When learning a tune try and learn the lyrics of that song as well...

Chances are, the original composition of the standards we now play had lyrics along with a melody. When you know the lyrics of a tune you then have the capability to phrase that melody in many different ways, or you can play the melody based on the vocal quality of a given singer such as Tony Bennett or Ella Fitzgerald or any other singer you may think of. Plus, the actual lyrics may provide a way to phrase the melody based on the accentuaton and punctuation of the words within the tune.

The human voice is an amazing instrument in its own right, and it's fun to try and play a melody within the varied dynamic ranges of the human voice or just sing the lyrics while playing the melody on your instrument. That's the cool thing about the guitar (and piano) you can sing along as you accompany yourself becoming a single entertainment unit. Try singing the lyrics and playing the melody to a tune on a tenor saxophone...;) Once you learn the lyrics to a tune then you can state that you really know that song inside and out. And it's fun to get a sense of what life was like "back in the day".

Lyle Robinson