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16 Oct 00 - 10:04 PM (#320405) Subject: What acoustic songs to play live From: Joelewis I'm wanting to play out more and possible do some live gigs with just me and my guitar. I play acoustic and I am wondering what I should play to capture a small audience. Idea's are greatly needed.
Thanks, Joelewis
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16 Oct 00 - 10:15 PM (#320420) Subject: RE: Help: What acoustic songs to play live From: MMario oh gawd - where to begin? Do you sing? What kind of music do YOU like? |
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16 Oct 00 - 10:26 PM (#320433) Subject: RE: Help: What acoustic songs to play live From: catspaw49 Pardon me, but this one is about dumb! What the hell kind of question is this anyway? OK....Start with the 9000 or so in the DT and let me know when you have all of them worked up. Spaw |
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16 Oct 00 - 11:46 PM (#320502) Subject: RE: Help: What acoustic songs to play live From: GUEST,Played in a few bars... Depends on the crowd and their taste in music. I am not a big Jimmy Buffet fan but people seem to be comfortable w/ him. Van Morrison's "Brown eyed girl" or The Doobie Brothers "Old black water" seem to work. These are suggestions for the "masses". Small groups like songs that they are familiar with - songs that they can sing along with. I play what I want to play but unfortunately not everybody likes to listen to the tunes that are less traveled. Good Luck |
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17 Oct 00 - 01:32 AM (#320567) Subject: RE: Help: What acoustic songs to play live From: GospelPicker (inactive) WHEW... what a task... as I once told someone else who asked this: "Not a clue." The only stab I will take at helping will be to say that you must ENJOY the songs you play... Fuggedabowd that "gotta play the hits" garbaggio... play what makes you satisfied inside... What that is? Only YOU know that (or DO YOU?) GospelPicker @:()>[+]
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17 Oct 00 - 10:00 PM (#321442) Subject: RE: Help: What acoustic songs to play live From: GUEST,CraigS Always have a funny one up your sleeve, but don't use it unless you have to or you'll need more (through to the end of the night)! |
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18 Oct 00 - 03:30 PM (#322032) Subject: RE: Help: What acoustic songs to play live From: GUEST,late 'n short Although my "solo" performances are limited, I get the best reaction to the songs I do best when I'm practicing. So I suggest you focus first on the songs that have meaning for you and that you sing/play well before you go after what "they" want. l 'n s |
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18 Oct 00 - 03:47 PM (#322045) Subject: RE: Help: What acoustic songs to play live From: Bert Hi Joe, welcome to Mudcat, here's a good place to start. It's what is being sung now (well last year anyway). Ignore ol' Spaw, he's just having fun with you. Although Digital Tradition certainly is a good source of songs. What kind of gigs are you looking for. The crowd will influence your choice of material somewhat. Bert. |
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18 Oct 00 - 03:48 PM (#322046) Subject: RE: Help: What acoustic songs to play live From: Matt_R Do "With Arms Wide Open" by Creed. It works awesome as an acoustic number, plus everyone knows it. And lots of folks can identify with the subject matter, the hope that comes with the birth of a child. |
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18 Oct 00 - 05:05 PM (#322120) Subject: RE: Help: What acoustic songs to play live From: mousethief Play the songs that move you the most. Then when someone comes up after you lay and says, "that song sucks" you know they probably aren't good friend material, and if they say, "that's a cool song" they may be good friend material. If they say "that's a cool song but you could use a little work on how you present it" they're best friend material.
