Give me a good song to learn

ThePrettyDamned · April 2021

I want something I can learn in a few weeks that's reliably tabbed somewhere. Ideally, it will have:

- interesting rhythm, ideally some neat chords. Complexity is not necessary, but interesting nonetheless

- a good lead part in it - not too shreddy, but something that goes beyond a simple pentatonic melody would be good. Don't mind a bit of economy picking, alternate picking or legato lines.

- no reliance on effects - keep your reverse delays out of this!

Any thoughts? I have been practicing Mr Crowley which is excellent, but the sheer speed of the solo, especially those alt picked triplet pentatonics, is a bit far for me.

Roland · April 2021

What styles of music are you interested in? For example there’s “Take Your Mama Out” by the Scissor Sisters which has an in interesting strumming pattern, a pentatonic scale over the chorus, and a full solo on the live performances. However if that’s not your preferred style then it’s not going to appeal.

phil_b · April 2021

Bb King The thrill is gone

ThePrettyDamned · April 2021

Roland said:

What styles of music are you interested in? For example there’s “Take Your Mama Out” by the Scissor Sisters which has an in interesting strumming pattern, a pentatonic scale over the chorus, and a full solo on the live performances. However if that’s not your preferred style then it’s not going to appeal.

I've intentionally not said as I wanted a diverse mix of ideas. Take your mama out is a good shout!

phil_b said:

Bb King The thrill is gone

Also very different to my own usual style - I'll give it a listen and see if I can transcribe by ear.

Roland · April 2021

Huey Lewis and the News - Power of Love, the Back to the Future theme song. Picking pattern in the verse, power chord in the chorus. The solo features three different playing styles, and is well covered on YouTube.

Danny1969 · April 2021

I'm the one - Van Halen.

It's got an infectious boogie riff and the fills and solo sounds complicated but in typical EVH it's actually incredibly simple when broken down

Slow Dancing in a burning room - John Mayer

Fantastic riff, interesting chord voicing and epic solo - use the live version from Where the light is.

Hysteria - Muse

Great riff and really well constructed pedal tone solo

sev112 · April 2021

Josie or kid Charlemagne

MagicPigDetective · April 2021

Three Days, Janes Addition.

proggy · April 2021

Love and Affection - Joan Armatrading. Some lovely chords but no solo. Maybe you could work out the sax part.
Played on acoustic of course.

Blueingreen · April 2021

Green Earrings - Steely Dan. I don't think it's one of their strongest songs as a composition but from a guitarist's point of view i think it's good for working on a few different aspects of your playing - some nice funky rhythms, interesting harmonies, a couple of excellent solos in somewhat different styles and some great fills.

mrkb · April 2021

Always with me, always with you - satriani

Eviltwin14 · April 2021

I've been learning a song called Kill the King by Rainbow. It's got a lot in it and I remember listening to it a s teenager in awe. It's got a bit of everything
Riffage, Arpeggio's, tremelo picking, fills and chord substitutions. I've learned a lot by trying it. The solo is beyond me speed wise but it's a great work out.

viz · April 2021

Elegant Gypsy by Al di Meola. It’s not exactly suited to a single guitarist but there are some fantastic licks and riffs and things in there.

octatonic · April 2021

"Open Letter to the Heart of Diaphora" by Polytown.

richman6100 · April 2021

How about Hideaway by Freddie King? Great blues licks and rhythm. Sounds simpler to play than it is in my experience. Learning it improved my playing no end.

Bellycaster · April 2021

Going through my file on songs, I recommend these beauties.

Cream - Badge (Some nice lead work and lead fills, plus that riff in the middle)

China Crisis - King in a Catholic Style (Great Solo in there)

Eagles - New Kid in Town (Great Chords in there and tasty lead parts), play the keys parts as Guitar parts.

Hollies - He Ain't Heavy

Led Zep - What is and what should never be.

O.C.S - 100 Mile High City

Police - Synchronicity 2 (Very interesting parts)

Randy Newman - I Love L.A (I didn't bother with the slow intro, but the rest is a great song to learn on Guitar, do the keys solo too)

S.A.H.B - Framed (Top Blues Tune and Solo)

Skunk Anansie - Every Day Hurts

Steely Dan - Rikki

Turin Brakes - Painkiller (Good upbeat strummer)

That should keep you busy for a while

Rocker · April 2021

Cotton Fields, Creedence Clearwater Revisited. Simple song with interesting guitar parts. It is not as easy as it sounds to get it sounding 100% right.

fastonebaz · April 2021

Crying in the rain - whitesnake, John sykes era

ThePrettyDamned · April 2021

Thanks all! I'll take a listen tonight and tomorrow let you know the winner.

Next month, I'll get a cheap ipad interface and post my recorded attempt at whatever I have chosen!

Vibetronic · April 2021

You mentioned Mr Crowley being a bit too fast - how about Crazy Train? Solo is less challenging and can easily be broken into sections to learn a step at a time. Also, Steve Vai's 'Die to Live' is nice. Just one guitar, some nice chords with a melody part interweaving. I have tabs for both if you want them.

ThePrettyDamned · April 2021

Vibetronic said:

You mentioned Mr Crowley being a bit too fast - how about Crazy Train? Solo is less challenging and can easily be broken into sections to learn a step at a time. Also, Steve Vai's 'Die to Live' is nice. Just one guitar, some nice chords with a melody part interweaving. I have tabs for both if you want them.

@vibetronic very interested in both! I used to play crazy train, so it would be good to refresh. Die to live sounds great!

Vibetronic · April 2021

ThePrettyDamned said:

Vibetronic said:

You mentioned Mr Crowley being a bit too fast - how about Crazy Train? Solo is less challenging and can easily be broken into sections to learn a step at a time. Also, Steve Vai's 'Die to Live' is nice. Just one guitar, some nice chords with a melody part interweaving. I have tabs for both if you want them.

@vibetronic very interested in both! I used to play crazy train, so it would be good to refresh. Die to live sounds great!

Pm me your email and I’ll send you the tabs. I’ll think about other stuff in the meantime, I’ve got a ton of music. Tbh if you used to play Crazy Train then refreshing that, and the Vai track, are well within your abilities. His (RR) stuff sounds harder than it is; combination of double tracking, effects and production makes it sound very slick. I’m pretty sure he’s one of those guys who always wrote, rather than improvised, his solos though, which generally makes them easier to break down into segments for learning. Also, I’m fairly sure those pentatonics in Mr Crowley weren’t all picked. I did check when I first read your post (listened whilst reading tab) but will do so again...

fastonebaz · April 2021

I'm just a girl - No doubt

clarkefan · April 2021

Randy's hero, Schenker, Into the Arena.

hungrymark · May 2021

Sultans of Swing - the notes themselves aren't a problem if you can play with your fingers, but the phrasing and dynamics are something else. 'Every note counts' kind of song

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Give me a good song to learn

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