 days a week. But always take 60 to 90 minutes to play everyday.
My biggest struggle is not technically.Time practice and persistence will solve most of those issues. My struggle is that I can’t recall what I have played in the past. You work on something for weeks and weeks get it down clean and smooth, record it sometimes move on to something new and in 2 weeks you forget how to play what you spend so much time learning. I don’t forget the whole thing I can start it ok but somewhere in the middle I go blank. And have to look up the tab
and review it again. Relearning goes quickly I get it back in 5 or 10 minutes, but if it is something from 6 months ago, or a year or 2 ago it takes much longer. My short term and long term memory is fine, 100 percent in everything else in my life so it’s not a medical issue. So my question is….. does this happen to everyone and if so, what, if anything can be done about it?
I thought about putting together a play list of say 3 songs. And just play them every day, then add to the list. But time wise that doesn’t seem to be sustainable.Thank you for your time
reading this. -
September 18, 2026 at 7:03 am #422506
I think that’s pretty normal, Scott. I think it takes repeated refreshing at increasing intervals to get it solidly in long term memory. I completely forget one of Brian’s pieces if I never return to it.
John -
September 18, 2026 at 7:10 am #422508
My struggle is that I can’t recall what I have played in the past.
That’s a huge problem for me as well and always has been when doing cover songs. So I pretty much never play the same thing twice anymore. It’s whatever I’m feeling for the song at the moment. I’m really starting to realize that playing the exact same thing from memory is not what really makes me happy either. It’s being able to just know the structure and play something with in the structure. Now if you cannot remember the structure, that is a big problem. Most songs are not that complicated structure wise. The one’s that are, do require a bit more memorization.
The guys that play classical music are highly focused on playing exact pieces of written music and use the charts for playing them. So there is no crime in using a cheat sheet for what you play IMO.
Did you have a video for us? 🙂
Root note patterns >>> CAGED shapes >>> TRIAD'S. Just put in the work and watch your guitar skills soar.
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September 18, 2026 at 7:41 am #422513
Hi Scott !
Definitely can relate to the memory of ast songs learned. I choose the ones I love the most and play them quite a bit. ..🎶🎵Don P
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September 18, 2026 at 8:35 am #422531
I understand your trouble remembering what you played in the past. I can never remember mine either. If you find an answer please let me know!!!
Joe
The sight of a touch, or the scent of a sound,
Or the strength of an Oak with roots deep in the ground.
--Graeme Edge -
September 18, 2026 at 11:04 am #422571
I think we all struggle with forgetting to some extent. But even if you can’t play a whole song after a while, the licks, runs, and musical feel still remain in your subconscious and can definitely be recalled for other things.
Dieter
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September 18, 2026 at 11:07 am #422572
I have the same problem with lesson.
But if I play something I like often it is easier to remember.AndréM
AndréM
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September 18, 2026 at 12:19 pm #422592
This Justin Guitar mini lesson goes over a technique to help memorize .
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September 18, 2026 at 1:08 pm #422615
Yep, Scott, it happens to me too, except for the 4 or 5 lessons I play regularly every day or two. I have found that as my fretboard knowledge increases, and my ear gets better, so does my ability to remember songs. I used to rely on muscle memory and the “path” around the fretboard, but now I can see the chord I’m playing over, the roots, 3rds, 5ths, in my licks, etc. That has helped things stick in my mind better. A song hangs on a chord progression, and following the chords is better than following a fretboard path. I’m learning to “chunk” parts of songs… this part is I IV V, then comes a ii V I major, then a ii V I minor, then the turn-around, etc. Does that make sense?
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September 18, 2026 at 3:45 pm #422652
Man I thought it was just me. I have forgotten how to play literally every piece I have decided and submitted to the Showcase forum. I’ve started doing a weekly session, playing some songs I’ve previously learnt and it helps
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