Alex |
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18 Oct 00 - 05:06 PM (#322122) Subject: RE: Help: What acoustic songs to play live From: Kara I find to grab a crowd accousticly, rather than go for the obvios something fast and rowdy, it works better to go for something that is slow and clear and you can really let fly out smoothly. Another tip, sing to the man at the back of the room. Kara |
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18 Oct 00 - 06:07 PM (#322175) Subject: RE: Help: What acoustic songs to play live From: Jim the Bart First rule: Play what you know. If that's not enough, ask for requests. When the time comes to learn something new, learn one you like for every one you learn that "they" asked for. If you can find out, learn at least one song the owner of the establishment you're playing likes; also one that his/her spouse likes Learn one or two songs that the help suggest - if you get them on your side, you're a lot closer to winning. Finally, and perhaps most important, learn at least one song that "she" likes (whoever she may be). |
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18 Oct 00 - 06:09 PM (#322182) Subject: RE: Help: What acoustic songs to play live From: GUEST,folkcensor Hey Matt, not everyone knows it. |
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19 Oct 00 - 12:32 PM (#322572) Subject: RE: Help: What acoustic songs to play live From: M. Ted (inactive) This is *not* a dumb question--more people should ask this question- How do you capture an audience? Simplest thing is to watch somebody who gets the kind of response you'd like to get, and make note of the things that they do-- First--How do they start off? A very well known performer and teacher of Danse Orientale told me that the zils (finger cymbals) are used to draw attention to the dancer, even before he or she is on the stage--as Mary Poppins said, "Well begun is half done." If you start off with something that has a solid, driving beat, you will do way better than if you start off with, say, a lament about the sinking of the Titanic in Yiddish (I am not making this up)--Make sure you always know your material inside out before you add it to your set, so that no matter what happens, you can stay focussed on the audience-- As to specific songs, different songs work for different people. even tricks like Kara's are rather subjective(a bit awkward for me to "play" to a man)--I find that it is very helpful if I interact with someone in the front row-- Even more important is your closing, as they say in theatre, a great close can save a bad show--watch how some one you like does it-- It would be nice if every performer was natural, clever, and spontaneous in front of an audience, but most aren't, and successful performers learn to put together a show that makes it look like they are--They also say" Sincerity is the most important thing, if you can fake that, you've got it made."
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19 Oct 00 - 12:49 PM (#322587) Subject: RE: Help: What acoustic songs to play live From: catspaw49 Well Ted, pardon me for the *dumb* thought, but things get to me sometimes, as I notice they do you also.......... The question asks how to capture an audience.......What audience? Old, young, rich, poor, reasonable intelligence or dimbulbs, small venue or large..........and a hundred other variables. Yeah, you can capture any audience but step ONE is to analyse what the audience is, who makes it up, why are they there. Granted, some performers and speakers seemingly do it well all the time, but Pete Seeger ain't gonna' do well at a KORN concert. The question lacks any detail whatsoever and asks what he should play..........So Joelewis, get on back here and throw in a few details. If I put you off, I'm sorry, but your question just seemed a bit "off" to me the other day. Spaw |
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19 Oct 00 - 01:32 PM (#322614) Subject: RE: Help: What acoustic songs to play live From: M. Ted (inactive) Sorry if I hurt your feelings Spaw--To be blunt, the question is perilously close to the "How do you play Jazz Guitar?" kind of questions, and yes, I do go off occasionally, and to be truthful, when I began writing my reply, it turned into a huge rant on the folkie multitudes who gravitate toward any available stage with the eagerness of weenie pigs. At least Joelewis had some thought about trying to please his audience-- More truth, and don't take this personally Joelewis(thought your name was Joe elvis at first), most people who toss off the "I'm thinking about performing, writing, recording" never make it off the sofa. Maybe one out of a hundred make it through enough stuff to play on a stage anywhere(see above).
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19 Oct 00 - 01:51 PM (#322628) Subject: RE: Help: What acoustic songs to play live From: catspaw49 Didn't hurt my feelings Ted, I hurt my own by allowing myself to post when I was frustrated. Wrong question-Wring time-Wrong attitude=Dumb Post on my part. Thanks for understanding and I hope poor Joe does.......... C'Mon Back JOE!!!! Spaw |
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19 Oct 00 - 02:43 PM (#322677) Subject: RE: Help: What acoustic songs to play live From: M. Ted (inactive) Since Joe wants to be a performer, he has to have thick skin--maybe this will help him build up his callouses-- |
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20 Oct 00 - 05:59 AM (#323257) Subject: RE: Help: What acoustic songs to play live From: murray@mpce.mq.edu.au I remember the one Son House concert I attended. When he felt he was ready to be heard he took his "bottleneck" and drew it across all of the strings sliding it from the 16th fret or so to the first fret. That got everyone's attention. Unfortunately, he was drunk and it wasn't a very good performance. Two Carter family songs: "Jimmy Brown the Newsboy" and "The Wabash Cannonball" both go well on the guitar without an autoharp filling in. They are relatively easy to sing using Maybelle's accompanyment because it is minimal during the vocals. On the other hand if you are a basso profundo, you might muddy up the bass where all the action takes place. Murray |