I have a simple way of quickly unpacking new tunes. It involves a pencil, a note pad, something that plays music, and a cup of coffee ... small, medium roast. I find the best place to do this is at a coffee shop, but I’m sure other surroundings would work just as well.
Recognition vs. Recall
The goal is not to memorize the entire tune and arrangement. We just need to be able to identify and recognize the various sections as they come along. As long as we can follow the tune, the rest is just a case of getting organized. I like to develop a good understanding of the 'landscape' and leave the details until later. If I were to focus on the drum breaks, for example, I’d miss a lot of important information.
First Listen - Where’s 1?
Everything begins on the down beat, and once I’ve found 1, I can figure out the tempo and time signature and, thus, everything else. Within a few bars I’ll know if it’s something standard or if it’s going to take a bit of work. By the time I get to the end, I have some idea of the melody, chord changes, and various sections.
Second Listen - Drawing a Map (*)
I play the track again and start documenting the main bits. I do this by counting the bars -- on my fingers if it helps. I record vertical strokes to map out the sections as I hear them, one stroke per bar, in groups of four ... with occasional exceptions. Usually it works out something like this:
(I)ntro: |||| med rock, drums in at top
(V)erse: |||| ||||
(C)horus: |||| |||| ||
(B)ridge: |||| ||||
etc.
So in this example, the intro is 4 bars, the verse is 8 bars, the chorus is 10 bars, and the bridge is, again, 8 bars. Pretty simple. I add special bits -- shots, breaks, odd bars, distinctive fills, etc. -- as I go.
What parts are available?
Most common are 32- bar tunes in the form AABA, ABAB, AABC, etc. and 12-blues. It’s common for pop tunes to include intro, verses, choruses, possibly a bridge, and an outro. Other sections that might show up are pre-chorus, post-chorus, refrain, and a few less common bits.
Third Listen - Finalize the Plan
Once I have the parts figured out, I do a final run through to check my work and to fill in more details. I usually create a thumb-nail summary of the arrangement using a simple code system. Here’s an example from a well-known pop tune:
Intro / Verse 1 / Pre-chorus / Chorus / Verse 2 / Pre-chorus / Chorus / Interlude / Bridge / Chorus / Outro
And as ‘short hand’: I - V - PC - C - V - PC - C - int - B - C - Out
Final Proof
If time permits, I like to play along to the tunes. That way I can identify anything the might give me trouble.
It’s in the Cards
By the time I’ve completed my analysis, I usually have enough of a mental map. But there are times when I want something to refer to, so I’ll put all the relevant info onto a 3 x 5 card. A quick look at the card gives me everything I need to get through a tune. Here's how that 11-part pop tune would look:
Famous Pop Tune
By: Famous Pop Singer
Medium rock, 108 bpm. Enter at bar 5
Intro: 4 bars
Verse: 8 bars
Pre-chorus: 4 bars
Chorus: 8 bars
Interlude: 16 bars
Out: tag the chorus x 3
I - V - PC - C - V - PC - C - int - B - C - Out
* There’s an excellent Drumeo video wherein Greg Bissonette explains his system for creating drum charts on the fly: https://youtu.be/OMALS_mIg1E