How to Memorize Lyrics of a Song

Co-authored by Amy Chapman, MA

Last Updated: August 10, 2021 References Approved

We’ve all been there: you’ve got a concert, a recital, or you just want to make sure you remember the right words to a song. Not to worry. There are actually a bunch of proven and useful strategies you can use to help drive the lyrics home so you won’t forget them when the big moment comes. To make it easy for you, we’ve put together a handy list of things you can do to help memorize lyrics.

1

Use the start lines to help remember the verse.

The verses are often the trickiest parts to memorize. The start lines are the first lines of a section of lyrics. Most songs are broken down into sections such as verse, chorus, and bridge. The verses are usually the toughest to remember because they’re only repeated once (as opposed to a chorus which is often repeated throughout the song). Focus on remembering how each verse starts and it can help you remember the rest of the words that follow.^{[1]
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- This is especially helpful for longer songs with lots of verses. Use the first lines to help trigger your memory.

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2

Try to form an emotional connection.

Think about how the lyrics make you feel to help remember them. We often tend to remember things that affect us emotionally, and music is no exception. When you’re memorizing the lyrics to a song, think about how the words make you react and what kind of emotions you’re feeling. It may make it easier for you to remember the words.^{[2]
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- For instance, if you’re trying to remember the lyrics to a song like Dolly Parton’s “Jolene,” think about the melancholy and sad emotion the song conveys to help you remember the words.

3

Create a short movie in your mind with the lyrics.

Visualize the words and it’ll help you remember them. Many songs follow a narrative structure or tell a story (love, loss, a happy memory, etc.). Try visualizing the story that the song is telling as you memorize the words and practice singing it. Picturing a movie with the lyrics may help you better remember them.^{[3]
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4

Sing the song as you’re falling asleep and when you wake up.

It can help drive the words into your subconcious. Make the lyrics the last thing you think about before you go to sleep and the first thing you think about when you wake up. Sing them in your head or out loud. Drive the lyrics deep into your subconscious and it’ll make it much easier for you to remember (maybe even impossible to forget).^{[4]
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5

Focus on the rhyme if there is any.

Use the sounds to help you remember the words. If the lyrics use a lot of rhyme, listen to the way the words sound. Remember the rhyming sound as you memorize and repeat the lyrics to help your mind absorb them.^{[5]
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- Think of the rhyming sounds as signposts that can help guide you through the lyrics.

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6

Print out the lyrics and sing them out loud.

Repeat the words over and over to help remember them. It may seem obvious, but one of the best ways you can help drive the lyrics of a song into your memory is through repetition. Print or write out the lyrics and sing them over and over. Sing them to the music or sing them to yourself. The more you practice, the better you’ll remember them.^{[6]
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- It’s also helpful to have a printout of the exact lyrics so you aren’t accidentally saying something incorrectly.

7

Pronounce and articulate each word and phrase.

Go slowly and divide the words by their syllables. As you’re singing a new song or a song you want to memorize, take your time and sound out each word slowly. Break the lyrics down into syllables and really enunciate each of them. It can help your mind absorb them more effectively.^{[7]
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8

Repeat the words one line at a time.

Memorize the first line and sing it out loud, then learn the second line. Move through the lyrics slowly and sequentially. Focus on memorizing the words in the first line, singing them out loud until you feel like you’ve got it. Then, memorize the lyrics of the second line and sing the first and second line together. Continue through the song until you’re singing every line.^{[8]
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- This strategy can help you build momentum and get used to the progression of the lyrics, which can help them stick in your mind.

9

Write the lyrics down over and over.

It can help make the lyrics stick in your mind. Just like writing out classroom notes can help you retain the information, writing out lyrics can help you remember the words. Grab a notebook or a sheet of paper and write out the lyrics over and over until you feel like you’ll remember them. Repeat the practice a few times a day to really drive the words deep into your memory.^{[9]
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10

Play the song on repeat.

Listen to it as often as you can so it’s present in your mind. If you’re trying to memorize the lyrics to a song that’s already been recorded, take advantage of the recording! Play it in the car, while you’re making lunch, or when you’re running on the treadmill. Surround yourself with the song and it’ll be impossible for you to forget the words.^{[10]
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Expert Q&A
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Question

How do you remember the melody of a song?

Amy Chapman, MA
Singing Coach
Amy Chapman MA, CCC-SLP is a vocal therapist and singing voice specialist. Amy is a licensed and board certified speech & language pathologist who has dedicated her career to helping professionals improve and optimize their voice. Amy has lectured on voice optimization, speech, vocal health, and voice rehabilitation at universities across California, including UCLA, USC, Chapman University, Cal Poly Pomona, CSUF, CSULA. Amy is trained in Lee Silverman Voice Therapy, Estill, LMRVT, and is a part of the American Speech and Hearing Association.

Amy Chapman, MA

Singing Coach

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Everybody has their own tricks for memorizing music quickly. For most people, it is listening to it a lot, and singing through it many times. But not only that: be active while you're doing it. Say you're walking at a park, you're just taking a walk, and listening to the music. Something about using both sides of your brain helps you remember it better. So if you're doing something else while memorizing, it can help with retention.
Question

I have a callback today and only know half the song I have to sing. How do I quickly memorize the other half?

Community Answer

Listen to the song over and over and over again. Start to sing it. Take 15 to 20 minutes to do something else, something like taking a shower or drawing. You will most likely start humming or singing the song, because by that time it will be stuck in you head. Keep listening/singing to the song. On your way to the callback, keep listening to the song. If you aren't driving and don't get carsick, read the lyrics to yourself. Also, make sure not to strain your voice.
Question

Will it help to write the song lyrics down?

Community Answer

Certainly! Many people find that writing something down (including song lyrics) helps them remember it later on. They find that it also helps them learn faster.

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References

More References (1)

↑ https://ramseyvoice.com/memorize-lyrics/

About This Article

Co-authored by:

Amy Chapman, MA

Singing Coach

This article was co-authored by Amy Chapman, MA. Amy Chapman MA, CCC-SLP is a vocal therapist and singing voice specialist. Amy is a licensed and board certified speech & language pathologist who has dedicated her career to helping professionals improve and optimize their voice. Amy has lectured on voice optimization, speech, vocal health, and voice rehabilitation at universities across California, including UCLA, USC, Chapman University, Cal Poly Pomona, CSUF, CSULA. Amy is trained in Lee Silverman Voice Therapy, Estill, LMRVT, and is a part of the American Speech and Hearing Association. This article has been viewed 689,260 times.

12 votes - 79%

Co-authors: 107

Updated: August 10, 2021

Views: 689,260

Categories: Featured Articles | Songs | Lyrics

Article SummaryX

The best way to memorize the lyrics of a song is by listening to it as often as possible, and practice singing along to it. Once you feel comfortable, try reciting the song as if it were a poem without any music accompanying it. If you’re having trouble remembering the order of the lyrics, look them up online and do some research into the meaning behind the words. Write the lyrics out without listening to the music to test how much you’ve memorized! For tips on finding your learning style and using your strengths to memorize lyrics, read on!

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