Good solo version of classical gas?
 

So recently I have been working on learning classical gas (among my many other unfinished projects haha) But I'm not a huge fan of the version that I have been learning (the version on Songsterr) I think it is written for multiple guitars so the chorus specifically sounds kind of thin on it.

Anyway, if anyone knows a good (and hopefully freely available XD) version of Classical Gas for a solo steel string player, post that bad boy!

Mason Williams played it solo (albeit accompanied by band and orchestra) and there are plenty of tabs online.
I can't vouch for the accuracy of the Songsterr version, but maybe it sounds "thin" because you don't have the orchestra behind you?

You can see Williams playing it here, which should explain a lot:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEzyrpfrPEI
- he's not even playing at all in the bridge!

This looks like a good demo, worth comparing with online tabs:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHje3Fh4GJo

Well this is certainly not thin - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0vXtywOlayc

My new favorite version of this song.

Great tune, and easier than it sounds.
I have sheet music/tab for several versions, including Tommy Emmanuel's if you're feeling bold. I see you have no email linked to your account so email me and I'll attached the PDFs.

Doyle Dykes at NAMM few years ago really killed it.

That is a cool version! Any tips on how I convince my fiance to learn the harp? :D

Part1


Part2


Part3


Part4

This is the version I learned and I like it

That's the version I was going to put up. That would be a tough one to match!

Thanks for sharing this! It is a really cool version, I really like the segway into his solo acoustic version of 25 or 6 to 4 as well, absolutely killer song.

IMO, this is the definitive version of Classical Gas in solo form:

When I learned it (1974) I had to listen through the backing orchestra and it was a bit of work. There was a segment of The Smothers Brothers Show he played it on stage solo. He was a writer for the show and they were pretty proud to showcase him. I haven't looked for it but it may be out there in U-Toobville.

Agree!
 

He kills it, no question.

https://guitaralliance.com/justacous...ical_gas-3.pdf

This is a good transcription of the Mason Williams version.

Not free but indisputably best
 

"The Music of Mason Williams" is a book that comes with a music CD and includes Classical Gas.

Didn't find any of the lessons online or elsewhere perfectly accurate, but the book CD includes a version of Mason Williams himself playing the song on acoustic guitar with zero accompaniment -- just him on the guitar.

I took a software program I have an slowed it waaaaaay down, and practiced each passage until it sounded right.

The program is for Mac called 33 RPM, and VLC should work also.

I do believe getting the original unorchestrated performance is the way to best learn the piece.

Amazon also has it for sale used at lower price.

https://www.amazon.com/Classical-Gas...s=books&sr=1-1

That is nice.