The right guitar for the song: three songs, three guitars

[Shortfinger]

I am learning three songs right now, listening and playing, playing and listening, and have reached the point of play where I can focus on the nuances of performance, at least for the guitar side. Voice will come along later.

Townes Van Zandt's "Poncho and Lefty" because I wanted to learn Travis picking. Mark Knopfler's "5:15 am" because it has the rhythm of many country tunes I like, and the lyrics with the overlaying story lines are magical. And finally, Paul Seibel and Leo Kottke's "Louise," because I wanted to learn slide.

You can see my guitars in my sig, and here is how it is now for me. One for each song and why.

The old D18 does Louise, because for me slide sounds better on the heavier strings, and the song has some walking bass phrases that the Martin excels at.

The Townes song, Poncho, and yes, he spelled it that way, goes best for me on the Yamaha, and I turn on the transacoustic actuator to play it, set to 60 percent both chorus and reverb, so the picking really rings.

I'm strumming the Knopfler tune on the little Fender, and really getting into the dynamics of the song, with its soft intro and almost nothing outro, and its hard country-rock choruses, sort of Eagles-like. For all the movement and changes, I like the little guitar, for something I can wrap myself around.

Do you do this with guitars? Find the ones that seem best for tunes?

[TBman]

I do something similar. My Martin and Gibson I use for standard tunings - blues, etc. and for dadgad and lower tunings I use my Avalon Guild D-120c and Larrivee.

[Paddy1951]

I think there is something to be said for song/voice/guitar compatibility.
For me, I try to do songs that work with one guitar, other songs that work better with another guitar.

My back can't handle multiple guitars.

[RustyAxe]

No. Never. I may have more than one guitar on stage, but it would be for alternate tuning, maybe a 12-string. But only one would be a sixer in standard tuning. And that might vary from gig to gig depending on my mood.

[BT55]

I totally agree. Guitars have personalities (tonality). Different tonality fits different songs. Yes you can use one guitar for all but you can improve your performance by using the guitar that fits the song best. Mechanics have both wrenches an sockets. Both do the same job but the job determines which one to use.

[AndrewG]

No, I make the guitar work for the tune. I don't let the tune dictate what guitar I should play.

[Silly Moustache]

Originally Posted by Shortfinger

I am learning three songs right now, listening and playing, playing and listening, and have reached the point of play where I can focus on the nuances of performance, at least for the guitar side. Voice will come along later.

Townes Van Zandt's "Poncho and Lefty" because I wanted to learn Travis picking. Mark Knopfler's "5:15 am" because it has the rhythm of many country tunes I like, and the lyrics with the overlaying story lines are magical. And finally, Paul Seibel and Leo Kottke's "Louise," because I wanted to learn slide.

You can see my guitars in my sig, and here is how it is now for me. One for each song and why.

The old D18 does Louise, because for me slide sounds better on the heavier strings, and the song has some walking bass phrases that the Martin excels at.

The Townes song, Poncho, and yes, he spelled it that way, goes best for me on the Yamaha, and I turn on the transacoustic actuator to play it, set to 60 percent both chorus and reverb, so the picking really rings.

I'm strumming the Knopfler tune on the little Fender, and really getting into the dynamics of the song, with its soft intro and almost nothing outro, and its hard country-rock choruses, sort of Eagles-like. For all the movement and changes, I like the little guitar, for something I can wrap myself around.

Do you do this with guitars? Find the ones that seem best for tunes?

I know P & L, and Louise, and play both from time to time. I use my 12 string on my version :



Last time I played on Louise, I played Dobro as a sideman.

I generally take a 6 and a 12 string to gigs, As to which 6 and which 12 - depends on how I feel on the day.

I've got some solo gigs (i.e without the trio) coming up and I'm thinking of taking the National, as I like playing A couple of Hank Williams songs with slide.



and

[Jobe]

You mentioned Mark Knopfler (who I think is great) and it reminded me of a songbook I have of his. There are only eight songs in the book and the first six or so pages are pictures of his various guitars and he explains why he likes them for specific songs. What a kick! Now we all just need a personal string winder and a guitar tech on call at any given moment. I may not be worthy of that but I get it and have my wishes!

[Misifus]

So, when you learn songs numbered four and five, does that mean you’ll have to buy two more guitars? Or will the new songs have to wait until you can afford them?

[The Bard Rocks]

While I agree that some guitars work better for certain songs than others, I find myself playing one at a time while varying the kind of songs that I play, so I tend to adapt the song to the guitar rather than the way it should be.

I wouldn't do this if if I didn't enjoy variety so much in my music. It's just a lot more practical to carry around one of two guitars than all of them.

That said, I find certain songs don't sound right without a 12 string, so I mostly let them alone if I don't have it with me. Same on the baritone, but not so much on my wooden resonator.

[mawmow]

I play only at home for my pleasure but I do have a bunch of guitars and others six strings instruments as well as different string sets to get as many different sounds... Call me silly if you will... ;-)

[KevWind]

Did most of my gigging (say 80%) with one guitar played everything from Gershwin, to the Doors

The other 20% of the time I would take a 12 string for the songs I liked for a 12 ,,,, perhaps 2 to 3 songs per set..

[Paddy1951]

Originally Posted by mawmow

I play only at home for my pleasure but I do have a bunch of guitars and others six strings instruments as well as different string sets to get as many different sounds... Call me silly if you will... ;-)

Not at all silly. All to often we get fixed on a goal and forget to enjoy the ride.

[Silly Moustache]

Originally Posted by mawmow

I play only at home for my pleasure but I do have a bunch of guitars and others six strings instruments as well as different string sets to get as many different sounds... Call me silly if you will... ;-)

Hey! stop using my name!