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NorM

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Apr 18, 2003
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Tucson
Point Counterpoint (I am relearning it now)
If you don't know what this is you better ask somebody

Bach prelude in C with Ave Maria done as a solo.
 

mbgreene

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Sep 8, 2004
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Rockland County, NY
Not to try and be too obnoxious (or possibly too obvious), be careful about getting songs "exactly" right if you are the only guitar player, particularly in a live band setting. Much of what you hear on a recording is not necessarily one guy with one guitar in one take. I learned Blackbird with primarily Travis picking, which for those parts that aren't it sounds close enough for the people listening. If you've ever seen any of the McCartney specials or DVD's, he's keeping it fairly simple not exactly hitting everything like the record. Plus most people are listening to the words and singing along out of key.

It reminds me of an interview with Joe Walsh I heard in the early 90's on the Howard Stern Show. He was talking about trying to learn a Beatles' tune and how he could never quite figure it out for years. After he finally thought he had it, the next time he ran into John Lennon he brought it up in the conversation to see if he was right. John's answer was basically no, he was playing one part while George was playing another.

That's also the interview where Howard was yelling at Joe for quitting a gold mine like the Eagles. To which Joe replied - I didn't quit the Eagles, everyone else did, I'm the only guy still left in the Eagles.

Gotta love Joe :)
 
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Jack FFR1846

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Feb 17, 2008
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Hopkinton, MA
It's funny.....there are a bunch of songs that I can't get. Then I go back after some time and try again and sometimes, I think my head has been working on it, and I just pick it up. Sometimes....no. I have no problem at all with Blackbird or Nothing Else Matters and do about every version of simple man known to man......

I also learned the solo to Hotel California pretty quickly. I am still struggling with the acoustic finger picked intro. I've diagramed it out, so I am working on it, but just have not gotten it.

Cliffs of Dover. Got the notes for the first couple minutes at maybe 1/3 speed......
Glasgow Kiss. Again, have the notes for about the first minute....way slow....

I keep going back periodically.
 

ScoobySteve

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May 1, 2008
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Busan, Republic of Korea
It's funny.....there are a bunch of songs that I can't get. Then I go back after some time and try again and sometimes, I think my head has been working on it, and I just pick it up. Sometimes....no. I have no problem at all with Blackbird or Nothing Else Matters and do about every version of simple man known to man......

I also learned the solo to Hotel California pretty quickly. I am still struggling with the acoustic finger picked intro. I've diagramed it out, so I am working on it, but just have not gotten it.

Cliffs of Dover. Got the notes for the first couple minutes at maybe 1/3 speed......
Glasgow Kiss. Again, have the notes for about the first minute....way slow....

I keep going back periodically.

Tell me about this one... EJ picks so precisely and phrases so carefully, it shocks me when I analyze the notes and see that he's using pentatonic shapes so often. Not to mention that the speed is just...... and at the same time melodic. And that legendary tone.... I swear I must've learned, quit and relearned this song a dozen times.
 

nobozos

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Nov 10, 2002
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675
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Pekin, Illinois
Not to try and be too obnoxious (or possibly too obvious), be careful about getting songs "exactly" right if you are the only guitar player, particularly in a live band setting. Much of what you hear on a recording is not necessarily one guy with one guitar in one take. I learned Blackbird with primarily Travis picking, which for those parts that aren't it sounds close enough for the people listening. If you've ever seen any of the McCartney specials or DVD's, he's keeping it fairly simple not exactly hitting everything like the record. Plus most people are listening to the words and singing along out of key.

Yeah, I hear ya. I probably should have just learned the McLachlan version and winged it, but I think I tend to have a little OCD when it comes to music. I overanalyze my playing. It wasn't as bad when I was in the full band, but now that it's just me with nobody to hide my mistakes behind, it's much worse. Don't get me wrong. I'm not trying to blow peoples minds with my guitar prowess. My playing is simply going to be a vehicle for our singer to display her vocal stylings. I'm the club cracker that you have to eat to get the caviar. I do, however, want to sound good.
 

peterd79

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Jun 27, 2005
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NOR*CAL
can i say smoke on the water...

dut dut duh... dut dut duh duh... dut dut duh... duh duh...

that last duh is a killer... LOL
 

nathanhny

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May 27, 2008
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300
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Perth
Tumeni Notes by Mr. Steve Morse...it's just TOOO MANY NOTES! I haven't been able to practice it as much recently, but that is an insane song to be able to pull off convincingly...which I have not succeeded on so far.

