2nd crack at fingerpicking: Your Song

CanuckTodd · #1 March 4th, 2006

Well, it's actually Elton John and Bernie Taupin's song, but here's my clangy, twangy rendition at part of it.
Feedback is enthusiastically encouraged, negative,

positive,

neutral,

doesn't matter!

Specific questions: My right hand and fingers are so busy actively rolling up and down trying to maintain volume and hit strings that I'm not finding it easy to pause to let the songs "breathe" a bit. Any tips?

My copy of Plane Talk is still winding its way from Australia, so I'm still not at all sure about how to add melody tracks and leave the safety of the chords. Any simple tips about how to venture off without losing the basic sound is welcome.

allthumbs · #2 March 4th, 2006

Tricky combining melody and chords on a 12. The single string lines tend to blend in with the tones of the chords. Maybe try for more volume on the melody and less on the rythmn. You could also maybe put in a walking bass under the melody parts so they have some room to breath. Your doing very well. That would really work well as is on a 6.

CanuckTodd · #3 March 4th, 2006

Just so I understand.. when you say a walking bass line to let it breathe.. do you mean a bass note, struck with thumb, and then let the strings ring a bit to get some sustain, and then move to the melody?

allthumbs · #4 March 4th, 2006

I mean playing a simple bass line underneath some of the melody parts instead of chords. It is just an idea. You will get an idea how to do that once you have had the P.T. book for a while.

Garry · #5 March 4th, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by CanuckTodd

Well, it's actually Elton John and Bernie Taupin's song, but here's my clangy, twangy rendition at part of it.
Feedback is enthusiastically encouraged, negative,

positive,

neutral,

doesn't matter!

Specific questions: My right hand and fingers are so busy actively rolling up and down trying to maintain volume and hit strings that I'm not finding it easy to pause to let the songs "breathe" a bit. Any tips?

My copy of Plane Talk is still winding its way from Australia, so I'm still not at all sure about how to add melody tracks and leave the safety of the chords. Any simple tips about how to venture off without losing the basic sound is welcome.

Hey Canuck Todd,

I just downloaded a mp3 of Your Song by Elton John to familiarize myself with it.( Elton = piano), no biggy, I've heard piano pieces transposed to the guitar, and actually like it even better than done on piano. Then again we are guitar enthusiasts, so maybe I'm sounding biased

But, music is music..notes are notes..no matter what instrument one chooses to play.

None the Less, I don't want this to be taken in any negative way what-so-ever.After-all, we are all here to learn and expand on what we are learning, That's my interpretation of a forum like this one.We all wanna grow , that's why we're here.
Ok, nuff of the jammerin' on, here's what I got from it.
I listened to both you and the piano. Although you are playing with your fingers, not a pick, I'm hearing an awful lot of strumming taking place. Your chord transitions are smooth, your comfortable with that aspect i can hear that. What advice I have to offer, and I'm no expert by any means, just a guy trying to help and learn myself would be.
Let's slow it down a bit, listen to the opening bars..and hear the distinct melody taking shape? there really isn't a "strumming" sound right?I would use the exact chords you are playing right now, but instead of (strum...strum..strum...strum..strum,strum) pattern you are doing, take a little look at the chords you're playing, what I mean is, don't sweep or brush your fingers across the strings to get that strumming sound. Instead..kinda duplicate the motion as if you scratching , the ears of a cat or dog
. Stick around in those chords for while, explore whats going on in them tonally, sound out whats going on there, listen to those notes you have to work with in that chord, before moving to the next.Just play around with it , not trying to play through the whole song just yet. It may surprise you whats hiding in them. Just remember, don't "strum" in them, "pick " around in them
Just my humble advice, other than that I'd say your coming along pretty damn well !!!

Garry

allthumbs · #6 March 4th, 2006

That is great advice Gary. If I may add. Think chord fragments as well as whole chords which is really just another way of saying what Gary just said. Look at the lessons and see how few times Kirk plays a full chord.

Garry · #7 March 4th, 2006

PS.... I'm waitin' on a package from Aussie myself Canuck-Todd, should be here any day now.....kinda like the kid waitin' for Christmas syndrome . I have tons of questions that need answering, and I've got a strong gut feeling PT is gonna open many doors for all of us>

allthumbs · #8 March 4th, 2006

Small world. A friend on another forum just posted a piano version of this. He has allowed me to repost it here for you. It might help you to hear how he is handles the melody and chords.

CanuckTodd · #9 March 4th, 2006

Hey Garry, allthumbs,
Thanks again for the great feedback. Scratching a dog's ear! That's funny. Simple image, but effective at getting the point across.
Funny you should mention the piano version of the song. I don't have a copy of the song, so was relying on memory to play the melody. I picked the song because it has a fairly recognizable melody. But when I was listening to my recording, I was struck that my guitar sounded like a piano. After 8 months of only strumming, I'm used to big, full, (if imprecise) volume that fills a room. With the 12 strings ringing, it covers all sins. (well most)

With fingerpicking, it's so much more precise that bad notes -- really stand out. That's why I have so much respect for those who can master it. It takes discipline. You really have to learn songs not just chords.
I'll try to slow down and find chord fragments. I also hope the Aussie express gets here soon with Plane Talk!

allthumbs · #10 March 4th, 2006

Once you get P.T. you will be able to track the melody and the chords enabling you to make the best choices for your tune. BTW my friend Clav wants to hear your version when you have it down.

tcliff · #11 March 4th, 2006

You might want to check out the lesson David Hodge has at GuitarNoise for this song.
BTW, he likes to play a 12 string as well, and plays it in several of his lessons.

http://www.guitarnoise.com/article.php?id=430

CanuckTodd · #12 March 5th, 2006

Thanks allthumbs, Garry, (Clav the piano master) and tcliff,
The piano version sounds great! My memory must be full I didn't remember there being that much variety to that song. This will take some work.
I also checked out the lesson (Thanks tcliff)... 27 pages long! Yikes! But I'll work on it. I think this is a tad challenging for a newbie fingerpicker, but that's never stopped me before! I'm going to work through some of Kirk's newbie lessons. Walk before you crawl.

Can't thank you guys enough. I've been taking lessons, but am amazed at how much I'm learning from all of you. Hope to be able to give back some day. If I get a new improved version down, I'll post again.

tcliff · #13 March 5th, 2006

Keep in mind CanuckTodd, Hodge's version doesn't follow the original.
I just thought the way he breaks the song down may be of help.

Good Luck

Tom C