#1
|
|||
|
|||
Song suggestions?
I like learning and playing songs that have a recognizable guitar sound. The guitar part needs to stand out.
I don’t sing (very well). Being able to sing is a tremendous advantage. If someone can sing to accompany the guitar, then having easily recognizable guitar parts is not as important. The vocal part can carry the day. You can get away with strumming the basic chords, and people will identify and relate to the song largely by the vocals. Without the singing, a lot of guitar pieces might start to sound similar. Examples of some songs that have recognizable/distinctive guitar parts (at least they are recognizable to me!): More than a Feeling – Boston The Joker – Steve Miller Sweet Home Alabama Angie – The Stones Purple Haze -- Jimi Johnny B. Goode -- Berry Dust in the Wind – Kansas The problem is that these are all very popular iconic songs – bordering on being way too overdone. It seems that any song that is super-recognizable is also super-overworked. Nobody wants to hear another rendition of ‘Stairway to Heaven’ or ‘Blackbird.’ I am looking for other suggestions. Any ideas? Anyone else out there who does not sing and relies on the guitar music to carry the day? Thanks
__________________
JP Fender CD60ce Yamaha FGX720SC Taylor 410ce |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
There are lots of guitar songs that don't require great singing. Bob Dylan made himself an icon by NOT singing well.
Here are some that should be recognizable from the intros....that dont' require vocal chops: Tom Petty - Free Fallin' (Or pretty much anything by Tom Petty) The Band - The Weight Horse with no Name - America Green Day - Time of your Life (Good Riddance) Beatles - Norwegian Wood Pink Floyd - Comfortably Numb Neil Young - Old Man
__________________
-------- Recording King Bakersfield Taylor 812ce-N Taylor 356ce Taylor 514ce Taylor Baby-M Eastman E40-OM Fender Robert Cray Stratocaster Fender Baja Telecaster Fender MIJ Telecaster Custom G&L ASAT Classic Tribute Bluesboy Semi-Hollow Rickenbacker 620/12 Gretsch 6120 Godin Multiac Nylon Duet Ambience |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
I'm not a singer either and look for songs where the guitar is the standout. Here are a few I've been working on lately:
Thinking Out Loud - Ed Sheeran Out on the Weekend - Neil Young Oh My Sweet Carolina - Ryan Adams Imagine - John Lennon In addition to the others mentioned above, these are relatively easy songs, yet they are deceptively difficult to do well. I'm learning the nuances of dynamics, palm muting, etc. This is where the real "music" is in my mind. Of course, I'm still at that Beginner/Intermediate stage so this is probably old news to most of you.
__________________
EMTSteve a couple guitars too many |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Here are some more that are pretty recognizable.
While My Guitar Gently Weeps Hideaway Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You Rain Song (tuning is weird, I put a p-touch label on the top of my guitar to remind me) Black Mountain Side Life By The Drop Behind Blue Eyes Water Song (open G tuning) Cant Find My Way Home (drop D tuning) Low Spark of The High Heeled Boys Juke Friend of the Devil Autumn Leaves (#1 Jazz standard)
__________________
Just an old drum playing guitarist now. |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fhk_LfPvj2g
Space Oddity in this video. Check his video list, plenty of songs you can do without singing. Assuming you play fingerstyle as you mention Dust in the Wind etc... Good luck!
__________________
2009 000-18 GE Custom Martin 2000 Sam Bush Gibson Mandolin 2014 CEO-7 Martin www.Grassandeclectic.com http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCibq...view_as=public |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
How about Malaguena?
The title may not sound familiar, but there's a good chance the melody will. Most often played instrumental with versions ranging from simple to difficult. https://www.tomasmichaud.com/malaguena/ |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
I have also sought out songs that can be played (and hopefully enjoyed by others) instrumentally, because I feel my voice is terrible.
