Unofficial Taylor Guitar Forum - UTGF
The Lounge => The Lounge => Topic started by: FrankenTaylor on June 13, 2017, 11:45:00 PM
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What is your favorite song to play?
My favorite song to play is Rock on the water. ;D
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If by "favorite" you mean the song you get the most enjoyment or satisfaction from playing, I'd have to say "Sweet Talkin' Woman" by Electric Light Orchestra. It's got a simple-but-catchy chord progression (meaning I make few mistakes whenever I play it, and it sounds interesting); it's well-suited to a strumming soloist on a guitar (especially a 12-string, which is my particular favorite) while still being recognizable; it's got a simple rhythm (important in my case); and is just a song that I find fun to play.
If by "favorite" you mean a song that you like the most and have learned to play on the guitar, I'd have to say "Dust In The Wind" by Kansas. For me, it's the consummate acoustic-guitar song and is instantly recognizable when played. But being primarily a strumming player, and this being a finger-picking song, my ability to play it well is inconsistent -- so it's challenging to me.
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If by "favorite" you mean the song you get the most enjoyment or satisfaction from playing, ...
I like Tim's qualified definition, so I will use it. My favourite song to play is "Apache", based off the Jorgen Ingmann version (not the Marvin/Shadows one). It has the advantage of sounding real good no matter which guitar I play it on (even a 12 string, Tim). It has enough tricks to keep it interesting, and is always available for a few more tweaks. Sometimes I play a verse/chorus of "Ghost Riders in the Sky" as an intro, eliding into a 'drumbeat' opening for "Apache" (I hold an Am and rhythmically slap the strings for that effect). Since Ingmann multi-tracked his own recording, and features 'many guitars' (see original album cover for that reference), as a finger-picker I have been able to fill out the piece a bit with just one guitar.
I will extend the answer a bit with my favourite song to do with a vocal, which is currently Buddy Holly's "Love's Made a Fool of You", but done through the filter of Tom Rush's version. More mellow and laid back. Not a complex song, but I just get a kick out of it.
Don
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The one I just learned to play from start to finish
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"Apache" and "Ghost Riders" are both excellent. As is "Dust In The Wind"
For me , my FAVE is "If You Could Read My Mind" by Gordon Lightfoot, (Rainy Day People is also a good one).
They both sound good on 6 and 12 strings.
Sometimes I try my hand at singing while strumming and picking, but alas, it won't even get me a cup of coffee !
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My favorite is the first fingerstyle piece I ever learned. Morning Has Broken by Cat Stevens. I really jumped off the deep end trying to get into fingerstyle with it. I had a good friend who recently passed away who was a prolific guitar collector. His favorite guitar was the one he owned the longest. It's a hand made Yairi DY90 they call the super abalone because of its Martin D45 abalone appointments and was made and signed by Kazuo Yairi. My friend always handed it to me first when I'd visit and he wanted me to play Morning Has Broken. He only knew basic chords but liked to hear more advanced stuff on his favorite guitar. He bought it new in 1982 and maintained it in mint condition. When he knew his time was short on earth he asked me to play that song on it at his funeral and then take it home with me. This will be in 2 weeks in Houston, 4 hours from me. He was cremated and they held off on his celebration of life service till then. It's gonna be a tough gig but he was a good friend and it's what he wanted so I've been practicing it relentlessly. I've done some pearl inlay work and am thinking about about doing a small piece on the lower bout of In Loving Memory Dave Grana. I think it would go good with the massive amount of abalone already there. That song will be forever cemented as my favorite and I'll have a stellar cannon to play it on as well.
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Cool topic. My favorite song to play is always the one those listening enjoy the most... Love songs to my fiance work pretty well as do silly songs like Sushi-Yucky for my young nieces or 80's classic rock for my friends of that era.
When I am playing for myself my favorite changes with mood, thoughts, what strikes me at the time, last music I heard, how the guitar sounds and feels at that moment (as it tends to change) and environment. Sometimes I really enjoy playing songs I played in my college band (brings back a lot of great memories). Other times I like to play originals a good friend of mine wrote or even my originals. Sometimes I want to play a song for the sake of the song, sometimes I want to play for the guitar (to hear and feel the nuances of the tone). I will often switch from having my favorite being one recently written or learned to one of the oldest.
