Best Acoustic Guitar tracks

Subject: Best Acoustic Guitar tracks
From: Herge
Date: 30 Apr 06 - 06:50 AM

A friends son is a wizard on electric guitar (heavy metal!!) - I want to create a sample acoustic guitar disc to convert him to the joys of acoustic music!   any suggestions?

Subject: RE: Best Acoustic Guitar tracks
From: GUEST,DG
Date: 30 Apr 06 - 07:11 AM

How about anything by John Renbourn or Kelly Joe Phelps?

Subject: RE: Best Acoustic Guitar tracks
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 30 Apr 06 - 08:41 AM

why convert him - if he's happy. Be grateful that he 's intelligent enough to be captivated by a beautiful instrument - with almost infinite musical sounds and applications. support and encourage him as much as you can.

If he has discovered the excitement and creativity that guitar playing brings to your life - that spark and enthusiasm that he has found for himself - that is the rare and beautiful thing that eludes so many people.

Subject: RE: Best Acoustic Guitar tracks
From: GUEST,van lingle
Date: 30 Apr 06 - 09:07 AM

"Le Lac de Abbesses" by Pierre Bensusan. I think it's on Pres de Paris.
"Stealing" & "The Fisherman" by Leo Kottke found on My Feet are Smiling.
"Jalapenos" John Miller on Safe Sweet Home (might be hard to find).
"Bensusan" Michael Hedges on Arial Boundaries.

For some powerhouse Irish Rhythym Guitar check out John Doyle on the first Solas album.

Subject: RE: Best Acoustic Guitar tracks
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 30 Apr 06 - 11:05 AM

Well, you might try any of Doc Watkins guitar solos. Or, possibly, Joseph Spence.

Subject: RE: Best Acoustic Guitar tracks
From: Kara
Date: 30 Apr 06 - 11:11 AM

DE Lucia Di Meola and McLaughin

He may not see and flash of light and give up heavy metal but you have to admire those guys.

Subject: RE: Best Acoustic Guitar tracks
From: Cllr
Date: 30 Apr 06 - 11:25 AM

Bron-Yr-Aur from led zepplin I think its 2.37 of twelve string guitar genius by Jimmy Page I was into heavy metal (by that i mean black sabbath led zepp ac/dc iron maiden)

This is very good and if he is a real fan of decent heavy metal (not thrash rock speed metal death metal or HM overkill and over medern varients) he should already know some of the classic heavy metal ballad stuff featuring acoustic guiar Page is hard to best and if you are looking for cross over here is a good place to start.

off topic I once played Battle of Evermore from Led zep 4 (featuring page on mandolin and sandy denny on vocals with plant) to leadfingers and he said "the chord structure was a bit repetitive" well the man used to be into Jazz, what can i say 8-)

Cllr

Subject: RE: Best Acoustic Guitar tracks
From: GUEST,DonMeixner
Date: 30 Apr 06 - 12:08 PM

Of course all of these are highly subjective.

"The Kilocycle Stomp" Hugh & Karl Farr with The Sons of the Pioneers '34

"Presbyterian Guitar" John Hartford's "Steam Powered Areo-Plane"

"Mombassa" and "Mona Lisa" By Tommy Emmanuel

"Life Gits Tejus" Doc Watson

But then I know very little of the very many so it's hard to be very inclusive.

Don

Subject: RE: Best Acoustic Guitar tracks
From: Ebbie
Date: 30 Apr 06 - 04:38 PM

I'd check with JustaPicker. The man's fantastic.

Subject: RE: Best Acoustic Guitar tracks
From: GUEST,Texas Guest
Date: 30 Apr 06 - 08:35 PM

Jorma Kaukonen of "Jefferson Airplane" and "Hot Tuna" is a monster
player and one of my favorites of his goes back to the Airplane in the sixties. On their album, "Surrealistic Pillow" there is an
instrumental titled, "Embryonic Journey" - it would be one of my favorites under "Best Acoustic Guitar Tracks." Cheers.

Subject: RE: Best Acoustic Guitar tracks
From: Nick
Date: 30 Apr 06 - 08:50 PM

Hendrix playing the only acoustic track I know - Hear My Train a Coming

I'm with weelittledrumer though 100% - introduce acoustic music by all means but "convert" suggests that you think he is wrong about something.

Subject: RE: Best Acoustic Guitar tracks
From: pdq
Date: 01 May 06 - 08:32 PM

You might try listening to Dan Crary's "Jammed If I Do" CD. He is not shy about inviting his main competition to share a tune. Doc Watson, Norman Blake and Tony Rice are all featured as is Beppe Gambetta, a relatively new face.

Subject: RE: Best Acoustic Guitar tracks
From: Bobert
Date: 01 May 06 - 08:55 PM

Okay, here we have a heavy metal kid who needs a little acoustic education...