That said, I've also worked on finding a way to sing along. My voice is still no good - but singing/playing at the same time has helped me become a better guitarist... ...AND... Anecdotally, it sure seems my friends/family are more entertained by the playing+singing than they are by (more complex) playing without singing. |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Anything by Chuck Berry
That'll Be the Day - Buddy Holly La Bamba - Ritchie Valens Wake Up Little Susie - Everly Brothers Walk Right In - Rooftop Singers And I Love Her - Beatles Ticket to Ride - Beatles Michelle - Beatles If I Needed Someone - Beatles The Last Time - Rolling Stones When You Walk in the Room - Searchers House of the Rising Sun - Animals Mr. Tambourine Man - Byrds Turn, Turn, Turn - Byrds Cherry Cherry - Neil Diamond Story in Your Eyes - Moody Blues Sounds of Silence - Simon & Garfunkel Hazy Shade of Winter - Simon & Garfunkel The Boxer - Simon & Garfunkel If You Could Read My Mind - Gordon Lightfoot Sundown - Gordon Lightfoot Ventura Highway - America Sister Golden Hair - America Ohio - CSNY Love the One You're With - Stephen Stills Heart of Gold - Neil Young One Way Out - Allman Brothers That should get you started...
__________________
"Mistaking silence for weakness and contempt for fear is the final, fatal error of a fool" - Sicilian proverb (paraphrased) |
#9
|
||||
|
||||
Father & Son - Cat Stevens
Wild World - Cat Stevens Cat's in the Cradle - Harry Chapin Operator - Jim Croce Time in a Bottle - Jim Croce You Don't Mess Around with Jim - Jim Croce (Could do as a medley with Leroy Brown) Bye Bye Love - Everly Brothers (invite audience members to sing) Gordon Lightfoot tunes Lyin' Eyes - Eagles (might be tough, vocally, but recognizable)
__________________
--------------------------------------- 2013 Joel Stehr Dreadnought - Carpathian/Malaysian BW 2014 RainSong H-OM1000N2 2017 Rainsong BI-WS1000N2 2013 Chris Ensor Concert - Port Orford Cedar/Wenge 1980ish Takamine EF363 complete with irreplaceable memories A bunch of electrics (too many!!) |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
|
#11
|
|||
|
|||
Great suggestions.
Thanks
__________________
JP Fender CD60ce Yamaha FGX720SC Taylor 410ce |
#12
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
scott |
#13
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
I just started working on Mandolin Wind/Rod Stewart&Faces and thought to suggest to you. Excellent and unique Ron Wood guitar throughout and rough Rod voice. The mandolin riffs and lead are easy to put into a chord melody line if so desired. I've been having a lot of fun with this. I hope you can too.
__________________
I love playing guitar Last edited by Kerbie; 03-09-2018 at 05:57 PM. Reason: Fixed quote |
#14
|
|||
|
|||
I've been working up Soulshine by Warren Haynes/Allman Brothers.
Anything by Bob Dylan or Neil Young. These are the ones I do. The Times They Are A'Changin' Blowin' in the Wind Mr. Tambourine Man I Shall be Released Shelter From the Storm Tangled Up in Blue After the Goldrush Old Man
__________________
Epiphone Masterbilt Hummingbird Epiphone Masterbilt AJ-500RENS Teach us what ways have light, what gifts have worth. Edna St. Vincent Millay |
#15
|
|||
|
|||
You know those iTunes gift cards you have laying around? Load ‘em up then download songbooks to your iBooks app on your iPad. Some of my favs are:
CSN Neil Young Dan Fogleberg Eric Clapton Eagles The Eagles Complete songbook is a treasure trove of ideas. One of my favorites you’ve probably never heard of is Bitter Creek. You’ll learn a bunch of new chords but they’re easy to play. Tremendous guitar song. And all the rest: Tequila Sunrise, Peaceful Easy Feeling, too many to list here. And of course Neil Young was simply prolific, writing all his songs on guitar. Cowgirl in the Sand, Helpless, Old Man, Only Love Can Break Your Heart on and on. They are usually simple chords and just great to play. I love to rock out on David Crosby’s Almost Cut My Hair, Stephen Still’s Classic For What it’s Worth. All my guitar hero’s from the 60’s and 70’s wrote fantastic guitar songs. Archive the songbooks, best advice ever. Last edited by IndyHD28; 03-09-2018 at 03:40 PM. |