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I have many favorites, so it's too difficult to choose just one. But, I just recently taught myself "Kentucky Sunrise Waltz", like Jim Hurst plays it, fingerstyle. Love it. Now I'm working on "Remember When" (Alan Jackson) for a friend who loves to sit and listen to me play. It was sung at their wedding. It's a really pretty song. I'm always discovering new, wonderful songs. My mandolin-playing duo partner has also got us into a lot of songs that sound great together. Music is so fun. Oh, and Hector the Hero is very cool.
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As a singer/player my favorite song is "Behind Blue Eyes" by the Who. Enough interesting fingerstyle playing plus great lyrics. Honorable mention to Joni Mitchell's Urge For Going. and the Door's Crystal Ship .
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I have several favorites that put a smile on my face and make me feel good....
Boston's 'More Than A Feeling' stands out...in addition to 'Hitch A Ride'
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"Asking Too Much of You"
Written by Toy Caldwell from The Marshall Tucker Bands "Together Forever" album.
Still sang by Doug Gray at concerts.
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... Honorable mention to Joni Mitchell's Urge For Going.
Interesting, in that when I posted that link to Tom Rush's "Urge for Going", I would have said 'Urge' was my favorite for guitar and vocal (again, done through the filter of Tom Rush's version). However that youtube link led me to Tom Rush's version of Buddy Holly's "Love's Made a Fool of You", which has somehow become my latest fun song to do.
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... Honorable mention to Joni Mitchell's Urge For Going.
Interesting, in that when I posted that link to Tom Rush's "Urge for Going", I would have said 'Urge' was my favorite for guitar and vocal (again, done through the filter of Tom Rush's version). However that youtube link led me to Tom Rush's version of Buddy Holly's "Love's Made a Fool of You", which has somehow become my latest fun song to do.
My version is 90% Joni, 10% Tom. Both do it in "A" form capoed.
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My version is 90% Tom, 10% me, and I do it in A, no capo; I like open strings. Any Joni influence is purely coincidental, probably Tom's fault. ::)
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I agree with Knight ... the one I'm trying to learn well enough to play in front of people. Currently its Bon Jovi's "Wanted Dead Or Alive . My wife and I were in Phoenix a month ago and we almost always see this "Singing Cowboy -Marshall Pioneer Pepper " He does Ol' Time Cowboy Songs like Happy Trails, Red River Valley, Rawhide , etc. We've seen him numerous times and he's always getting requests to play newer country and he never does them , claiming that's not what he does...very understandable. This last time , however, on his last song, he busted into the opening lick for "Wanted" and proceeded to play it all the way through. It was great, the crowd loved it, and I said to myself " Ooh, there's one I can do. I've been having fun with it and I'm hoping to play it at my July open mic.
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I agree with Knight ... the one I'm trying to learn well enough to play in front of people. Currently its Bon Jovi's "Wanted Dead Or Alive . My wife and I were in Phoenix a month ago and we almost always see this "Singing Cowboy -Marshall Pioneer Pepper " He does Ol' Time Cowboy Songs like Happy Trails, Red River Valley, Rawhide , etc. We've seen him numerous times and he's always getting requests to play newer country and he never does them , claiming that's not what he does...very understandable. This last time , however, on his last song, he busted into the opening lick for "Wanted" and proceeded to play it all the way through. It was great, the crowd loved it, and I said to myself " Ooh, there's one I can do. I've been having fun with it and I'm hoping to play it at my July open mic.
A great 12-string song...played on an awesome Taylor double-neck
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuDCUEyQJmc
http://www.richiesamboraguitars.com/acoustic/taylor-double-neck/
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Stairway To Heaven
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I agree with Knight ... the one I'm trying to learn well enough to play in front of people. Currently its Bon Jovi's "Wanted Dead Or Alive . My wife and I were in Phoenix a month ago and we almost always see this "Singing Cowboy -Marshall Pioneer Pepper " He does Ol' Time Cowboy Songs like Happy Trails, Red River Valley, Rawhide , etc. We've seen him numerous times and he's always getting requests to play newer country and he never does them , claiming that's not what he does...very understandable. This last time , however, on his last song, he busted into the opening lick for "Wanted" and proceeded to play it all the way through. It was great, the crowd loved it, and I said to myself " Ooh, there's one I can do. I've been having fun with it and I'm hoping to play it at my July open mic.
