How do ya'll do it when you have to learn a potentially difficult song?
I take it section by section. And just like sjon said, those chord symbols above will help you out even more. Anytime I get a piece of music in school, I automatically go through the whole thing and write in chord symbols. Most of the students don't, but I do because I'm a harmonic learner.
I can read the notes good, but seeing the chord symbols above help to reinforce the notes to me. I know if I see a Cm above a chord, then I see the notes C, E, & G on the staff, chances are the Eb is in the key singature so I know to play C, Eb, & G. They also help me to remember the song better cuz I can use the symbols to learn the progression of th song.