21Nov2024 - Today I am adding songs 3 and 4 of the ten grade 2 consolidation songs recorded on my phone.
I had some problems with deciding how to play and sing the song I’m A Believer. I practiced a lot without a capo until I tried to sing it. Then I wasn’t sure I could hit the high notes in the chorus so I switched to playing with a capo on the fourth fret and singing an octave lower:
Here is song number 3:
I’m a Believer - capo 4 - lower voice
I wasn’t really excited about the result, so I switched back to no capo and sang in the upper part of my vocal range and decided to even try a falsetto note in the chorus and added a little vocal improvisation at the end like in the Monkees original version. I also got up the nerve to add the intro riff which I can only do if I am not singing. I noticed that when I am playing fast chord changes in the chorus that my fretting hand still thinks that I am playing at the fourth fret and my fingers are contracting away from the fret. The fact that I am still getting acceptable tone tells me that I am pressing the strings too hard. Something to work on in the future.
I’m A Believer - no capo - higher voice
The next song “Please Forgive Me” is one that I had not heard before. I think I was deep into listening to the blues when the song was re-released in 2000 and I wasn’t listening to pop. Part of the fun of this JG journey is learning new songs. I recorded it today after listening to David Grey sing the song a few more times. I listened to the original and 2 live versions. I’m trying to use Justin’s brilliant guitar rhythm as much as possible, though I sometimes simplify a little when I am singing. Too many things to juggle. I still need to work a little more on the ending:
Here is song number 4:
Please Forgive Me
I think that these two additional songs go beyond grade 2 consolidation level and include some of what I have absorbed in my two years at the grade 3 level.