A great 12-string song...played on an awesome Taylor double-neck
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuDCUEyQJmc
http://www.richiesamboraguitars.com/acoustic/taylor-double-neck/
I'm headed to a Roadshow tomorrow, Maybe its time to look at a Taylor 12 string. I agree, I love that Taylor double neck!!!
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My version is 90% Tom, 10% me, and I do it in A, no capo; I like open strings. Any Joni influence is purely coincidental, probably Tom's fault. ::)
Heh Heh
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I see you got my little 'joke', after I played on your phrasing.
I do base my version on Tom Rush, but Joni wrote the song of course.
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Wagon Wheel.
No extra comment needed :)
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My favorite song to play is called Twelve, because it's so beautiful. We play it at every single show.
Here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MC2C9B5MAAQ) we are playing it at The Scottish Festival and Highland Games on Oahu in April. Sorry for the Larrivee, but I don't take my 814 off of this island. I usually travel with my T5z, but I usually do some purely acoustic sessions with other musicians when we play Oahu.
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I love playing cat stevens Sad lisa. Not very difficult finger style and great warm up :)
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My fave is Dirty Old Town. Its the only tune I can play but with some finger picking n some strumming, its great. Soon my fave will be Bookends by SnG which I should imagine, most folk will find easy but still a struggle for me. And coming up on the horizon is Blackbird which I am sure will take me to Easter to learn. Slowly but surely x
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A more recent favorite is "Walk Beside Me" by Tim O'Brien, with honorable mention to S & G's "Homeward Bound"
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Skating Away (On The Thin Ice of a New Day)
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"Apache", based off the Jorgen Ingmann version (not the Hank Marvin/Shadows one), is still my favourite instrumental. (See reply #2 to this thread.)
Turns out that vocal with guitar changes a lot, certainly month to month if not week to week. 8)
"Here Comes the Sun" is always near or top of my charts, and has been that way since the sixties. About the only song I play on a guitar with a capo. Originally did it in "A" with open chords, now still in "A", but with a capo 7th and "D" form pattern on six-string. Play it on Uke "D" pattern open, without a capo. Back to "A" open chords on my 12 string, which becomes effectively "G" due to tuning down the 12 a full step. Uses a lot more of the bassier octave sound that way, especially in the chorus/break runs.
Don
edit> And just to be clear, playing HCtS on a 12 string in no way sounds like the way George did it. But it's a lot of fun gas, gas, gas.
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My fave is Dirty Old Town. Its the only tune I can play but with some finger picking n some strumming, its great. Soon my fave will be Bookends by SnG which I should imagine, most folk will find easy but still a struggle for me. And coming up on the horizon is Blackbird which I am sure will take me to Easter to learn. Slowly but surely x
My favorite song to play is Blackbird. It was one of the first songs I learned (and then had to re-learn a better way...and honestly the more I listen to it the more I'm mystified and befuddled as to how to play it like Paul) and incidentally one of the only songs I can fingerpick with anything approaching skill.
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Currently, "City of New Orleans". But playing it on the ukelele.
I was inspired while playing the game "Ticket to Ride: First Journey (U.S.)" with my granddaughter last week. I had just completed a route from Chicago to New Orleans, was noodling on the uke at the time, and so it just happened. Have since done a crash course in the lyrics and liking the result a lot.
;D
Don
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Stairway To Heaven
honestly
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Back to "Behind Blue Eyes"
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"Walk Right In" on 12 string, but will play it on 6 string too.
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It’d be a close tie between Little Sister in E, Dwight Yoakam style or Drivin’ My Life Away in Drop D, Rhett Akins style!
