Must Learn Acoustic Classics

[TexMexMike]

I am curious. What do you feel are the top 3 Acoustic Classics that any player worth his salt should know how to play?

What are your favorite songs to play? Working on anything new?

[Doctor Reggae]

Good question. Just because I can't think of anything else, I'll say "Dust In the Wind" by Kansas, "Redemption Song" by Bob Marley, and "Can't Find My Way Home," by Blind Faith (which I'd love to play if I could fingerpick worth a damn).

[TexMexMike]

Great choices Doc! I'll add "Yesterday" and "Tears from Heaven" ....Working on the later.. :thumbsup:

[Old Mojo]

"Stairway to Heaven"?:guitar:

Not spending much time lately on acoustic stuff, but I wish I could do Doc Watson style pickin'. Always been a bugaboo for me. I can Travis pick with the bouncin' bass notes, but Doc's stuff (and Chet Atkins et all) requires two separate rythyms at the same time. AAAAuuuurrrggghhh!

[WireNWood]

Tears In Heaven and Yesterday are both good. Dust in the Wind is excellent but it's a bitch to sing. Way high. Wasn't that Kerry Livgren?

Anyway... some others to consider...

Harry Chapin's 'Cat's in the Cradle' always got a huge round of applause for me.

James Taylor: You've Got a Friend

Even without all the dual-harmony leads at the end, The Eagles' 'Hotel California' is a monster tune and always went over well for me. Check out the simple but dramatic ending they use on "Hell Freezes Over".

The Who: Behind Blue Eyes

Jonthan Edwards: Sunshine (go away today) - one of my personal faves. That song has one of the sharpest hooks ever.

"How much does it cost? I'll buy it.
The time is all we've lost. I'll try it.
He can't even run his own life, I'll be damned if he'll run mine!"

[Doctor Reggae]

I'd probably also add most anything by Michael Hedges.

[Justpickin]

Top three....so many!...For me it was "Needle and the Damage Done"...let's face it, Neil has been played by more acoustic players than any other performer. His songs are easy to play. (one of my favorite electric solos to play is Cortez the Killer)

Then "Stairway to heaven"....we all learned that one!

From there it's a toss up.....two favorites of mine are "Gallows Pole", and "Ramble on", Zep stuff was always a nice challenge to nail down. Been a while since I played that stuff.

[TexMexMike]

Some really great choices :thumbsup:

[waltaja]

any jim croce

[Dave Attix]

Blackbird, Babe I'm Gonna Leave You, & Norwegian Wood.

[Jossy]

I'd probably also add most anything by Michael Hedges.

He is one of my favorite acustic players...pretty incredible stuff.

Going back to the acustic list, i must add:

That's the way- Led Zeppelin...very nice tune.

Babe Im gonna leave you- Led Zeppelin...Nice dynamics.

Don't let me down- The Beatles...i think The Stereophonics have a nice version of this song.

Angie- The Rolling Stones... a must in my parents' reunions.

Old Love- E.C. (i like the acustic arrangement)...

Well, there you are... :thumbsup:

Saludos.

[Justpickin]

He is one of my favorite acustic players...pretty incredible stuff.

Going back to the acustic list, i must add:

That's the way- Led Zeppelin...very nice tune.

Babe Im gonna leave you- Led Zeppelin...Nice dynamics.

Don't let me down- The Beatles...i think The Stereophonics have a nice version of this song.

Angie- The Rolling Stones... a must in my parents' reunions.

Old Love- E.C. (i like the acustic arrangement)...

Well, there you are... :thumbsup:

Saludos.

Old Love, and Angie...two great songs to play acoustic... :thumbsup:

[Time Pieces]

I ditto Old Love & Angie.

But also how about the Beatles' "In My Life?"

A nice acoustic version of Imagine?

Jim Croce as mentioned earlier jets my thumbs up too!
:thumbsup:

[Bytor1975]

Ya gotta have some killer chops to pull of George Martin's 'sped up tape' piano solo that sounds like the harpsichord on "In My Life!"

Or you could just hum it!

[Slowhand]

Jonthan Edwards: Sunshine (go away today) - one of my personal faves. That song has one of the sharpest hooks ever.

"How much does it cost? I'll buy it.
The time is all we've lost. I'll try it.
He can't even run his own life, I'll be damned if he'll run mine!"