That song is so hard. I've yet to see someone in person play that correctly (apart from Morse himself), most people sweep the hard parts, and we know that's cheating lol. I struggle to sweep pick anyway lol
 

straycat113

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Aug 17, 2009
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Born and bred in Brooklyn NY
Well I learned guitar by learning every Beatle song I could growing up, and a lot of people forget Paul was originally a guitarist and when Stu Sutcliff left he switched to bass. There was just to much talent in that band to be honest, bust that is Paul on lead on Taxman. Drive My Car, And Your Bird Can Sing with George is way ahead of its time. I also love his solos on Maybe I'm Amazed and My Love on which he played every instrument on that whole album.Though I never seen it tabbed correct Framptons Baby I love your Ways uses a lot of the same shapes as Blackbird but only strummed. Thank you Midnight Special for that one.

Not to get off topic Paul was not a precise finger picker and just did what felt natural which always makes something special. Till this day Johns rhythm part on All My Loving will probably a lot of guys who can shred on here at 180BPM a headache.lol

Songs that have given me a headache Becks- Cause We've Ended as Lovers,(nailing all parts precise) Mr Crowley-first solo, Communication Break Down solo, to be honest I dont think Page can duplicate it 80% accurate.lol

A bit of advice when something is giving you a problem leave it be for a day or two, and then comeback to it with a clear head.
 

straycat113

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Aug 17, 2009
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Born and bred in Brooklyn NY
It is kind of crazy how some songs you think will be difficult end up being a breeze and some that sound like they will be easy drive you nuts. Unless it is something I really love my days of sitting down and learning a 4 minute instrumental not for are done.lol I rather blast my own licks and melody over a progression.
 

andynpeters

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Dec 28, 2004
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Wonderland
I never try to play anything too difficult........as far as PITA songs go they were mostly due to boredom......though I remember Sade's "Smooth Operator" used to give me cramp due to the endless repetition of the same barre chords
 

nobozos

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Nov 10, 2002
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Pekin, Illinois
All the Albert Lee solos i know were hard to figure out by ear, but a whole of fun playing them.

You figure out Albert Lee solos by EAR? I figure out most songs I learn by ear too, but there are some that I just can't quite figure out by ear. I used to look up the Tablature online to figure out what I couldn't get by ear, but soon discovered that the tab is incorrect alot of the time. So now, I kind of have a three pronged approach. If I can't figure it out by ear, I look at the tab, and check out YouTube videos of people teaching the song, and the original artists playing the song live. Between YouTube, Tab, and listening, I can usually always get the song down correctly.
 

Beach Radio

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Apr 20, 2007
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White River Jct VT
Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution

Okay, I'm still learning the guitar and I'm coming up on my 4th year of lessons.
Everyone told me that AC/DC songs were simple and I should be able to pick them up easily (Malcolm's parts). I got Jailbreak, Dirty Deeds, Chase The Ace, & Flick of the Switch down fairly quickly. My favorite AC/DC song - Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution stopped me dead in my tracks. I'm still working on it and frustrates me to no end...
 

knguro

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Mar 20, 2010
Messages
251
I hate this thread. It keeps reminding me what a lousy guitarist I am.

+1 haha

i Would have to say In the presence of the Enemies part 1 and 2. haha, mmm every DT song is a challange!

And Deliverance - Opeth.
 

JonWands

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Jul 18, 2009
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73
Location
Helmetta, New Jersey, United States
I found with the Beatles Blackbird the fingering (at least how I hear it) on the chords being held out is (fingers) P&A MA PMA P&A MA PMA, and the passing chords are each P&A M(next chord)P&A M, etc. I'm sure that makes no sense haha.
 
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