Memorizing with Music

I've always known that the easiest way for me to memorize anything is to set it to music. Here's a funny story about what motivated me to first try this with a sizable hunk of Scripture...

I was browsing the racks at Goodwill (one of my favorite pastimes) when some inane, repetitive song started playing in my brain. I couldn't get rid of it, so I thought, "I know! I'll replace it with a song that has more variety." Enter Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody." Little did I know it was about to take over my head. For days, it played up there incessantly. Seriously. I'd wake up in the morning to "Mama Mia! Mama Mia! Mama Mia, let me go!" and I'd fall asleep to "Nothing really matters, anyone can see..." I finally took the initiative to replace Freddy's crazy lyrics with a large portion of Psalm 22. It was a perfect fit! Soon, without even trying, I had committed a big chunk of God's Word to memory.

Last year, I accepted the challenge of joining a group that was memorizing the entire Book of James. This time, I created new melodies. I plodded on, far past the target date the group had set, but I finally crossed the finish line! My musical version consists of 17 tunes—some serious and some outright silly—that make quoting the King James James practically effortless.

For my next project, I've decided to tackle Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Book of Psalms. I'm telling you this now, because I'm just getting started; and I don't know how long it will take, but I would like to invite you to join me!

I chose Psalm 119 because it is neatly divided into 22 sections of eight verses. Each of these sections is headed with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet, which has 22 letters: Aleph, Beth, Gimel, etc. (bonus! you get to learn the Hebrew alphabet!). I'm going to do two sections (16 verses) at a time, so I've printed them onto 11 pages. I'll post the new pages as I begin memorizing them.
 
I'm using the same simple melody for every section. It consists mainly of the eight tones in the major scale. So, if you can sing do-re-mi, and your voice extends comfortably to one full octave, you can follow this tune. Find the scale that fits your voice most comfortably and sing it in that key. I'm using the key of A, beginning and ending with the A notes below and above middle C (A – B – C# – D – E – F# – G# – A).

For those who play instruments, the accompanying chords are compatible with each note of the scale. In all but the last line, only one chord is played for the entire line. Some are major chords, others minor, and one is diminished.
 
Here is how the chords are structured, using verses 1–8 of Psalm 119 as an example (you can use the chords as named if you like the key of A, or you can choose a different key and identify them by their Roman numerals; upper case means major and lower case means minor):
 
Verse 1
A (A major)
or I chord
 
Verse 2:
Bm (B minor)
or ii chord
 
Verse 3:
C#m (C sharp minor)
or iii chord
 
Verse 4:
D (D major)
or IV chord
 
Verse 5:
E (E major)
or V chord
 
Verse 6:
F#m (F sharp minor)
or vi chord
 
Verse 7:
E (E major)
or V chord
 
Verse 8:
A (A major)...D (D major)...Bm (B minor)...Bdim (B diminished)...A (A major)
or I...IV...ii...iidim...I
 
Every one of the 22 sections uses this identical chord structure.
 
The timing is 4/4. Accent marks show where the words in each line are stressed, at four places per line. [Sorry if the accent marks get a bit jumbled on your mobile device—they do on mine.]

I've put an audio sample below, to give you the basic idea.

 
ALEPH (AH-lehf).
      G   
       '                                   '                                       '                                        '
1 Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.
    Am   
       '                                                     '                                         '                                                      '
2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
            Bm   
              '                       '             '                              '
3 They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.
        C   
          '                                                  '                            '                '
4 Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.
   D   
    '                                             '                  '                              '
5 O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!
      Em   
       '                                      '                                          '                                        '
6 Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.
               D   
                '                                                         '                                          '                                        '
7 I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.
               G                           C                        Am Adim G
                '                             '                             '              '
8 I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.
 
 
BETH (BEHT).
                        '                                           '                                              '                                                         '
9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
                             '                                  '                                            '                                         '
10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
               '                                             '                    '                                        '
11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
        '                                    '        '                                        '
12 Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy statutes.
                       '                         '                      '                                  '
13 With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.
                        '                                          '                              '                      '
14 I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.
                 '                              '                                      '                          '
15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.
                      '                                  '                        '                           '
16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.



Please let me know if you're joining me on this adventure!