Just able, after work, to see what kind of response I got from this post and I thank you all for your considered replies! ... I certainly agree with Lazy8 and RASPUTIN that stretching yourself, trying to "keep up" is a good thing. That's the whole reason I put my guitar down for so long... I had no one to play with and often felt I was trapped on a plateau. Playing with someone else is always better than playing with yourself! he he he... Was quite surprised to hear that some considered me to be the most accomplished musician present 'cause I consider myself a rank amateur, but i gained from the experience in that it takes discipline to simply play in time with others. I'm even wondering if a metronome would be helpful. Apparently there are other, more accomplished players who couldn't make it the other night so i'm looking forward to their presence next time. We did the round table thing of everyone taking a turn playing something from their own repertoire with the others playing along as they could. My own experience was that even though some of the songs that came around were ones that I would not have thought I could enjoy i.e. Anne Murray, Roger Miller, Gospel (I used to be an atheist, but I've mellowed, now I'm agnostic), once you get into the group gestalt these things can be fun! I think I'm more on the .alt side than any of the others so maybe i can bring some balance to the group. Not sure tho' bokey if we'll ever have a resident Telecaster psychopath. The best I can do is bring some John Prine, Tom Waits, Dillards, Kinks, Neil Young, Blasters, et al. into the mix. Brother_Abel, Tom Jones might be an easier sell, but I'm thinking I want a little funk... maybe Tom & Art of Noise with a little Kiss? Probly not. I'm starting to ramble on now (could I fit Zeppelin in there? shake head) but thanks again for the input of y'all.
Hillbilly Standard - Salty Dog J. Cash - Daddy Sang Bass Hymn Standard - The Old Rugged Cross G. Brooks - Low Places Eagles - Peaceful, Easy, Feeling
These all have relatively few chords - great harmony opportunities, and simple, yet powerful improvisation hooks for all instruments)
In my experience, the younger ones will be much more likely to respond to i-tab and / or a CD @ home - older folks like fake book style.
I've found that the mix CD is a great way to get peoples' heads together - pass around a sheet, have each person write 1-3 songs they either know or want to lear, make the number of copies of a CD, pass em out, and go from there. I've done this in bands before, and it does work well.
I have recently joined a group of amateur musicians who get together to play acoustic music strictly for fun. Instruments so far include guitars, fiddles, ukuleles, a mandolin and several voices. Ages of the people involved range from 14 or so to 65 or so. I would like to solicit advice from RP listeners as to songs that are easy (and fun) to play and to sing along with. Tonight was the first gathering that I have attended. Two songs that seemed to click with the group were "Mama Don't Allow No Guitar Picking 'Round Here" and "King of the Road". Of course, songs that are familiar, i.e. "old standards" lend themselves to this situation, but I don't think we need be limited regarding genre as long as they are easy and fun. Any thoughtful replies will be most appreciated!
Norm
'The Wreck of the Old 97' is a bluegrass-ey staple. Great story, with a moral and everything. Plus EVERYBODY knows it.
There are some Lynyrd Skynyrd songs that might lend themselves to that treatment. Not Freebird. 'The Ballad of Curtis Loew' is prolly my fave LS song. JJ Cale's 'Call Me The Breeze' is another good one. 'Saturday Night Special' might work too.
I have recently joined a group of amateur musicians who get together to play acoustic music strictly for fun. Instruments so far include guitars, fiddles, ukuleles, a mandolin and several voices. Ages of the people involved range from 14 or so to 65 or so. I would like to solicit advice from RP listeners as to songs that are easy (and fun) to play and to sing along with. Tonight was the first gathering that I have attended. Two songs that seemed to click with the group were "Mama Don't Allow No Guitar Picking 'Round Here" and "King of the Road". Of course, songs that are familiar, i.e. "old standards" lend themselves to this situation, but I don't think we need be limited regarding genre as long as they are easy and fun. Any thoughtful replies will be most appreciated!
Norm
I doubt it makes much difference as long as somebody knows the whole song. Years ago I was involved with a bunch like that. We had a ball and I never learned more about playing than when we were all together and figuring things out. It helps if you all like the same sort of music, but learning other styles won't hurt you either. The more you can get to show up, the more you'll learn. The idea of surrounding yourself with people that can play better than you works. Everything I know I stole from somebody at those Hoe-Downs. You're in for a treat and you just can't help learning something.
I have recently joined a group of amateur musicians who get together to play acoustic music strictly for fun. Instruments so far include guitars, fiddles, ukuleles, a mandolin and several voices. Ages of the people involved range from 14 or so to 65 or so. I would like to solicit advice from RP listeners as to songs that are easy (and fun) to play and to sing along with. Tonight was the first gathering that I have attended. Two songs that seemed to click with the group were "Mama Don't Allow No Guitar Picking 'Round Here" and "King of the Road". Of course, songs that are familiar, i. e. "old standards" lend themselves to this situation, but I don't think we need be limited regarding genre as long as they are easy and fun. Any thoughtful replies will be most appreciated!
Norm
Have everybody pick one song each for the group to work on. By the time you work through that batch you'll all be familiar with each other and probably have a backlog of ideas about songs to work on.
I have recently joined a group of amateur musicians who get together to play acoustic music strictly for fun. Instruments so far include guitars, fiddles, ukuleles, a mandolin and several voices. Ages of the people involved range from 14 or so to 65 or so. I would like to solicit advice from RP listeners as to songs that are easy (and fun) to play and to sing along with. Tonight was the first gathering that I have attended. Two songs that seemed to click with the group were "Mama Don't Allow No Guitar Picking 'Round Here" and "King of the Road". Of course, songs that are familiar, i.e. "old standards" lend themselves to this situation, but I don't think we need be limited regarding genre as long as they are easy and fun. Any thoughtful replies will be most appreciated!
Norm
That's wonderful - I'm looking for people to jam with near here - haven't lived here long & don't know anyone - and I'm 5 miles from anywhere - and it's frozen solid - and I don't drive - but, I'm still looking.
I've done mostly solo shows for the last five years and I'm tired of doing it alone.
I have recently joined a group of amateur musicians who get together to play acoustic music strictly for fun. Instruments so far include guitars, fiddles, ukuleles, a mandolin and several voices. Ages of the people involved range from 14 or so to 65 or so. I would like to solicit advice from RP listeners as to songs that are easy (and fun) to play and to sing along with. Tonight was the first gathering that I have attended. Two songs that seemed to click with the group were "Mama Don't Allow No Guitar Picking 'Round Here" and "King of the Road". Of course, songs that are familiar, i.e. "old standards" lend themselves to this situation, but I don't think we need be limited regarding genre as long as they are easy and fun. Any thoughtful replies will be most appreciated!
Norm
The Wailin' Jennys tell a story of how they all got on the same page musically when they first formed: they each brought in a mix tape of their favorite songs. They listened to each others' mixes and both material and the sound they wanted emerged.
They had ambitions beyond doing covers, but it seemed like a great way to start to me.
Don't worry too much about making the music easy enough. Good music is worth stretching you talents.
