More up tempo please!

[rokdog49]

Here’s a short list of songs which aren’t necessarily fast but they are uptempo:
Danny’s Song- Loggins and Messina
Another Saturday Night -Cat Stevens
Gentle On My Mind - John Hartman
Harvest Moon - Neil Young
Rainy Day People - Gordon Lightfoot
Sundown -Gordon Lightfoot
Your Song - Elton John
Rhythm of the Rain - Cascades version (uptempo)
We do this one with acoustic guitars




These are all “spirited” songs that people relate too. They keep things light, are easy to play and sing for a soloist and I’m pretty sure you would enjoy playing them.

[WordMan]

Acoustic, I do versions of:

- Message in a Bottle, Every Breath You Take - The Police
- Twenty Flight Rock - Chuck Berry
- I’m the Man, Is She Really Going Out With Him - Joe Jackson
- Runaway - Del Shannon
- Best Friend’s Girl - The Cars
- Save it for Later - The English Beat
- Melt With You - English Beat

[Winfielder]

The Devil Went Down to Georgia
Dust in a Baggie (Billy Strings)
Turmoil and Tinfoil (Billy Strings)
Common Ground (Andy McKee)

[Italuke]

Originally Posted by WordMan

Acoustic, I do versions of:

- Message in a Bottle, Every Breath You Take - The Police
- Twenty Flight Rock - Chuck Berry
- I’m the Man, Is She Really Going Out With Him - Joe Jackson
- Runaway - Del Shannon
- Best Friend’s Girl - The Cars
- Save it for Later - The English Beat
- Melt With You - English Beat

Cool stuff, but Twenty Flight was Eddie Cochran.

[Skarsaune]

Originally Posted by Italuke

Cool stuff, but Twenty Flight was Eddie Cochran.

and Melt with You was Modern English

[UncleJesse]

Originally Posted by WordMan

- Save it for Later - The English Beat

Great tune. I've heard Pearl Jam do that tune a few times.

[Chipotle]

Originally Posted by UncleJesse

Great tune. I've heard Pearl Jam do that tune a few times.

Of course, you'll need spare guitar for the tuning. He also plays his guitar left-handed and upside down, so you'll have to really work to play it "correctly".

I played this one with a band back in the day, but of course I didn't let that stop me. I managed a passable version in standard tuning.

[yaharadelta]

A couple of John Lee Hooker E blues that you can jack the tempo up on:
Boom Boom Boom Boom
One Bourbon One Scotch One Beer

[Kalani]

As someone mentioned earlier, it’s more about the groove, your rhythmic flow combined with the intricacy of your playing. I’ve seen musicIans play the slowest ballad but with such intricate playing/picking that I was never bored. Musicians like James Taylor can play anything and I’ll always be glued to his performance; his songs are mostly mellow but he adds a lot of movement to them which keeps the listener’s attention. I think that’s the key.

And as far as loopers, it’s a tool like anything else and you have to learn to use it effectively. I record my loops as I’m singing so there’s no waiting for my lead to come in. And I guarantee that if you have something to say in your lead playing, no one will be bored!

[reeve21]

Someone mentioned "Deal" by Jerry Garcia/Robert Hunter. One of the first tunes I ever learned and still a favorite. It should work well, for these reasons.

Shuffle rhythm will get heads bobbing and feet moving, and it an be played at most any tempo and still groove.

Chord progression in the verse is a little more interesting than basic I IV V.

When it goes to those chords in the chorus it is easy for folks to sing along.

Easy to loop and play lead over if that is your thing.

I'll also put in a vote for "Like a Hurricane by Neil Young." Not really uptempo but a pretty intense tune.

[MartinGibsonFan]

Thank God I'm a Country Boy - John Denver

J