My songs to learn, maintain list - what's yours?

[TBman]

More or less anyway. (all finger style)

In addition to those below I will also relearn Mark Hanson's Red White and Blue Rag, Flier and Strawberry Curl to keep my fingers going strong and keep the weeds from growing under my feet and to eventually bring back from memory more of his that I used to play.

Some of these I can play already (only one is memorized though, lol - Mississippi Blues). I have one of mine in there as well that I want to relearn. Its a simple song, but there's room for more embellishments. Today I'm learning Tribute To Robert Johnson with one of Stefan Grossman's videos. It's just what I like both tempo wise and length.

Baby Come Back - Woody Mann
Black Cat Blues - Woody Mann
Cincinnatti Flow Rag - Toby Walker
Deep River Blues - Toby Walker
Mississippi Blues - Stefan Grossman
MoonRise - me
Ragtime Strut - Woody Mann
Rambling Blues - Woody Mann
Tribute to Robert Johnson Stefan Grossman
When I'm 64 - "Daddy Stovepip" from youtube.

[EllaMom]

Barry, you ARE ambitious! I am going back to Mark Hanson's version of Freight Train in his Travis picking book. Once I get that down, I will go to the version in his Solo Fingerstyle book. That, and others I've been working on a looooong time, including Red, White & Blue Rag, Imagine, We've Only Just Begun.

[TBman]

Originally Posted by EllaMom

Barry, you ARE ambitious! I am going back to Mark Hanson's version of Freight Train in his Travis picking book. Once I get that down, I will go to the version in his Solo Fingerstyle book. That, and others I've been working on a looooong time, including Red, White & Blue Rag, Imagine, We've Only Just Begun.

I need a few on the list otherwise I'll get bored.

Freight Train! Yes, good idea, . Everyone in the world has learned it or parts of it except for me. Ok I'm putting it on the list.

I have so many guitar books, video lessons and tabs that I have to get focused and make a list, do it, then make another list, while maintaining competence on the preceding list(s). Fortunately a lot of the video lessons I have are blues. Sometimes it seems all blues songs in the same key tend to blend into one big song, lol.

[Mandobart]

I keep a spreadsheet of the tunes I've learned well enough to perform live without any music or lyrics to refer to. About 230 songs now. This doesn't include the songs I know but don't know I know (example, anything by John Prine. I've listened to him since 1977 and even if I've never played one of his tunes, it turns out if someone asks for it I know it). Also doesn't include the tunes I'm still working on but mostly know, if I haven't played it in public yet.

Genre is all over the map - lots of bluegrass, Americana, some blues, some rock, Gypsy Jazz, swing, Hawaiian Slack Key, Christmas Carols, classical....

[tbeltrans]

For me, it is ballads and similar among the standards and pop tunes from the 1930s (or 1920s) until now. Unfortunately, such styling seems to be becoming less and less popular with modern artists, but there is a huge selection over the decades to pick from. Rather than having a specific list, I just pick one and go for it.

Also, I have probably a few thousand arrangements from top-shelf "old school" arrangers, typically played on a classical guitar as solo instrumental pieces from professional arrangers such as Howard Heitmeyer, Harold Streeter, Laurindo Almeida, and Stan Ayeroff. Over in the classical guitar forums (not AGF), folks are always looking for these to play in restaurant gigs. Most are out of print and harder, or at least rather expensive, to get these days.

My focus is arranging and playing these tunes as solo guitar instrumental pieces, and studying pieces from these master arrangers from the perspective of being involved in doing my own arranging, is a great way to do this.

This is the kind of playing you might find in a more refined restaurant than in a coffee shop. It is more similar to classical guitar than it is to fingerpicking, more like Earl Klugh playing solo guitar, than what Mark Hanson teaches.

I really don't know how else to describe it other than contrast it to what many here are familiar with and learning, so please don't take that contrast as a put down of Mark Hanson or Travis picking. I have certainly done my share of fingerpicking and playing in coffee shops. I have met Mark Hanson, taken a seminar from him. He is a fun guy and a good teacher. My interests just run a bit different, as all of ours will do from time to time.