Good one Ray!
------------------------------------------------------------

Actually you all picked many of my own personal favorites... here's some more to add to the list -

Beatles: Here Comes The Sun (its just perfect.)

Alman Bros: - Blue Sky (I never get tired of listening to this! - beautiful. acoustic or electric sounds awesome.)

Cat Stevens: Moonshadow, Hard Headed Woman, Wild World, the list goes on

James Taylor: anything and everything he plays! But I'll say Mexico (I'd like to know if anyone here can play this one.. it's tough!) You can close your eyes, sweet baby james, ......

Jorma: Damn this guy can play some mean acoustic! How about "Water Song" !

Pure Prarie League: Aimee

These are just a few... others will come to mind.

[TexMexMike]

Glad to see that this topic is getting a second life! So many great additions. Just got a James Taylor song book. Man, harder than one would think to play his tunes! :thumbsup:

EDIT: God, how I wish I could sing!!!

[Justpickin]

Beatles - Here, There, and Everywhere

Don McClean - American Pie

Kansas - Dust in the Wind

Simon and Garfunkel - The Boxer

EC - Running on Faith

John Prine - Angel from Montgomery.....(love this song)

Artist unknown - Dimming of the Day (have seen it done by Raitt and Gilmour...beautiful song)

I will echo Dave - ABB's Blue Sky, throw in Seven Turns, Statesboro Blues

[jimihalen]

God, I hate "Angie". What an annoying voice he has on that cut. Ouch.

Great tunes mentioned, I'll add Collective Soul's "December".

[Cat]

Shame on you people. I cant belive you didnt add Rolling Stones - Wild Horses

Cat

[romdos]

I'd like to add... Leon Russell's This Masquerade... I'm working on a version of The Beatles I'm Only Sleeping, sans the backwards guitar solo and Across the universe... What a Wonderful World translates well on Acoustic also... and anything by Dylan, although I am partial to Simple Twist Of Fate, and Jokerman...

[The Heir Of Stevie]

"jezebel" Iron and Wine


Its an excellent acoustic song. lol bet nobody has heard it!!

[Justpickin]

Never did hear of them...but just listened to the song, and a bunch others...nice acoustic stuff!

[Justpickin]

Every weekend we don't have something going on we go to our summer cottage, well hunting camp that we try to use all year. Anyways, in the summer my daughters bring friends down and some are musicians, and they bring their acoustics (my daughter plays) and I sit with them around the fire at night and we jam. Some songs that they've shown me are really pretty nice to play...
1) Tied my Hands - Seether....great tune!
2) I'll be - Edwin McCain....nice song, if you ever get a chance listen to him doing it live acoustic with Warren Haynes playing slide...sweet!
3) Lucky - Seven Mary Three...cool song
4) Desperately wanting - Better than Ezra.....nice song
5) Lightning Crashes - Live...I've always liked this one

[waltaja]

-Don McLean's Starry Starry Night
-Classical Gas is a good tune
-Landslide by Fleetwood Mac. not only does it have good guitar but Stevie Nicks can sing
-Hotel California off the Hell Freezes Over album has a rockin' solo at the end

[SpeckledJim]

Bron-Yr-Aur-Stomp by zeppelin, i think it sounds very cool.
Maylebell by chet atkins, very bouncy it is.
and wish you were here, by you know who. :guitar:

[stratcc]

Soulshine,I dont know if its an official classic yet but I think of it as one,its very fun to play and sing, and as proved by Mr Haynes it can be very powerful as an acoustic version.

[leivaspelund]

Many great songs here! I've only one to add:
Tangerine by Led Zeppelin.

[Bytor1975]

Many great songs here! I've only one to add:
Tangerine by Led Zeppelin.
Good call. Probably my favorite song off of Led Zeppelin III.

[Justpickin]

Soulshine,I dont know if its an official classic yet but I think of it as one,its very fun to play and sing, and as proved by Mr Haynes it can be very powerful as an acoustic version.

Probably my favorite song to play acoustically.....nice call Strat... :thumbsup:

Here is a link to an amateur video, Warren and Dave Schools on bass, parking lot at Red Rocks...doing "And it Stoned Me", and "Soulshine"

http://blueridgewebmasters.com/warren.htm

[stratcc]

Hey Justpickin,thanx for the video,a very good find:thumbsup:

[Time Pieces]

I'm for anything Neil Young.:rlol: