The World-Famous Official ‘Spill 30-Day Musical Challenge
(Rules)
Day 26 topic: a song that you can play on an instrument
Please include song name & artist in your post for Chris
.
The World-Famous Official ‘Spill 30-Day Musical Challenge
(Rules)
Day 26 topic: a song that you can play on an instrument
Please include song name & artist in your post for Chris
.
Dave Brubeck- Take Five.
It took me ages to learn to coordinate the left hand vamp with the right hand melody on this and the 5/4 structure, eventually I learned it off by heart. Rather unfortunately in terms of a potentially glittering jazz career, this remains the single piece of music I can actually reproduce at will on a piano. Still, I have cooler glasses than Dave.
Excellent, and not an easy one for the pianist to put the melody on top. The middle 8 is especially satisfying to play, I find.
Well, lots, though they rarely sound like the record. But I think this was the first one I worked out for myself on the guitar:
Belly – Stay
Oh goody! This is one from the TP set I played with my band at the show in San Antonio. (And by the way I think it was the best of the six we did.)
It was me on rhythm guitar and vocals, Matt on lead and backing vocals and Matt’s friend Kelly on bass.
Change Of Heart by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Well, I’m a bass player, butg I did learn this on guitar.
Bill Black’s Combo “Don’t Be Cruel”
I guess you’re spoilt for choice, and could even offer some actual recorded music…
Well, here’s our Swedish 1073 hit. “I Fought The Law”. I’m not in the picture, but played bass on it. It’s a long story, but we taped this before I left the band. Then a few months later, there were major personnel changes, but they dragged this tape out and dubbed the vocals on by Keith Reed. The drummer was Geoff Britton (Wings, East Of Eden, Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, etc).
Actually, 1973 – I’m not that old.
Mitch – Not that old? – and here I was hoping for the lost Sun madrigal recordings
Definitely wins this round !
Ta!
You’re having a laugh now aren’t you?
But I did once work out the intro to this
Spear Of Destiny – Prisoner Of Love
Oh that was ace to hear again. I really must go and borrow all the SoD albums from the library to rip digital versions, as I only have them all on vinyl.
Butbutbut … HOW MUCH MAKE-UP IS DOLPHIN WEARING!?!?!
The video is certainly pushing the pretty boy angle. Weird.
Now I’ve repeatedly admitted I can’t play a note on any instrument.
But two songs spring to mind, both from the 1970s:
The first is a UFO song: Try Me, the Michael Schenker guitar solo in which I think I’ve worked out the first fifteen notes of. But since that’s fairly pathetic, I’ll go with the second one.
When I was around 14, I was the (rehearsal-room only) singer in a fledgling rock covers band. When we got bored of proper rehearsing, the three messers-about – bass, drums, vocals – would swap around, much to the guitarist’s amusement. One song sounded pretty much the same that way round, much to all of our amusement.
On those occasions I occasionally drummed, but was “better” playing bass, because most of the song is one note!
AC/DC – Live Wire
This is our family special:
Desecration Smile – Red Hot Chili Peppers
We jam with me doing easy chords on the acoustic, TheBoyWonder letting it rip on his e-guitar and Littl’Un percussioning on whatever’s to hand. We share the vocals, but we gals get to do the high, squeaky repeat line at the end of each verse.
I can also do ‘Wonderwall’, albeit with child-friendly lyrics about pocket money (it’s called the Taschengeld song and it entertains the neighbourhood kids or annoys my son as the fancy takes me)
Didn’t know that, and enjoyed it a lot. Thanks, Debby.
Now, really must get back to the scanning.
Well, if we’re allowed a little latitude with the definitions of “can”, “play” and “on an instrument”, I used to be able to drag the intro to this out of my 22-key Casio, and make it sound like a weirdly percussive trumpet:
Depeche Mode – I Just Can’t Get Enough
This was almost my hate the band / love the song nomination, but I don’t really hate them. I think it was Vince Clarke’s last single before he left and formed Yazoo ?
I remember a late 70s NME article about the R’n'B band The (Count) Bishops where the guitarist, Johnny Guitar, singled this out for praise.
I really hope it’s not taken – because the only thing anyone ever taught me to play was..
The Cure – Love Cats
I was always too busy designing sleeves, flyers and backdrops… wouldn’t even attempt it now.. but will get back to learning and torturing the world if our baby ever decides to sleep.
Gah, that was gonna be my choice too!
So weird….I was listening to lovecats as I read through the thread. Freaky!
Well, if it has 3 chords and none of them are bar chords, i might be able to give it a go on guitar. First song i learned was Neil Young’s Helpless, and i never got much further than that, although i could play Friend of the Devil, Needle and the Damage Done, Here Comes the Sun, and Blackbird. But that got into some scary picking that i usually fucked up, so i’ll go with a song i really love from my favorite album by my favorite 3-chord wonders. (Mind, just the regular guitar on this one, not the pedal steel guitar.)
Rolling Stones -Torn and Frayed
some lovely images in that video, that’s a great song to be able to play.
Glad you like it, i love it too. If i remember correctly, i think it’s only A,D, and E chords!
Train to Chicago!
Good to see you, and this, again, steen. Isaac not impressed though! (Or is this now so old that was Malcolm?)
Yup. That’s my Isaac. 2 years ago, though, so he looks much bigger now. In fact he just watched this again tonight and he’s very very anxious that he hurt my feelings. He’s come up with all sorts of excuses for his behavior at that time.
Always had that problem with my son, too Steen (although to be fair, he never hit me with a stick – just used to put his hands over his ears and shou ‘Shut up!’)
But now he’s doing you proud!
Kids, eh? Cyril Connolly was right: “There is no more sombre enemy of good art than the pram in the hall.”
Aw, one day he’ll wish he’d let you finish!
This is one of our childrens’ options for when I play piano. Others include joining in at either end of the keyboard, and covering ears and yelling “STOP !”.
D’oh!! Belatedly realized that this was a very embarrassing thing to post AND that I’d already chosen this song for some other topic. Puta Madre!!
It’s great! Missed it first time round.
not embarrassing at all Steen, i’d never it seen it before, great stuff! and nice to see you properly at last!
Call it ” Men’s intuition” but I have a suspicion that he was trying to get your attention.
This is one I am proud of, I learnt it ages ago
Misirlu Dick Dale
Could do a pretty good Lyden impression back in the day, couple that with a bit of bass drum couldn’t be that hard:
PIL – Banging The Door
I’ve got quite a choice of mostly showtunes and some rock’n'roll and pop music on the piano and “Fiddler On The Roof” showtunes and folky things on the accordion. And mabe “Marie’s Wedding” on the violiln, the only instrument I had actual lessons on. I’m a bit out of practice but I’ve done decent evenings’ work at friends weddings, and the Playhouse foyer in Leeds. The accordion would need most practice to get back up to speed with, because it’s a big beast and needs actual arm muscles; the piano would need the fingers to sharpen up a little. But I’m not quick or nimble at any instrument, I try and let the tune speak for itself and restrain the hamfistedness (unless artistically called for).
I’ve already chosen Jerome Kern for knowing the words, and the Gershwins for my funeral, so I’ll go with the first “American Songbook” tune I taught myself on the piano:
Night and Day, composed by Cole Porter and performed here by Ella Fitzgerald. This version includes the verse (“Like the beat beat beat of the tom-tom…) which is important.
I’ve missed at least ten installments and come back for the question i can’t answer! I did learn to play Peaches on a friend’s Fender precision bass, but only the intro and very badly.
peaches – the stranglers
am i allowed to play catch up?
You can play catch up, but just put all of your picks in a list in one place and post (ie. here) to make it easier for Chris.
Searching through my collection for kazoo songs! To my eternal regret, I never learned to play anything, and my singing voice is so bad the music master let me skip choir practice. One day, I plan to learn to play Fur Elise on the piano, by rote and practice, just so I can have the satisfaction.
A while back, tho’, ejaydee posted about a clever online simulation of a Tenorian. I played with it for a while, and was quite pleased with this, my very own first ‘composition’. Best I can offer.
First tune – glasshalfempty
Due to the reconstruction of my left arm a few years ago I’m still barely able to do simple chords long enough to actually callus up my fingertips. Bar chords are pretty much out of the question. There was a time I had the finger- picking & full chord strokes worked out for this & the chords are simple enough I might could still stumble through it again. Managed to actually sing this & some more folk & country types in a couple coffee house situations back when I was younger though Art’s vocals I didn’t even try for. Just sang it straight.
For Emily Whenever I Might Find Her – Simon & Garfunkle
Use to have some fun with friends in a band playing Chuck Berry too but it requires bar chords.
Clarification – my friends were in the band. I sometimes jammed( probably stretching the word) with them.
I’ve played stuff on the guitar for years but one I’m very pleased to have worked out for myself was Richard Thompson‘s The Great Valerio. I can’t do it as well as Ricky of course but it’s difficult not to make those wonderful chord changes mean something.
Ricky?
It’s an homage to Shoey, who once called him Ricardo T. I have the feeling Mr T has always been given his full moniker, even as a wee babe.
Ah yes – I remember that. I agree that RT has probably always been Richard…
I don’t have a musical bone in my body (as my music tastes attest to!) and have absolute no rhythm or idea of tone, but I did have a guitar when I was a teenager. Me and mates grew our hair and attempted to play Nirvana songs in my garage, the neighbours were so incensed that they called the D Of E and demanded they come and record the noise levels emanating from the garage. They duly did and found that it was quite loud but well within legal and acceptable limits!
Anyway, my nomination for this one is the first song that was in my Learn To Play Guitar book that I got on the same day that I got my guitar:
Culture Club – Karma Chameleon
..couldn’t play it now of course
Such a lot of talented people out there. I can pick tunes out on most instruments (badly, by ear) but the only thing I can really play is the recorder. I did learn the flute for a while and used to be able to play “Winter Wine” by Caravan, though I couldn’t do it now:
ooh, love that song. I attempted to play the flute for a while, because I wanted to play Flute Salad by Gong, mainly, but I was rubbish and got disheartened when my irritatingly musical brother picked it up and made it work immediately.
This is a recurring theme in my attempt to play anything, that’s my excuse anyway.
Me too, I gave up the violin and the flute. You don’t realise what a great opportuniy it is when you’re young (well, I didn’t!) Now I moan at my son when he doesn’t practice the violin …
I gave up the violin aged 11, and took it up again when hormones began to stirr and I was keen on someone who was in the school orchestra. I remained a distant admirer and not very good at the violin, but I learned music and at least learned to have conversations with girls that didn’t involve going bright red and mumbling. And from learning music on one instrument, taught myself a bit of piano and accordion. So I came close to giving up too.
I dropped the piano lessons, as I think I’ve said before, after my piano teacher told my mother that I was a good student and if I practised hard I would become a competent pianist; but that my little sister had real talent. My mother then made the mistake of telling me, with the result that I promptly gave up – and my sister did too because she didn’t want to go without me.
I gave up piano after I changed teacher and she gave me pieces I just wasn’t up to, I think I could have plodded on in a pedestrianway and gradually been able to pass grade 2, if I had been allowed to develop at my own very slow pace.
One of my sons has already given up the guitar and the other is keen on his the harmonica lessons, it was that or drums!
As you say, at least you learn to read music, so any musical tuition as a youngster is to be encouraged.
We had a piano in the house and I had lessons aged about 4 or 5 for a year: gave it up. Regret it, though as I’ve grown up with small hands and even smaller talent, I’d never have got far.
I was bought an OK quality acoustic guitar and had lessons aged 9 or 10 for a year: gave it up. Really regret it, though as I’ve etc., etc., etc.
Wanted a drumkit and lessons at about that same age: as eldest of four kids in a working-class family at the time of the 3-day week, living in a fairly small house, it was never going to happen.
Arrived at senior school to be presented with a list of instruments the school gave tuition in: excitedly put my name down for saxophone. Turns out the school only had one, and the kid in my class who’d come up from the attached junior school had already claimed it in the previous year. School said to my parents “No problem, buy him one and we’ll teach him.” £400 we were quoted. As they were already stretching themselves to pay my school fees (yes, amazingly I’m a public school boy), that was never going to happen either. Had the compulsory recorder lessons, and refused an invitation to join the school’s cathedral choir (clashed with football practice), so musical ability and me never really developed any kind of relationship.
So now that I’m the parent, I made sure we had a piano in the house (sadly had to be junked); a decent acoustic guitar in the house, the kids’ mini drumkit in the house (OK, OK, gerroff, it’s mine, I admit it), and I’ll bust a gut to fund whatever the girls want to learn. It’s paying off. Jess is about to do her Grade 1 flute a year ahead of the school’s normal timetable; has joined Bradford Junior Ensemble (who keep giving her lead flute parts because they assume she’s older due to her size – 4’11″ at aged 9); and apparently is getting her letter from the Delius School after the Easter hols (extracurricular for Primary age kids, by invitation and audition only). Yeah I’m damn proud, but if I start turning into Pushy Parent, somebody give me a slap will ya?
A couple of years ago I did a week of cover versions on my Myspace page ( BTD when my imaginary band went under the name of “Sheep as in Sheep” ).
Some turned out O.K. some didn’t. Off all of them the one that seemed to go down best with my “friends” as Fats Domino’s Hello Josephine.
However I preferred my version of Sister Ray. So I’ll plump for that.
Sister Ray was fredflintstone’s Favourite Song, pairubu. I’m sure your version isn’t exactly the same but maybe the Fats song would be better here?
I would love to hear Ubu’s version though !!
O.K.
Fine by me.
Agreed, alimunday. Enough talent to form a band, perhaps? What could they be called? What could their first album be called?
