A Classic IV hit from 1969. Perhaps not as popular as some of their previous hits such as Spooky and Stormy which I believe came earlier.
The song (or version of the song I attempt here) has 18 different chords with 3 or 4 of the chords being new to me. It took a while to get them into some degree of muscle memory.
It’s also a challenging song to sing and singing is definitely a particular challenge to me.
But having loved the song for many decades now it was a particularly fun song for me to try to learn. I enjoy songs where the chords changes themselves provide a nice melodic feel to the song. In other words, recognizable by strumming the chords themselves, without vocal accompanyment.
Audio only, still too shy and ill-equipped to routinely make a video. I expect limited response for that reason alone.
Hi Mike. I really liked the first few intro bars of the song. I thought your notes and chords were pretty pure and clean. After that I felt your chords got a bit less pure. I got the feeling the strum pattern wasn’t right for the song and your pick was getting caught on the strings.
I don’t know the song so can’t suggest an alternative pattern but perhaps using a thinner pick might help. Reducing the pattern to a simple ‘old faithful’ might work.
You were straining a bit on the higher sections of the vocal. Have you thought about using a capo to change the key of the song to better suit your voice?
I agree with you about songs with a distinct melodic progression.
Well done. This is a song worth working on.
@sairfingers Thanks so much Gordon for the “full” listen and the valued feedback.
A lot of people might argue that this is a song that doesn’t lend itself to acoustic guitar very well. Or perhaps very ‘easily’ might be a better way of putting it. Because of this I attempted to add some levels of dynamics to the pattern/patterns for this song. I also tried to use triads for a few select chords and individual notes here and there during a chord. It was a challenge and I know I probably took it a bit too far. Your feedback helps me iron this out, so thanks again for the honest feedback.
I play this with the capo on the first fret. Based on your feedback (If I am reading it right) I should maybe try to lower the key a half step (no capo). Again, thanks, I’ll give this a try.
I already use what most people would think of as a very thin pick. I use a 0.46mm which is quite thin. I started using the 0.46mm very early on because I had/have a heavy hand and my playing was obnoxiously loud…lol. I think the inconsistency you heard is more my efforts of individual string picking during chords more than the pick itself. (me more than the equipment).