Though I don't want to play like Toby Walker, I certainly enjoy listening to, and watching, his videos. I can enjoy and appreciate a number of styles while remaining focused in one area for my own efforts.

Tony

[Pitar]

This is my 2016 list to learn. I didn't quite make it. The black bolded pieces I'm currently working on when I'm not polishing the others.

Those Were The Days – Mary Hopkins (inst)
To Sir With Love – Lulu (inst)
Georgie Girl – The Seekers (inst)
Somewhere Over The Rainbow - Yip Harburg (inst)
Wichita Linesman – Jimmy Webb (inst)
Groovy Kind Of Love – The Mindbenders (instr)
A World Without Love – McCartney – Peter&Gordon (inst)
There’s A Kind Of Hush – Herman’s Hermits (inst)
A Time For Us – Nino Rotar (instr)
Both Sides Now – Joni Mitchell (instr)
Classical Gas – Mason Williams (instr)
Dream – The Everly Brothers (instr)
Greensleeves – Trad. (song)-(instr)
Happy Together- The Turtles (instr)
Jesu, Joy Of Man’s Desiring - JS Bach (instr)
I’m Sorry – John Denver (instr)
Mister Tambourine Man – Bob Dylan (instr)
Music Box Dancer – Frank Mills (instr)
Ode To Joy – Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller (instr)
Silence Is Golden – Bog Gaudio and Bob Crewe (instr)
While My Guitar Gently Weeps - G. Harrison (instr)
Yellow Brick Road – Elton John (inst)
Yesterday – The Beatles (instr)
Suicide Is Painless – Johnny Mandel (instr)
Norwegian Wood – The Beatles (instr)
California Dreaming - Mamas & The Papas (inst)
Hotel California – The Eagles (inst)
Vincent - Don McLean (inst)
Chariots Of Fire - Vangelis (inst)
Bicycle Built For Two - Harry Dacre (inst)
American Tune - Paul Simon (inst)

[tbeltrans]

Originally Posted by Pitar

This is my 2016 list to learn. I didn't quite make it. The black bolded pieces I'm currently working on when I'm not polishing the others.

Those Were The Days – Mary Hopkins (inst)
To Sir With Love – Lulu (inst)
Georgie Girl – The Seekers (inst)
Somewhere Over The Rainbow - Yip Harburg (inst)
Wichita Linesman – Jimmy Webb (inst)
Groovy Kind Of Love – The Mindbenders (instr)
A World Without Love – McCartney – Peter&Gordon (inst)
There’s A Kind Of Hush – Herman’s Hermits (inst)
A Time For Us – Nino Rotar (instr)
Both Sides Now – Joni Mitchell (instr)
Classical Gas – Mason Williams (instr)
Dream – The Everly Brothers (instr)
Greensleeves – Trad. (song)-(instr)
Happy Together- The Turtles (instr)
Jesu, Joy Of Man’s Desiring - JS Bach (instr)
I’m Sorry – John Denver (instr)
Mister Tambourine Man – Bob Dylan (instr)
Music Box Dancer – Frank Mills (instr)
Ode To Joy – Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller (instr)
Silence Is Golden – Bog Gaudio and Bob Crewe (instr)
While My Guitar Gently Weeps - G. Harrison (instr)
Yellow Brick Road – Elton John (inst)
Yesterday – The Beatles (instr)
Suicide Is Painless – Johnny Mandel (instr)
Norwegian Wood – The Beatles (instr)
California Dreaming - Mamas & The Papas (inst)
Hotel California – The Eagles (inst)
Vincent - Don McLean (inst)
Chariots Of Fire - Vangelis (inst)
Bicycle Built For Two - Harry Dacre (inst)
American Tune - Paul Simon (inst)

I really like your list and will steal from it.

