Do you play songs?

[telewacked]

I've been playing 20 years now, have been in country bands, rock bands and played bluegrass and flatpicking tunes exclusively for several years. What I've realized recently however, is that while I can burn solos, can easily sit down and learn just about anything (within reason) on the radio and play the "parts", I can't just 'play' 'a' 'song'

Does anyone have any advice on how to tackle this? Part of my problem is I'm not a great singer and can never remember the lyrics, but I'm a decent player.

So...what do *you* do when you're sitting around the campfire with friends, or in your parents living room, and someone says "play us a song"?

Sounds silly maybe to some of you...but I think this needs to be my next goal as a player. Thanks for your advice!

[Big Tony]

I know, and understand, your problem. I had this problem for many years, and it became more annoying with every year passing. I knew lots of intros, endings, bits and pieces - but no *real* songs. The answer to the problem was, in my case, self disciplin. I sat down, and made myself a set list! Carefully I singled out 12 songs that was possible to play with one voice + one guitar (old blues stuff, in my case). I transcribed all the lyrics to the songs, and printed them out. I decided on keys and tunings, if I should use a capo, and other details. Then I started to study one song at a time; learning the intro, all the choruses, and the ending. The complete song! Every time I sat down to play my guitar, I made sure that I rehearsed one (or more) of my songs. Sure I did the usual noodling, and free form soloing, and stuff - but I always had to rehearse my songs. I tried to memorize lyrics while doing manual work, or just taking a walk - I always had some lyrics in my back pocket. It was very satisfying when I found that I could actually play a tune from beginning to end for the first time. After that it was not hard work any more - it was just a lot of fun! Today I have a *private set list* of 24 tunes, and I can play (and sing) them from the first note to the last at the drop of a hat. I learn one song at the time, and I make sure I go back and rehearse the oldtimers. I have my set list, and I play it in a chronological order: one night, sitting on my couch, I might be playing songs 1-4, the next night I play songs 5-7, and so on. It works for me, but it took a lot of self disciplin to make it happen. It's worth it, believe me!
And, hey, I'm not a great singer, but I think you will make it a lot easier for yourself if you decide to sing - No Matter What! You will get better at it, and it makes you feel good, too. Sure, you can do the same with instrumentals, but I think you should really try to sing. It's fun and satisfying, and other human beings will get really bored after two or three instrumentals...

just my 2 ore/Big Tony

[Honga Man]

Good advice Tony.

I played bass in cover bands for about ten years. I also play Tele at home and at jams and I have the same problem when it comes to playing solo/practicing.

I love to play with other musicians and I know plenty of songs, but with bands! I can play the bassline but without a drummer don't expect me to do it right around the campfire with my ABG.

My next door neighbor is a Strat man (original owner of a '81 Strat and '83 Music Man RD112 combo!) who doesn't know a G or a C cowboy chord but who I'm sure has perfect pitch. He can solo or comp anything "on the fly" on guitar, bass, keys, and even theramin (yes, I've seen him do it at a jam session) but he doesn't know even one song.

We try to play together but we find that we always need a third guy to lead us. We are both good sidemen but we need someone to tell us what song to play.

Sorry if that's a bit long-winded, but I've been feeling the same way as you, Telewhacked, in the last year and a half that I've been band-less.

I used to play acoustic guitar and know a lot of Neil Young type classic rock stuff but solo acoustic guitar seems sort of boring to me since I've played in electric rock bands for so long.

I guess I should break out the acoustic and make a list like Big Tony, but instead I practice steel licks from the TDPRI tab forum.

[Ed N.]

Originally Posted by Big Tony

I know, and understand, your problem. I had this problem for many years, and it became more annoying with every year passing.

And, hey, I'm not a great singer, but I think you will make it a lot easier for yourself if you decide to sing - No Matter What! You will get better at it, and it makes you feel good, too. Sure, you can do the same with instrumentals, but I think you should really try to sing. It's fun and satisfying, and other human beings will get really bored after two or three instrumentals...

just my 2 ore/Big Tony

Big Tony,

Thank you! Thank you! You've shown me the light.

My wife loves my playing but still frequently asks, "Can't you just play me one song, from beginning to end, please?"

Let's see, how about some oldies like "Runaway" or "Proud Mary" or "That'll Be the Day" or "Bye Bye Love" to start my set list?

I'm gonna kick it off tonight--absolutely!

[Anonymous]

My good friend KC once told me that my singing sounded like "thumbtacks in a garbage disposal."

So over the years I've worked up a bunch of jazz standards and some popular tunes that I can play unaccompanied chord/melody solos on. I can't improvise a chord solo too well on a tune I've never played before (although I've certainly known guys who could do that with a fakebook), but I've got the melody and chords to a few dozen or so tunes worked out, and I can improvise on them in a modified (some would say crippled) Joe Pass style. ;-)

But the whole rock 'n' roll movement from the 50s on has now spawned several generations of guitar players who can play really well and even improvise really well -- but couldn't play a credible version of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" if they had to.