Well, first of all, this kid ain't gonna warm up to stuff that is too danged complicated here but it has to have enough "drive" to keep him intersted...

So, early Kottke, like "Machine #3" 'er whatever he called that song... Maybe a little Michael Hedges... Maybe a little John Fahey... Maybe a little Son House 'er Mississippi Fred McDowell... Maybe a little America... Maybe a little Poco... Definately a little Dylan, a little Neil Young (the grandfather of grunge), a little Kelly Jo Phleps...

An' maybe (shameless plug) a little Sidewalk Bob (me) playin' "Copperhead Road" on my CD that you can possibly download by now from CD Baby... Yeah, it's got that 3 chord hard drivin' "acoustic" metal sound to it...

If the boy ain't into bluegrass, however, pushing fine players like Tony Rice and Doc Watson ain't gonna get to the boy but drive him away... You have to find folks witha little "head-banger" in 'um...

Bobert

Subject: RE: Best Acoustic Guitar tracks
From: GUEST,Eleanor
Date: 01 May 06 - 08:58 PM

Eric Roche did some virtuoso acoustic arrangements of metal songs, very percussive and witty: Jump, and Smells like Teen Spirit, spring to mind.

Subject: RE: Best Acoustic Guitar tracks
From: Willie-O
Date: 01 May 06 - 09:27 PM

JP Cormier.
"Kelly's Mountain".

If you want to tease him, get that track (from the CD "Another Morning") and edit it so he only hears the guitar solo...it's totally nuts.

No guitarist of any stripe will fail to respond with bewilderment, envy, denial, bargaining, grief, and perhaps eventually acceptance.

W-O

Subject: RE: Best Acoustic Guitar tracks
From: mandotim
Date: 02 May 06 - 05:32 AM

For a Metal Kid looking for an acoustic sound, try Nils Lofgren's 'Mud in Your Eye'. Hard driving, with that 'compressed' electro acoustic sound, and some nifty strumming and lead fills.
Tim from Bit on the Side

Subject: RE: Best Acoustic Guitar tracks
From: Ross
Date: 02 May 06 - 05:54 AM

Strangely - John Paul Jones played mandolin on Led Zep tracks

I had to scratch me eyes when I saw the DVD - he even plays bass pedals at the same time

Subject: RE: Best Acoustic Guitar tracks
From: Grab
Date: 02 May 06 - 07:18 AM

If a guy called Thomas Leeb ever appears round your way, do NOT miss him! and do NOT fail to take this lad along to see him.

For a quick sample, see http://www.thomasleeb.com/video.html for some (low-quality) video clips. He's also got a MySpace page at this link. Yes, that's just one guitar. No that's not a drum machine, that's him using the guitar body for percussion. Yes it is amazing...

Graham.

Subject: RE: Best Acoustic Guitar tracks
From: Bobert
Date: 02 May 06 - 07:18 AM

Yes, Nils Lofgrin, fir sure... Now here's a real head-banger... And danged good at it...

Subject: RE: Best Acoustic Guitar tracks
From: Lancashire Lad
Date: 02 May 06 - 07:37 AM

You can do much worse than selecting
Michael Chapman - Words Fail Me (new 2 CD set - all guitar instrumental)
Ken Nicol - Anything !
Eddie Walker
Bill Furner

The latter three and a few other exceptional guitarists have tracks for download (and free samples) at www.wovenwheatwhispers.co.uk

Cheers
LL

Subject: RE: Best Acoustic Guitar tracks
From: Nick
Date: 02 May 06 - 08:11 AM

Steve Vai or Joe Satriani play pretty mean acoustic guitar occasionally. Eric Thompson is also pretty impressive. Easy transition from metal as they are great electric as well.

Adrian Legg is interesting.

Pat Metheny too.

Subject: RE: Best Acoustic Guitar tracks
From: GUEST,ridgeplucker
Date: 02 May 06 - 08:19 AM

Hi,

Check out some of "Days Of the New" stuff. They are not together anymore but reformed somewhat into another group "Tantrick". I saw Days of the New open for Metallica and they were exec.

Pete

Subject: RE: Best Acoustic Guitar tracks
From: clueless don
Date: 02 May 06 - 01:11 PM

You might include Mason Williams playing "Classical Gas", especially if you can find the all-acoustic version (which is not the one that was a hit on "top 40 radio".)

I second Texas Guest's nomination of "Embryonic Journey" as well.

Don

Subject: RE: Best Acoustic Guitar tracks
From: Wesley S
Date: 02 May 06 - 01:24 PM

There's a guy called Preston Reed that plays a lot of solo material. He's known to slap the strings not unlike Eddie Van Halen - just on an acoustic.

