Guitar Standards
Discussion
I mentioned this on another thread: guitar standards. Not the quality of guitar playing 
but those tunes that every guitar player should know how to play reasonably well. Those tunes that - if you can't play at least most of the chords, a good few licks, and a recognisable part of the solo - as a guitarist should be essential.
The one I mentioned on the other thread was "Sultans of Swing". Great tune, good mix up of cowboy chords, full barres, partial barres, interesting fills, and a solo that sounds good and is relatively easy to play given enough practice (although I can still easily f
k it up).
Others that spring to mind - for me:
Black Sabbath: Paranoid
Led Zep: Rock & Roll
Anon: Romanza (google it)
Cream: Badge
Clapton: Layla (but not the solo, unless you're a total Duane Allman disciple)
Clapton: Nobody Knows You (it's a good fingerpicked tune with lots of chord changes)
G & R: Sweet Child (for me, too much shred to cope with in the solo though)
Nirvana: Smells Like Teen Spirit
Hendrix: Hey Joe
The Animals: House of the Rising Sun
Sex Pistols: Pretty Vacant
I know I've missed a few. And my "guitar standards" set a low bar. But I didn't consider myself even 1/4 decent until I could play large parts of the above tunes competently.
Can we fill the gaps in the list?
but those tunes that every guitar player should know how to play reasonably well. Those tunes that - if you can't play at least most of the chords, a good few licks, and a recognisable part of the solo - as a guitarist should be essential.The one I mentioned on the other thread was "Sultans of Swing". Great tune, good mix up of cowboy chords, full barres, partial barres, interesting fills, and a solo that sounds good and is relatively easy to play given enough practice (although I can still easily f
k it up).Others that spring to mind - for me:
Black Sabbath: Paranoid
Led Zep: Rock & Roll
Anon: Romanza (google it)
Cream: Badge
Clapton: Layla (but not the solo, unless you're a total Duane Allman disciple)
Clapton: Nobody Knows You (it's a good fingerpicked tune with lots of chord changes)
G & R: Sweet Child (for me, too much shred to cope with in the solo though)
Nirvana: Smells Like Teen Spirit
Hendrix: Hey Joe
The Animals: House of the Rising Sun
Sex Pistols: Pretty Vacant
I know I've missed a few. And my "guitar standards" set a low bar. But I didn't consider myself even 1/4 decent until I could play large parts of the above tunes competently.
Can we fill the gaps in the list?
alot of knopflers work is minor penatatonic shape refelcted in alot of Sultans' solo work.
v simple chord progressions but a total classic and boy is it a long track!!
sweet child solo is I find much more difficult due to the amount of left hand travel in the second part. beautiful phrasng in the first part though...
v simple chord progressions but a total classic and boy is it a long track!!
sweet child solo is I find much more difficult due to the amount of left hand travel in the second part. beautiful phrasng in the first part though...
Ganglandboss said:
Smells Like Teen Spirit? 
I would rather cut my fingers off!
Yebbut, you could still play it even if you did. I would rather cut my fingers off!Animal said:
Isn't this just the list of tunes that are banned in guitar shops up and down the land?!
Probably. Although I suspect that they wouldn't mind Comfortably Numb being played now and then. Thing is, trying to get that authentic "breathy" Echoplex-y type delay on the solo.
HAS to be Classical Gas! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55A9H-PqOvY (not that Clapton plays it that well).
Edited by GetCarter on Wednesday 14th April 12:01
Malam said:
Dream Theater- Stream Of Consciousness
Aye, chap.There are guitar standards that us plebs can play, and guitar standards that you can play
I can play all the notes that Petrucci plays in that tune, just not as fast, nor in time, nor - necessarily - in the same order.........
Gaspode said:
Fingerpicking Standards:
1. The Needle and the Damage Done - Neil Young
2. Anji - Davey Graham
3. Tangerine Puppet - Donovan
Anji (the Bert Jansch) version was one of the first songs I learned. I picked it up from my dad & the phrasing was all wrong. The "proper" versions are a bit harder but I got there in the end. 1. The Needle and the Damage Done - Neil Young
2. Anji - Davey Graham
3. Tangerine Puppet - Donovan
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