Learning songs and creating your own charts

[tomhug]

Two questions:
 
First, how do you learn new material (other than rote memorization)?
I find it's helpful to lay out the structure of the song, but I use my own method for this (involving a mixture of grids and tablature). Once I have figured out the form of the song, I'm on the way. Of course the main objective is to learn it well enough so I can not think about it and just go where the music leads...
 
Second, I've been meaning to find a better tool for creating my own charts. What software do you use to do this? My main computer is a Mac, but I've also got Windows PCs and an iPad.
 
I'd like to get a collection together as described in the An Incredible Paperless Solution thread, but I need to create my own charts because of originals and transpositions of covers songs that my bands play.
 
Suggestions?

[jazzyvee]

I usually write out the structure of the song using more or less real book format and then start with the most challenging parts first then learn the arrangement.  
 
For creating charts, the Irealbook was recommended to me a while back and I've  used it for a few gigs. I only has chord charts and not notes which has not been a problem for me as I don't read music well enough to sight read live.
http://www.irealb.com/
 
Jazzyvee

[darkstar01]

for creating charts, I use printmusic. I love it. you have to pay for the full version, but it's not ridiculously expensive (like Sibelius). it's a really simple program that doesn't take long to learn, too.  
 
as far as learning tunes, I start by figuring out the progression (if there is one), and go from there. if it's a complicated melody or line, I definitely take the time to write it out, because transcribing things for me is just as good as playing it a hundred times (as far as memory goes).
 
edit: so I just looked at the prices for Print Music, and it's more expensive than I remembered ( about $130). but their other program Finale Notepad is only $10 and works really well, too.  
 
(Message edited by darkstar01 on July 25, 2011)