Tony

[Fingerstylist]

Maintain:

Hana-Kishibe
Classical Gas-Williams
Danny Boy-simple arrangement



Learn:
Vincent-Chet's arrangement
Autumn Leaves-simple arrangement
Joy of Man's Desiring
Berkeley Springs-Ross

[sirwhale]

I'm currently focusing on John Fahey songs and want to work on his style of improvisation / playing:

John Fahey - Indian Pacific Railroad Blues


But also have time to fit in some easier songs that I love:

Bob Dylan - North Country Blues


And a song to play with my wife (but is a completely different style and will take me a long time - especially as I'm going to learn from a video with just the chords - no tab):

Gloria Estefan - Con los años que me quedan

[Mr. Jelly]

My list gets longer and my memory gets shorter. So I have notes on my lists. I quit performing and quit singing, for the most part, so my playing is for me. I do (finger pick) medleys of songs like "Ain't She Sweet" and "Music, Music Music" etc. Also religious songs like " Swing Low Sweet Chariot" etc. Mostly old recognizable tunes. I also combine songs that I picked up by Blind Blake, Stefan Grossman and others to play as one tune. I like to look for chords and licks or combinations of such that grab my ear. Then combine them to make tunes. One of the things that I love about the guitar is that there is always more one can learn and incorporate in their playing. I love it.

[Silly Moustache]

Originally Posted by TBman

More or less anyway. (all finger style)

In addition to those below I will also relearn Mark Hanson's Red White and Blue Rag, Flier and Strawberry Curl to keep my fingers going strong and keep the weeds from growing under my feet and to eventually bring back from memory more of his that I used to play.

Some of these I can play already (only one is memorized though, lol - Mississippi Blues). I have one of mine in there as well that I want to relearn. Its a simple song, but there's room for more embellishments. Today I'm learning Tribute To Robert Johnson with one of Stefan Grossman's videos. It's just what I like both tempo wise and length.

Baby Come Back - Woody Mann
Black Cat Blues - Woody Mann
Cincinnatti Flow Rag - Toby Walker
Deep River Blues - Toby Walker
Mississippi Blues - Stefan Grossman
MoonRise - me
Ragtime Strut - Woody Mann
Rambling Blues - Woody Mann
Tribute to Robert Johnson Stefan Grossman
When I'm 64 - "Daddy Stovepip" from youtube.

TB man, I don't think that Toby, Woody, or Stefan originated any of the above.

They did "versions" like you can do, but my advice would be to not attempt to copy anybody else's versions, design your own.

[TBman]

Originally Posted by Fingerstylist

Maintain:

Hana-Kishibe
Classical Gas-Williams
Danny Boy-simple arrangement



Learn:
Vincent-Chet's arrangement
Autumn Leaves-simple arrangement
Joy of Man's Desiring
Berkeley Springs-Ross

Songsterr has a bunch of Kishibi's arrangements. Hana is one of my favorites.

[tbeltrans]

Originally Posted by Silly Moustache

TB man, I don't think that Toby, Woody, or Stefan originated any of the above.

They did "versions" like you can do, but my advice would be to not attempt to copy anybody else's versions, design your own.

An advantage to learning these guys' arrangements is developing the "chops" to come up with your own (not "you" Silly, but "you" anybody learning these tunes). As I understand what TBman has said in other posts, he is still developing those chops, even though his recordings indicate he does play well.

Tony

[dkstott]

Here's my list.... all are solo fingerstyle instrumentals with bits and pieces stolen from a variety of people's arrangements.

Using other's arrangements to create something I can call my own works for me. It has given me a lot of insight into how others create solo fingerstyle arrangements.


MAINTAIN;
Here, There & Everywhere
In My life
What a Wonderful World
My Cherie Amore - Pete Huttlinger arr.
Vincent- John Knowles arr.
Ancestral Bells- Roger Hudson
Somewhere over the Rainbow
It Had to Be You - John Knowles arr.
My Funny Valentine
My Favorite Things
what a Feeling--- (yep it's from Flashdance movie) David Buckingham Arr.
Along with 4-5 semi classical / romantic / pieces

LEARNING-- Almost anything that catches my ear these days will get me started on learning it

But this one has captured me for a bit. I got the arrangement from a new magazine Fingerstyle Guitar Journal.

Roger Hudson - Scarborough Jazz Fair

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaQJYKK3Sis

[Fingerstylist]

Originally Posted by TBman

Songsterr has a bunch of Kishibi's arrangements. Hana is one of my favorites.

Thanks for the tip on Songsterr. Hana is indeed a great song, and it's actually not that difficult to learn. If I attempt another tune of his, it will be November.