Somewhere Over the Rainbow - Page 2

Blunote · #16 11-05-2009, 02:17 PM

Like you, I really liked Tommy Emmanuel's version, but it's more advanced than I'm able to handle right now. Instead, I found a less challenging but really nice fingerstyle arrangement by Paul Kucharski.

I've pasted in a link to a really nice fingerstyle version that is played and arranged by Paul Kucharski. If you like it, he provides a link to his web site where you can download a PDF version of the tab.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BC5N... 95554&index=3

Bern · #17 11-05-2009, 03:03 PM

Not to hijack the thread, but I do have a question to all of you. Do you prefer a virtuoso or a straight forward, happy kind of, version ?

sunvalleylaw · #18 11-05-2009, 03:14 PM

I prefer one in keeping with what Judy and the orchestra behind her did. In a way, it is a mid-west farm girl's blues, and I kinda like it that way.

Herb Hunter · #19 11-05-2009, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bern

Not to hijack the thread, but I do have a question to all of you. Do you prefer a virtuoso or a straight forward, happy kind of, version ?

I take it you mean a jazzed up version versus a simpler, happy version because to my way of thinking a virtuoso could play all the versions. I prefer a version that maintains the wistful quality of the melody. The song is one where the melody expresses some of what the lyrics do which is what makes it a great one. If the song is too jazzy it tends to drag, the beauty of the melody is lost and it no longer conveys the lyrics intent. On the other hand, if the song is too spirited, the yearning quality that the melody should express is lost. So I like it somewhere between allegro ma non troppo and andante moderato. (I don't know anything about music and can read neither standard notation nor tablature but I love the Italian used to describe the various tempos.)

michaeljohnr · #20 11-05-2009, 04:35 PM

I always liked Eva Cassidy's version.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ce-5OWBNGNw

That's the way I learned it anyway...

bcaylor · #21 11-05-2009, 05:31 PM

I was just going to mention Eva Cassidy's version and michaeljohnr beat me to it.

Coke_zero · #22 11-05-2009, 06:37 PM

Have you looked at Chet Atkins version? A little too upbeat for me personally, I think this song always sounds nicer witha hint of sadness.

mmmaak · #23 11-05-2009, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gh1

Here is one. It is a version of Tuck Andress' arrangement. It's better than any i could find of Tuck doing it himself. It put's "If I Only Had a Brain" in the middle.

Tuck's! How could I have forgotten?!

I have that album of his. Great medley and ingenious arrangement of "Brain".

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blunote

Like you, I really liked Tommy Emmanuel's version, but it's more advanced than I'm able to handle right now. Instead, I found a less challenging but really nice fingerstyle arrangement by Paul Kucharski.

Thanks for the link, that's a nice arrangement

Actually, I do know how to play the Tommy arrangement. It's that darn fretted harmonics passage with the 997999 fingering that always gave me trouble. But you know what? That was more than a year ago on my Yammie and now that I decided to give it one more shot with my Webber, I managed it (with aching hands!). My guess is the lower neck profile afforded me that tiny margin necessary to make the chord possible for small hands.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bern

Not to hijack the thread, but I do have a question to all of you. Do you prefer a virtuoso or a straight forward, happy kind of, version ?

I like a bit of each "mood", which is why I've always been drawn to Tommy's version. This one, in particular, since he didn't go too far over the top (like he sometimes does during live performances):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ubVGiyAhkY

Quote:

Originally Posted by michaeljohnr

I always liked Eva Cassidy's version.

I miss Eva

I used to play her version, but my singing is worse than my.....well, actually I think it's the worst of all my skills

. That arrangement definitely deserves a voice like Eva's.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coke_zero

Have you looked at Chet Atkins version? A little too upbeat for me personally, I think this song always sounds nicer witha hint of sadness.

Nope, is it available on YouTube?

I do agree about that "hint of sadness", though I was quite surprised at how nice the Eddie Pennington version is

Speaking of which....did you get my email reply, Herb? I'd just like to thank you again here, in case you didn't

Thanks for all the recommendations, everyone! Keep them coming if you have more. It's always so exciting to learn of players unfamiliar to me

ccasey · #24 11-06-2009, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blunote

Like you, I really liked Tommy Emmanuel's version, but it's more advanced than I'm able to handle right now. Instead, I found a less challenging but really nice fingerstyle arrangement by Paul Kucharski.

I've pasted in a link to a really nice fingerstyle version that is played and arranged by Paul Kucharski. If you like it, he provides a link to his web site where you can download a PDF version of the tab.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BC5N... 95554&index=3

Nice arrangement, thanks. May tackle it myself ... Here's a link that should pull up the tab directly.

www.acousticfingerstyle.com/overdabo.pdf

Chris

15 Man · #25 11-06-2009, 02:09 PM

My favorite guitar version is, by far, Tommy Emmanuel's.
El McMeen also does a nice solo guitar version of it. His is my second favorite.
However, I suspect that his version is in that Low C tuning that he uses most of the time.

maverick1972 · #26 11-06-2009, 06:17 PM

Man, That's beautiful. I don't think I've ever played it before. It's so soothing and calm.

This is what I took a crack at. It's chords only though.

http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/...ainbow_crd.htm

GordonHLau · #27 11-06-2009, 11:04 PM

Tommy E's version is incredible but I do agree, some of the chords are a pain. Especially, holding the barre on the 7th on the looong middle rh harmonic section. I cheat. I cut it way short or else I won't be able to finish the song. lol The opening chord, 997999 (F# min9), I can't hold both the 5th and 6th string with my middle finger like Tommy can. My hands are just too small.

Gordon

BigRed51 · #28 11-07-2009, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmmaak

I am familiar with Pete Huttlinger's arrangement, but found it too upbeat. yeah, I'm a fussy

I guess that makes two of my favorite versions out of the question!

Actually, they don't meet your criteria of solo versions, but they are fun to listen to ... Over The Rainbow has become a regular jam song with some of the groups I frequent ...

Rainbow 1

One of the first violin players that ever caught my ear was David LaFlamme, when he played with It's A Beautiful Day ... If you've never heard their song White Bird, it is a true masterpiece worth finding ... by the way, the guitar break on this one is very nice ...

Second one is just plain fun bluegrass ...

Rainbow 2

Blunote · #29 11-10-2009, 03:27 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by Blunote
Like you, I really liked Tommy Emmanuel's version, but it's more advanced than I'm able to handle right now. Instead, I found a less challenging but really nice fingerstyle arrangement by Paul Kucharski.
Thanks for the link, that's a nice arrangement

Glad you liked it. I can play this one fairly well now, but it cost me a carpel tunnel release surgery.

Ryler · #30 11-11-2009, 02:20 PM

Here's one I stumbled upon online that looks doable:

http://www.guitardownunder.com/Scores/rainbow.pdf

I haven't played it all the way through, but in the second measure it suggests you play the Em7 with one finger on fret 7, 1st string and another on fret 2, 4th string. Ouch. I need to play that instead as a barre Em7 at the seventh fret, pulling that E on the 5th string.