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Close tie with a few jazz standards, but I'd have to say it's Scott Tenant's arrangement of Wild Mountain Thyme. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOL2MwNDF2c
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Cool topic - I wish more people comment, it could be a great way to find new songs to play. It's not easy to narrow down to one, but Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning (Jorma Kaukonen version) and Don't Think Twice it's Alright (Dylan) are my two go-to songs for warming up both hands and voice.
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I've been really digging both Hole Hearted (Extreme) and Revelations (Iron Maiden) on the 12-string lately.
Iron Maiden on a 12-string...Love it!
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Still hung up on this piece:
"Walk Right In" on 12 string, but will play it on 6 string too.
Of course the Rooftop Singers had the advantage of dueling 12 string guitars on their version:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQD1Jsj1d3w
Don
.
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Actually, Pipeline sounds pretty great on a 12 string and really like it as the back part of an instumental medley opening with Roundabout. Yes, Yes, with a Chantays twist.
Trying to make Walk Don't Run sound as good on a 12 as it does on a 6. Currently a work in progress. Biggest problem is imitating (or substituting something for) the whammy bar effect, especially right at the end using a 12. But the 12 is outstanding for fingerpicking those introductory chords. (Yeah, I know the Ventures strum those chords; but just try fingerpickin' 'em. Fingerpicking works with Hit the Road Jack also.)
Don
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I've been really digging both Hole Hearted (Extreme) and Revelations (Iron Maiden) on the 12-string lately.
Iron Maiden on a 12-string...Love it!
Hole Hearted has been kicking my butt for awhile!! :-[ I can play the majority of it, but have to play it REAL SLOW!!
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I've been really digging both Hole Hearted (Extreme) and Revelations (Iron Maiden) on the 12-string lately.
Iron Maiden on a 12-string...Love it!
Hole Hearted has been kicking my butt for awhile!! :-[ I can play the majority of it, but have to play it REAL SLOW!!
My greatest obstacle was learning the funky rhythm pattern of the song. Once learned, the rest falls into place. Singing along is a whole 'nother animal :P
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I love playing Tomorrow Never Came by Lana Del Ray and Sean Ono.
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My favorite song to play is the one I’m currently learning.
I started out with Scotch and Soda - Kingston Trio until I had it memorized, then Dust in The Wind, etc
I’m currently trying to learn Lying Eyes along with other Eagles songs. Got From The Beginning intro down and need to go back to learn the rest of the tune.
Currently my favorite place to learn a song is “ Guitar at Work “ with Shane Simpson.
:D Danny
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Somewhere over the rainbow. Works for many situations where Beatles songs don’t .
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Ones that once started I likely make it all the way thru, would either be Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald, or She Talks to Angels, open E (I always have spare strings, G tends to break). Recently added Turn The Page. Always played it, but was able to combine a few versions into something I almost like, that only took 30ish years.
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Going through a huge mid 60's Folk Rock Phase after seeing "echo in the canyon" doc
Great songs, break out your capo and busk away!
Byrds (Bells of rhymney, Eight miles, It won't be wrong)
Mamas/Papas (Monday, California Dreamin, Straight shooter)
Beau Brummels (Laugh Laugh GREAT CHORDS)
Hollies (Bus stop, Yes I will, Sorry Suzanne)
Turtles ( happy together, Eleanor)
Buffalo Springfield (Out of my Mind, Clancy, anyhting)
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Going through a huge mid 60's Folk Rock Phase after seeing "echo in the canyon" doc
Great songs, break out your capo and busk away!
Byrds (Bells of rhymney, Eight miles, It won't be wrong)
Mamas/Papas (Monday, California Dreamin, Straight shooter)
Beau Brummels (Laugh Laugh GREAT CHORDS)
Hollies (Bus stop, Yes I will, Sorry Suzanne)
Turtles ( happy together, Eleanor)
Buffalo Springfield (Out of my Mind, Clancy, anyhting)
Just saw Echoes of the Canyon a week or so ago--great memories! I've lately been going back to some of my favorite 60's songs-- "Tired of Waiting" by the Kinks, "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" by the Animals, "Never My Love" by the Association, etc. Laugh Laugh is a great idea, and yes great chords indeed. "Light My Fire', Byrds' version of "My Back Pages" and Donovan's "Catch The Wind" are my favorite go-to warm-up songs.