The problem, of course, is that the guitar isn't a visual instrument like the piano. You can't see what you're doing. And rock 'n' roll never had much use for either written music, or even for the guitar as a melody instrument. (Rhythm and leads yes, melody no.) So guitarists had no incentive to learn how to play melodies.

And it's too bad, because as Beethoven was quoted as saying, "The guitar is an orchestra in itself." It's one of the very few instruments where you actually can play both the melody and the chords at the same time.

Still, I'd trade all my chord solos for a good singing voice in a New York minute. ;-) CS

[Big Tony]

Originally Posted by Honga Man

I guess I should break out the acoustic and make a list like Big Tony, but instead I practice steel licks from the TDPRI tab forum.

Oh no, you don't get off the hook that easy! I wasn't talking acoustic guitar, I was talking Telecaster! I play Tommy Johnson, Son House, Robert Johnson, Charley Patton, early Muddy Waters... and lots more... on my Telecaster! 8)

[Big Tony]

Originally Posted by Ed N.

Let's see, how about some oldies like "Runaway" or "Proud Mary" or "That'll Be the Day" or "Bye Bye Love" to start my set list?

I'm gonna kick it off tonight--absolutely!

That sounds great! Go for it! You know it's gonna be fun!

/Big Tony

[Big Tony]

Originally Posted by Chris S.

I've worked up a bunch of jazz standards and some popular tunes that I can play unaccompanied chord/melody solos on.

I would really like the hear that. I'm so impressed with that jazz stuff. I really can't play like **** myself. :D

[telewacked]

it's nice to not be alone! And thanks Big Tony (and others), your advice is great. I'm going to start my list tonight. I swear it! :?

[slinkyoz]

Yeah, I can't sing either...
What you're talking about is learning some chord melody, and there are plenty of transcriptions and arrangements around. I've worked out a few myself, (from "Twinkle, Twinkle" for my little daughter, to "Satin Doll" and "Darn That Dream" to play at gigs)and I don't have any great fingerpicking chops- they don't have to be hard or complex to be effective. I reckon put the pick down, though. Use your thumb and/or fingers - more intimate tone.
Just a chord with the melody note on top, maybe jazzy if it's a jazz tune, or in a folky or classical style. It's also nice to go for things that people know (we are talking about "round the campfire" aren't we?) and bear in mind that tunes in this style are more often than not ballads, ie play 'em slooooow...in the manner in which you would like to be serenaded.
Even working out half a dozen will do wonders for your self-esteem as a musician.

[telewacked]

Originally Posted by slinkyoz

... It's also nice to go for things that people know (we are talking about "round the campfire" aren't we?)...

Exactly...

Do you, or anyone else have any advice on some other tunes to try and work up?

[retsacelet]

so I learned how to "travis pick" from an instructional cd and learned about 10 instrumentals. Now when I'm asked to play a song i just play a little "cannonball rag" and it does the trick.

[Kurt]

I'm not a great singer myself and suffer the same "play me a song" problem. I have worked out a number of fingerstyle chord/melody songs that I can use as well as some classical pieces (Steve Howe's 'Mood for a Day'). Even pretty simple stuff sounds very impressive to most folks. In many cases, you can work out your own original arrangements. Just pick songs you like (there's alot you can do with 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' for example) and be creative. The key is to get some finger independence so you can get a bass line going. If you're more of a roots player, you can try "Contemporary Travis Picking" by Mark Hanson or "Acoustic Blues Guitar" by Sultan to get you started. Good luck.

[btubbs]

I found your post interesting. When I first started playing, I really approached it wanting to play songs. I bashed until i could get the playing/singing thing down. Though, as a result I never really got the discipline to learn proper lead guitar, 'cause instead of actually practicing guitar it was always just "eh, I'll pick it up and bust out a couple songs." I think I'm a fairly capable rhythm player by now, but I guess it's just funny how the choices work out...

You may or may not wanna give singing a shot. I suppose everyone is somewhat limited by what they were born with in this department. But, there's still a lot to be said for working at it. Your voice can get more flexible. I find recording myself helps. It's taken really years for me to become comfortable with my singing voice. I find, as long as a singer can hold a tune, I'd rather listen to someone who doesn't have the best singing voice as long as they're trying and pushing it a bit, rather than someone with a great voice who seems like they're going through the motions. People who do opera or broadway, need a certain quality of voice to do that. But for other stuff, you don't need a great voice to sound sincere and expressive.

I suggest, as far as playing songs go, keep in mind the arrangement. A lot of playing solo is a matter of trying to distill the essentials of what the whole band is playing into something you can play and/or sing yourself. So, steal an intro or lead guitar part, twist it into something you can play on top of chords or bass parts. Sometimes it's a matter of using your guitar to suggest what the other instruments were doing, like the keyboards, or movements in the bassline or rhythms of the drummer. Some songs lend themselves better to a solo guitar than others. Some that you wouldn't think would work out quite nicely.

If you're looking for specific songs, what kinds of music do you like?

Eek, guess I rambled on a bit there.

Brian