James Russell

Welina mai @James Russell 🤙 stoked you’re here. Shoutout @Sam De la haye for the referral! Also I laughed at, “stop reading music notation forever!!!!!!!” 😂 We speak chords + tabs + patterns in here, not sheet-music guilt. If you wanna learn how to read music, it only helps, but not necessary, and it's mostly for musical understanding/literacy when I recommend it. Music is about feeling and hearing first, speaking the language through our instruments. Start here: pinned Start Here post → intro comment → Crash Course link inside (still beta). Quick question: are you more of a tab person or a chord chart person?

New comment 4h ago

James Russell

1 like • 14h

I wrote chord symbols for entire song on a 3 x 5 index card for my desperate custom memorization. And then never again looked at any music notation. Melody line memorization seemed easier with singing it. I’ve used same techniques with original songs I write—but process still seems tedious to internalize my music. Simple covers, simple open chords (example: Sloop John B) not so difficult. Playing inversions on keyboard is easy. Attempts on ukulele are the 💩 💩.

James Russell

0 likes • 4h

@Kāʻili Wells Jr. obviously this is another song, but same technique—one list for the verses, another separate list for the repeating chorus. Easier here to document because it’s a simple country tune. And this becomes my only practice sheet. BUT—I forgot to mention—before any of this happens, I always listen to recorded melody and repeated singing words in the kitchen, the car, the shower, toilet, bedroom, until ad nauseum I can say it in a casual conversation. So before I add a new song to memory, I’d better really really really like it!!!!

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James Russell

@james-russell-6264

Co-writing two years. Former magazine writer. Strengthen music side. Sing/play ukulele open mic events. www.NashvilleMusicMedics.org

Active 3h ago

Joined Jan 19, 2026

Nashville

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