Whatever, I’d never be a member. I’ve never been able to play any musical instrument (shoot me down in flames, but I don’t count a kazoo as a musical instrument) and can’t even whistle (like Fintan’s brother, Ref my ‘Singing the Blues’ nom a few days ago).
If singing is accepted, I took part in Iolanthe – a lord in the chorus – when I was at school. This was not because of my deep love for G & S, or that I could sing, but because I got a chance to meet girls – I attended a single-sex school.
This is not our effort, and if you can wait to 1.30 or so, the singing will start:
Gilbert and Sullivan: The March of the Peers from Iolanthe
Blimpy and the Anoraks of Destruction … first album – modestly – “No.1″ !
As they once pointed out in the Tweenies (I was so happy when the children went off that kids programme), performers need an audience, I am that audience!
I used to sing quite a lot, but despite being forced to have piano lessons, choosing to have violin lessons, guitar lessons and attempting to play the bass, I have consistently shown a lack of musical ability.
So the best I can manage, apart from playing God Save the Queen (not the Sex Pistols version) on xylophone to get my musical badge at Brownies, it the bass line to this song because it’s quite easy as long as you keep in time (and I love Simon Gallup)
I’m not an accomplished guitarist by any means, I only ever wanted to write songs and sing them, so I sound a bit like The Clash on an acoustic guitar. I, erm, project . . . Lately, I’ve been picking out old tunes for fun; Dr. John’s Such A Night, The Rascals’ Groovin’, Tom Waits’ Clap Hands, even The Bonzos’ I’m The Urban Spaceman! But as I’m only allowed one song it has to be Tom Waits’ Singapore. I transposed it to guitar, investigated what was going on in Waits’ anti-melodic delivery, and found that there was a perfectly decent tune hidden away inside. I can mimic Waits’ voice, I can even do a passable Beefheart, but I avoid it because I don’t want to damage my chords and end up sounding like them. So I sing Singapore straight, as if it were yer common or garden sea shanty. Children love its odd rhythms, and toddlers do that funny knees-bent dance they all do. I’m quite proud of that one . . .
Our son, at the age of 14, insisted on having a guitar. We got him a cheap acoustic one first in case he gave up the idea of playing.
Later, after he had shown a bit of promise, we got him a Strat and an amp. I picked up a few chords and could just about “back” him in the garage while he attempted lead.
Within a year he had abandoned all hope and enthusiasm for music and the Strat was dispatched to the back of a wardrobe. Sometime later when he was short of cash he attempted to sell it. I refused to let him and I kept it. I said I would learn to play it myself one day. It sits on the staircase and has only ever been picked up for occasional dusting since. He is now 35 years old.
The only piece I remember him playing was.
The Beatles………..”Day Tripper”
I can play Oh Susanna on the mouth organ.
That’s it.
I own a ukelele but I can’t do nothing with it.
I’d like to be able to play the ukelele. I’ve been working on a version of Walk This Way as performed by George Formby but I’m only able to strum the hairs on my chest (also lacking is the ability to remember the lyrics all the way through).
Back to the “one song to the tune of another” from a few days ago – “Leaning On A Lampost” to the tune of “Walk This Way” ?
It was Matt giving me a ukulele for my 60th birthday that sent me back to the guitar, funnily enough – I started learning the uke but kept getting frustrated because I could never remember the uke chord, only the guitar one. In the end I thought ‘this is daft – I might as well go back to the guitar since I know the chords already’. Matt was a bit miffed at first but now he thinks it’s good!
Pssst…I’ll let you into a little secret….you can play guitar chords on the uke ( provided your tuned GCEA).
Treat it as if they are the top 4 strings on the guitar and you are playing with a capo at the 5th fret.
Thanks, Pairubu – but I think the guitar is more useful, really.
Ha – I don’t have to jump so far out the way when my 6 year old suddenly swings around with his Uke in comparison to the guitar.
That’s useful.
I can do an enthuiastic metal tea tray part of ‘Waxy’s Dargle’ by The Pogues …
or maybe just got for a pint!
should be ‘go’
TB’s future-pick for this is The Smiths’ Meet Me At The Cemetery Gates. He’s an ivory-tickler, I think, so he probably can play it…
I used to drum in a couple of bands long, long ago but if that is pushing the boat out regarding the definition of “instrument” then it would have to be the obvious Smoke on the Water which I managed to master on the bass ! Impressive eh !
Smoke on the Water – Deep Purple
awesome.
Alimunday’s mention of her flute reminds me that many moons ago, in a deperate attempt to play SOMETHING, I bought a recorder, and did manage parts of Jethro Tull ‘Song for Jeffrey’ by ear, before giving up…
I recently took my saxophone out after a long break and learned the first couple of lines of Otis Redding’s Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay: