A Basic Fact of Life:

As you get older, it becomes harder to memorize stuff.

It's like how children pick up languages at a drop of a hat from just listening and adults go the Berlitz route.

When I started gigging, I was 16 y/o (too young to play in clubs in Florida unless a parent was present) and I was learning 3 or 4 new songs a day to increase my repertoire ... it was a snap.

Now ... there are a couple dozen new songs I want to learn and memorizing the words is simply a bitch. The guitar part is still very easy ... it's just those damn words to songs.

I learn verse by verse ... when I've got one verse memorized, I go on to the next. And repitition ... I sing it over and over. I have a 45 minute drive into my office and learn lots of verses during that twice a day drive.

I don't use cheat sheets because then I will never learn the words. I feel it's better to forget and make up words than to rely on having the words in front of me. I'm not saying anyone else should do it this way ... it's just the way I do it.

moonchild