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  #1  
Old 03-08-2018, 11:55 AM
JP- JP- is offline
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Default 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
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  #2  
Old 03-08-2018, 12:06 PM
taylorgtr taylorgtr is offline
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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
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Old 03-08-2018, 01:10 PM
emtsteve emtsteve is offline
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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.
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Old 03-08-2018, 02:24 PM
Johnny K Johnny K is offline
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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)
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Old 03-08-2018, 02:30 PM
BobbyBadd BobbyBadd is offline
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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!
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  #6  
Old 03-08-2018, 02:39 PM
saullacoursiere saullacoursiere is offline
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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/
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Old 03-08-2018, 02:41 PM
HodgdonExtreme HodgdonExtreme is offline
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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.
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Old 03-08-2018, 02:49 PM
Steve DeRosa Steve DeRosa is offline
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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...
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Old 03-08-2018, 03:04 PM
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mikealpine mikealpine is offline
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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)
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Old 03-08-2018, 03:14 PM
Pitar Pitar is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HodgdonExtreme View Post
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.
Anecdotally, I believe you are correct. I like to think I can sing but prefer instrumental work. So I render familiar songs that way. In the end, though, I get the notion that I'm a component of Muzak. It works well at a wine bar where musicians are expected to play the role of a PA system.
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Old 03-09-2018, 01:39 PM
JP- JP- is offline
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Great suggestions.

Thanks
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Old 03-09-2018, 02:12 PM
hairpuller hairpuller is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by emtsteve View Post
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.
Congrats on your 100th post!
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Old 03-09-2018, 03:10 PM
Chickee Chickee is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JP- View Post
I like learning and playing songs that have a recognizable guitar sound. The guitar part needs to stand out.
JP,
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.
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Last edited by Kerbie; 03-09-2018 at 05:57 PM. Reason: Fixed quote
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Old 03-09-2018, 03:18 PM
Nyghthawk Nyghthawk is offline
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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
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Old 03-09-2018, 03:32 PM
IndyHD28 IndyHD28 is offline
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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.
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