I know it’s Thursday evening Scottish time but I recorded this song yesterday so it really is a one take Wednesday! The truth is it’s been so long since I recorded anything that I’d forgotten how to edit a video in DaVinci and it’s taken me until now to upload it.
The other day there I took a notion to have a go at Wildflowers by Tom Petty and yesterday after a few runs through pressed the red button and did a one take. As usual it’s recorded on my phone so no fancy techniques involved.
It’s a straight forward song with only a handful of chords but I thought that was enough to get me back in the saddle.
Well played, varied and dynamic strum pattern, and well sung too. You don’t need any fancy techniques. Enjoyable performance. I’m a fellow Scot cheering you on from England: gie it laldy sairfingers!
Can I ask what guitar you are playing? Yours looks incredibly like mine and it would be nice to know if there’s another one out there.
Nice one Gordon @sairfingers
Currently on my WIP list, as you say the chords are not complicated, it is the rhythm that makes the song and you have definately got that mastered.
Michael
I enjoyed your one take Wednesday song, posted on Thursday evening, on Friday with my morning coffee
The chords might not be that difficult, but keeping up the rhythm (and changing it where needed), adding on those hammer-ons and singing adds layers making the song much more complex. When you first deviated from the main strumming pattern, I thought it sounded slightly unusual. When you did it again later, I noticed it wasn’t accident. I even checked the tab in UG and realized it’s supposed to sound something like this.
I remember, when I had bought the “Wildflowers” album, I ended up listening to this song on repeat. It’s so light and sweet, like a moment in the summer sun. You managed to capture the essence of the song really well
@beejay56
Hi Brian, always good to meet a fellow Scot in the Community and I’m pleased you enjoyed the song.
The guitar is a Martin D28. @MAT1953
Thanks Michael. Yes It’s the rhythm and hammer-ons that give this song its groove. @judi
Thanks for the listen Judi. @batwoman
Hi Maggie. I’m so pleased my song tempted you out of the Batcave! Hope all good with you, I’ve missed your chat on the site.
Gordon, for me, you are a role model in the best sense! You are representing my ideal of a one man - one guitar - a handful of solid skills - no complicated setup - no chi chi kind of thing.
It’s a pleasure to hear you playing. It might be an easy chord progression, but your rhythm is captivating, you are giving the song the drive it needs, the hammer ons are so well played, everything fits so smoothly. Not to talk about your voice…
Your style to play is something to aim for from my point of view. I hope I’ll get there at a point!
A really, good performance, Gordon. Maybe only a few chords but you have incorporated some nice embellishments and changed up the dynamic here and there very well.
Very enjoyable as always; and shows yet again that ‘low tech’ is perfect when you’ve got great skills and a fine voice that shine.
Very clean, melodic, and just an overall great show.
Give me your sound any day.
Gordon, that was great! I enjoyed it very much. Great way to back in the saddle.
Recording on the phone is easy and convenient - it’s currently also my preferred way. If you play around with the placement of the phone a bit, we might be able to better hear your sweet vocals.
Lovely performance Gordon, very enjoyable to listen to, I really admire your strumming skills and as you sing very well too, your ability to put together a song so well and record in just one take. This “one take” thing…I wish we could discuss it further and get deeper into what it means…maybe a subject for a new thread? Would be nice and most interesting!
Oh I also want to mention that I didn’t know this song until the lesson was first realeased on JG and…it’s in my wishlist since that day
I’m pleased you still enjoyed my version as you must know the original very well.
You mentioned the change in the strum pattern. Yes there is a sort of bridge twice in the song with a different chord progression. Without that the song would be a bit too repetitive I think. Thanks for the listen and comments Nicole. @roger_holland
Thanks for the support Rogier. I’m glad I put you into a happier mood.
@Willsie
Thanks John, I appreciate the listen and comment. I see you’ve changed your name to incorporate your Blim status. Hope it’s going well and I look forward to hearing the fruits of your labours in the future. @sclay
G’day mate. Glad you liked my version of the song and you’re right, it’s been quite a few months since I posted an AVoYP. Mustn’t leave it so long for the next one.
I hope you are also enjoying the Blim course along with the rest of the gang. Things seem to be quieter in AVoYP land since you all started the blooooze. @jacobbonde
Thanks for taking time to listen and comment Jacob. Yes, recording on the phone is easy and convenient. I’ve spoken in the past about the problem of sound balance. The governing thing is the video framing which dictates where the phone is situated. After that it’s a matter of experimenting with guitar and vocal to achieve the best balance you can.
that was a delightful listen, really enjoyable on a soft summer evening - what a treat after a long day of work!
Those hammer-ons were great and really make a difference. The chords themselves might be simple, but the whole package isn’t. The rhythm is quite a challenge and adding the embellishments all along while singing is not easy at all. That was very well played and sung!
It doesn’t need any fancy technology when you are delivering such a great and pure performance! Thanks for sharing!
@Helen0609@Silvia80 Thanks for taking time to listen and comment. Much appreciated.
Haha thanks for the compliment Andrea but I’m sure there are many better ones on the site than me!
You’re right, my set up is far from complicated. It’s as simple as it can get. As mentioned above in my reply to Jacob, the difficulty is getting the sound balance between guitar and vocal. I find if I try to sing too loudly it starts to sound like I’m shouting. I’ve toyed in the past with the idea of getting an extension mic for my phone that I could then place closer to my mouth as it’s the vocal that tends to get drowned out a bit by the guitar. I’ve not pursued that as I’m not trying to create masterpieces here. Just sharing songs with my Community friends!
My definition of a ‘one take’ is this. I practise a song until I’ve got the chords and lyrics off by heart. When I think I’ve got it to a reasonable standard I’ll press the red button on my phone and record it. That’s it. One take. Yes of course I could record it 20 times and pick the best one but I want the recording to be a realistic version of what I could do if I sat down at a party and someone asked me to play something.
…so incredible nice swing and fantastic singing…100% 
