Agreed - when I first heard it, I thought it was about his deceased wife.
Songs You Never Learned But Should
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Agreed - when I first heard it, I thought it was about his deceased wife.
What the heck.
JohnW63
Enlightened Member
The list of songs I wish I knew is vast.
I have never learned a song note for note. So I need to try that first.
I have never learned a song note for note. So I need to try that first.
Rich Cohen
Senior Member
When I "learn" a song, it's in my own way, which sometimes is very similar if not exactly as it was recorded by whoever I'm using as a paradigm....or, quite different, adapted to my own style and guitar skills. So, the question is: what amounts to learning a song?
I will do this, too, depending on the song. This absolutely counts as learning a song!
walrus
I agree Rich and walrus. In fact, I need to take ownership of a song before I can do it well. But, in order to say I've truly learned it, I also need to perfect the guitar parts and memorize the lyrics so I can just step up to the mic and belt it out without looking at a sheet of paper. However, I work at not trying to emulate the original artist or do a perfect facsimile of the song; it ends up being my interpretation of the song. For example, I'm never gonna sound just like John Prine, but if I can capture the essence of the song in my own style, that's the best I can hope for.
Velvet Phelts
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Since moving to the Midwest from a decades long working band, have been learning allot of acoustic solo stuff. I'm doing mainly finger style. Paul Simon, Don Mclain, Lennon & McCartney, Jim Croce. Even did a rendition of Under The Sea from the Little Mermaid movie. When You've got grandkids, you learn to accommodate.
Rich Cohen
Senior Member
Drednaught, taking ownership is definitely the first step. If a song vibrates your feelings and emotions, it's almost impossible to ignore it, and not learn how to play it, at least in your own way. Through that experience, I am able to learn faster and enjoy longer, going back to the song over and over again. Also, when I perform it for friends and audiences at open mics, there is much more feeling I am able to put into it. I only perform a song in front of a listeners that I myself absolutely love.
Velvet Phelts
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In the past, whenever I would learn something new, I would ( as we all do ) learn something I liked. But just because I liked it, didn't mean I could do it justice. So when a new song would be worked up. The rest of the band would then tell me ( or others ) whether or not it was any good. Our feeling was no matter how much you might like it. If you don't sound good doing it, Don't.
Today I don't have that sounding board. Wife refuses saying "I like everything you do" No help there.
Today I don't have that sounding board. Wife refuses saying "I like everything you do" No help there.
Rich Cohen
Senior Member
That's the kind of wife I would love. Mine is a bit more judgmental, and not so interested in my guitars and music. It has to do with her Indian cultural background. She's more in tune with Indian music, both classical and modern, like Bollywood film songs.
Well said. If I love the song, I am psyched to learn it! Caveat - assuming it's possible, given my skill level!
walrus
Being a fingerpicker on most of my solo songs, I want to have the chord-to-chord transitions worked out as well before I feel comfortable performing a song. And the whole bare fingerpicking/solo thing works a lot better through my Fishman Loudbox Mini and my vocal harmonizer, I can dial everything right in and sing harmony with myself. Sounds a lot better than me just croaking out a song, in many cases. And the amp saves wear and tear on my fingers and my voice, something I've grown to appreciate as I get less young.
Velvet Phelts
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Which Loudbox you got dreadnut? I tried the big one and couldn't get what I wanted out of it. Have always heard my acoustic through a 15" wedge. But that also means hauling a PA. Not a problem at home but have downsized my electric rig to where I can put it in the car. Not that I'll be heading out anywhere for a while with all this going on. TV looks like the 60's
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LOL. I have that same doubt which is probably why I never dug in to actually do it. It doesn't help that Jimi Hendrix described Chicago after seing them thusly: "The horns are like one set of lungs," ... "And your guitar player is better than me." (link)
I had the same feeling about Sultans of Swing but I nailed that well enough to play and sing it on stage, so at this point I feel like I'm just being lazy.
This isn't totally true because I used to know and play it but have long forgotten the lyrics and chords so it's time to relearn. "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" is one of my all time faves and the message never seems to grow old.
Cougar
Enlightened Member
I love Jackson Browne. I cover his Load Out on keys (without vocal). I never, ever get tired of playing that song!