[Ellenback1]

I used to play guitar, was just getting really good at it, but I was 15, and my little brother decided to see if my guitar would float in the bathtub...SPROING!

So here I am, 49, single, kids grown up and moved out, and have been a singer with different types of bands for many years, and yes, I'm tired of only singing what the damn guitarist wants me to sing...so I've picked up a 12 string Yamaha FG for a great price, and now I'm obsessing about playing it all the time (trying to get the neural pathways to remember the changes from D to C etc...LOL) I've printed off quite a few easy chord songs and play them endlessly, and yes, my fingers are tingly and toughening up at the ends. I had one lesson, but found that the guy focused on picking only, which I'm not feeling ready for, and he didn't know a lot about chords, so now I'm trying the online thing!

I have a wedding to sing at in about a month's time, and I've selected 4 songs to play for the bride and groom that I could solo on, if no one else thinks they're COOL enough to play with me (the full band has been doing all sorts of blues - Wilson Pickett, etc) and they likely won't touch these, but I'm hoping I can change their minds! Maybe if they see me struggling to try and play and sing them well at the same time...?

"We Belong" (by Benatar), "The First Cut Is The Deepest," "I'll Stand By You" and "Misguided Angel," by the Cowboy Junkies. Do you think they're appropriate wedding songs?

The part I'm working on, other than the chord changes (making them smooth) is the rhythm...damn, that's getting me down! I bookmarked the various metronomes to try and see if that will help, and I've been playing along with the songs. I'm driving my new BF crazy having to listen to my sad attempts, including listening to these songs endlessly (I finally put them on my MP3 player and use my headphones...LOL) But, the sweetie that he is, he has said that he can see the songs coming together, even in the past couple of days. One month, hmmmm CAN I DO IT?

Thank you for a great site! I hope to pick your brains with dumb questions from time to time, and I may even post a few pics of my "Little Salvation" guitar.

Ellenback1

[knight46]

Hi Ellenback1 and welcome to the forum. I am sure that you will find this site and the people on ir very helplful. Good luck at the wedding gig.

[allthumbs]

Misguided Angel and Cuts Like A Knife are not the best in my opinion. The first has the in laws crying because of the marriage and the second one is about cheating. You really are looking for love songs filled with hope and promise.
This one would work. Change the gender to male to make it less suggestive.
http://www.bluesforpeace.com/lyrics/...ttle-angel.htm

[Ellenback1]

LOL good point, allthumbs, but ya know, this is a strange wedding, and that song by the Junkies has a couple of good lines at the end about him saying, "the heck what they say, marry me anyway!" Which is sort of the point to this whole wedding...

I just love the songs...maybe they won't listen to the lyrics? LOL

Ellen

[allthumbs]

Originally Posted by Ellenback1

LOL good point, allthumbs, but ya know, this is a strange wedding, and that song by the Junkies has a couple of good lines at the end about him saying, "the heck what they say, marry me anyway!" Which is sort of the point to this whole wedding...

I just love the songs...maybe they won't listen to the lyrics? LOL

Ellen

Yes, trashing the in-laws from the get go would certainly save time.

[X4StringDrive]

Welcome Ellenback...Been there myself a few times{lol}

[Stratrat]

Welcome, Ellenback. Don't make us "wannabe singers" look too bad!

[coldethyl]

Welcme aboard Ellenback!

Good luck with the wedding gig.