For anyone interested in solo acoustic guitar instrumentals I would recommend the $5.00 samplers available at www.acousticmusicresource.com - lots of great players - and a lot of different styles - to check out at a very reasonable price.

Subject: RE: Best Acoustic Guitar tracks
From: M.Ted
Date: 02 May 06 - 02:44 PM

And while you're at it, Herge, you should listen to some of the acoustic metal stuff listed here--maybe it will open up your mind a bit--

Subject: RE: Best Acoustic Guitar tracks
From: GUEST,Paranoid Android
Date: 02 May 06 - 03:00 PM

Let him hear the Eagles original Hotel California and the acoustic version form Hell Freezes Over and he can judge for himself.

Subject: RE: Best Acoustic Guitar tracks
From: Peace
Date: 02 May 06 - 03:28 PM

I didn't read all the above because I am in a hurry, so if I repeat a post, apologies. It's taken two days to remember the title of a great acoustic piece (age and failing memory):

"Classical Gas".

Subject: RE: Best Acoustic Guitar tracks
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 02 May 06 - 03:48 PM

Anything by Eric Clapton unplugged. If he is into Rock music Clapton should be an idol to him.

Yours, Aye. Dave

Subject: RE: Best Acoustic Guitar tracks
From: number 6
Date: 02 May 06 - 03:55 PM

John Hartford's 'Prebyterian Guitar'.

sIx

Subject: RE: Best Acoustic Guitar tracks
From: Mark Ross
Date: 02 May 06 - 04:16 PM

Lonnie Johnson's TO DO THIS YOU GOT TO KNOW HOW, or anything that Johnson and Eddie Lang(under the name Blind Willie Dunn) recorded. Absolutely the finest, as far as I'm concerned.

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Best Acoustic Guitar tracks
From: GUEST,Ian Pittaway
Date: 02 May 06 - 04:58 PM

Without a doubt, 'Foxglove', first track on Bruce Cockburn's album, 'Night Vision', or either of Martin Carthy's guitar pieces on his 'Rights of Passage'. Cockburn because the playing is exquisite, Carthy because his low tuning and percussive sound open up new possibilities for the instrument.

Subject: RE: Best Acoustic Guitar tracks
From: mandotim
Date: 02 May 06 - 05:06 PM

Try anything acoustic by Richard Thompson. My favourite would be 'How Will I Ever Be Simple Again', especially the live version on Small Town Romance.
Tim from Bit on the Side

Subject: RE: Best Acoustic Guitar tracks
From: M.Ted
Date: 02 May 06 - 08:01 PM

I second Lonnie Johnson--and add that anything by him, from the stuff with Eddie Lang, to the solo blues stuff, to the King records stuff from the 40's and 50's, to the stuff after Kenny Goldstein rediscovered him in the 60's--from my point of view, you can skip Clapton's acoustic stuff entirely, there is nothing there that wasn't done way better by someone else--especially the Robert Johnson stuff--

Subject: RE: Best Acoustic Guitar tracks
From: GUEST,Allen in Oz
Date: 02 May 06 - 10:40 PM

Anything by Ry Cooder and Leo Kottke should suffice

Subject: RE: Best Acoustic Guitar tracks
From: Nick
Date: 03 May 06 - 05:48 AM

Whoops not Eric Thompson - he was the narrator on Magic Roundabout, I meant Eric Johnson. There is a video of him playing acoustic on his web site.

You could also try and get hold of an acoustic album of John McLaughlin/Al di Meola/Paco de Lucia which has some of the most astonishing acoustic playing that I have ever heard.

Definitely second Ry Cooder.

(As an aside, one of the great fun bits of music I enjoy every now and again is the guitar duel between Steve Vai and Ry Cooder at the end of the film 'Crossroads' with some incredible slide playing and all round fantastic musicianship ranging from heavy rock to classical via a touch of blues. Unfortunately from the point of view of this thread it's irrelevant as it's not acoustic!)

Subject: RE: Best Acoustic Guitar tracks
From: jaze
Date: 03 May 06 - 01:24 PM

Anything by Mississippi John Hurt should do it.

Subject: RE: Best Acoustic Guitar tracks
From: Mr Fox
Date: 03 May 06 - 03:43 PM

Anything by Martin Simpson.

Subject: RE: Best Acoustic Guitar tracks
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 04 May 06 - 12:24 PM

From: dick greenhaus
Date: 30 Apr 06 - 11:05 AM

"Well, you might try any of Doc Watkins guitar solos. Or, possibly, Joseph Spence."

I'm sure that Dick Greenhaus meant Doc Watson, but he's not the first one to make that mistake. On the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's Circle album Merle Travis says something like,"People always ask me,'Have you ever met Doc Watkins?' and now I'll be able to say,'Yes.'" Speaking of the Circle album, Doc does a lot of neat pickin' on there and Randy Scruggs does a lovely solo version of Clouds.