Recommend Song for First Try at Playing Melody

Jim Ives · Post by **Jim Ives** » 22 Feb 2006 10:21 am

What song do you want to play? That's the one.

David Wren · Post by **David Wren** » 22 Feb 2006 4:09 pm

I always liked Last Date, and it's a nice meledy with moves that will make you familar using A&B changes. Good one for tone and sustain practice as well.

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Dave Wren
'95Carter S12-E9/B6,7X7; Twin Session 500s; Hilton Pedal; Black Box
www.ameechapman.com

Dave Baldwin · Post by **Dave Baldwin** » 23 Feb 2006 5:06 pm

alan i have danny boy tabed 2 strings 5&6 also the RT from biab i can email it to you just drop me a email dave

Wilburn Meeks · Post by **Wilburn Meeks** » 23 Feb 2006 5:22 pm

Mansion On The Hill. Played in C at the third fret, 5 & 6 strings. Is a beautiful melody and simple to play.

Lyle Clary · Post by **Lyle Clary** » 26 Feb 2006 4:13 pm

"Green green grass of home" is simple and happens to be the only one my wife asks me to play.

John Bechtel · Post by **John Bechtel** » 8 Mar 2006 7:32 pm

The Bud Isaacs version of “The Waltz You Saved For Me” was probably the first one I learned. Of course, that was decades ago, but; it's still good choice today!

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“Big John”
a.k.a. {Keoni Nui}
n.t.s.g.a. #90
’05 D–10 Derby
’65 Re-Issue Fender Twin–Reverb Custom™ 15”
Current Equipment

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 9 Mar 2006 8:57 pm

Somehow, my students and I always end up playing "Dream, Dream, Dream" by the Everly Bros. Easy 1-6m-4-5- progression, all on one fret.

Sidney Ralph Penton · Post by **Sidney Ralph Penton** » 9 Mar 2006 9:05 pm

alen a easy song to start with would be a closer walk with thee. it is a realy easy song to do easy to memorize and sounds excellent on psg. it is one that i usually do in churches where i provide special music. i also do old rugged cross and in the garden and a few more. send me a e mail and i will send you a tab sheet. thanks doc

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zum SD10 peavy vegas 400 peavy session 400 steelseats they are great at sales@steelseats.com
if its not a zum steel it isn't real
just trying to steel for the Lord>

John Jeffries · Post by **John Jeffries** » 9 Mar 2006 9:11 pm

I've had good luck with "Waltz Across Texas", it's only got 2 chords - I play it out of C at the 3rd fret! Also "Mansion on the Hill" seems to work ok.

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 10 Mar 2006 10:37 am

The FIRST song I ever played on a 6 string hawaiian guitar in 1936 was.......

"Nearer my God to thee"...You can do it now with just A and B Pedals...good luck...al

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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/

Jack Francis · Post by **Jack Francis** » 10 Mar 2006 1:46 pm

How about "THE HAIR ON HER CHEST WAS HIS"

The best part is you can make up your own melody..who's to know?

[This message was edited by Jack Francis on 10 March 2006 at 09:28 PM.]

J D Sauser · Post by **J D Sauser** » 10 Mar 2006 11:48 pm

The first verse of One Note Samba, maybe...

On a more serious note: Why don't you try to achieve two things at once... hum yourself a little melody together and try to play it. Start with something short and that feels simple to you. Play it on one string first... then on an other and so on.
Assuming you are playing a 10string E9th guitar, then try it as a harmonised melody on strings 5&6 (A&B pedals), then the same voicings on string 4&5 (A-pedal & E-to-Eb-lever), on strings 3&5 (A&B pedals) and then on strings 4&6 (B&C peadals which work on that string group like "reverse" A&B-pedals).
Then move on to the wider grips, playing strings 5&8 (A-pedal & E-to-Eb-lever) and so forth...
Change melodies every more often and get creative as you get comfortable with your guitar.
That will help you get a good feel for your instrument and tuning AND at the same time help you develop a link between what you hear in your head and your guitar's neck.

... J-D.

Richard Durrer · Post by **Richard Durrer** » 11 Mar 2006 7:33 pm

My first songs came from Linkon Guitar Company in Winnipeg Manitoba. They have an E9th Course (Part 1) that is superb. It includes songs such as Faded Love, Secret Love, Wayward Wind etc. It comes with tab and rythm tracks on cassette for about $40.00. The tab is the best I have seen. It includes what I call the missing link. Each bar also has notes that show the Phrasing or timing of the tablature. I have always struggled with associating the tab with the correct timing in the bars. Their address is linkon@mts.net.

james sluder · Post by **james sluder** » 11 Mar 2006 9:08 pm

Blue eyes crying in the rain..is a nice easy tune. a & b pedals only..worked good as my first one.

Joseph Meditz · Post by **Joseph Meditz** » 11 Mar 2006 9:24 pm

Hi James,

Me too! The first song I attempted when I brought home my steel was Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain. I used the B + C pedals and the RKR half step.

Joe

Micky Byrne · Post by **Micky Byrne** » 12 Mar 2006 3:47 am

I agree with Rex mate....."together again" a good one to play, also try "She thinks I still care"

Micky Byrne. www.mickybyrne.com

Pat Kelly · Post by **Pat Kelly** » 12 Mar 2006 4:59 am

If I know you Alan, you won't have been waiting since 20 Feb for a first tune. Suggest another thread for a second or possibly 32nd tune by now.

John Jeffries · Post by **John Jeffries** » 12 Mar 2006 7:36 am

J. D.! - You've just "opened a big door" for me! I've been working on "Together Again", on sts.3/5 with a/b pedals, also "Waltz across Texas", "Farewell Party" "Mansion on the Hill", "Yard Sale", "I Can't Stop Loving You", etc. - nothing fast as yet ..... I'm just getting into using the Knee Levers.
Your suggestions on learning these tunes on alternate strings using different pedals and knee levers is great advice! I can see where this will enable me to learn faster and accomplish more, because as I already know how to play the tune one way, I can "build on what I already know", so to speak. The old saying "Nothing succeeds like success" is so true - it inspires us to keep learning.

Thanks....J. J.

"If I was having any more fun in this life, I'd have to be twins to enjoy it all!!"

Alan Sim · Post by **Alan Sim** » 12 Mar 2006 11:27 am

Hi All

A big thank you to everyone who has suggested some songs for me to learn,I have taken notice of them,and have picked out the ones I am familiar with,watch this space.

Also,a big thank you to everyone for the emails,offers of help,and the Tab,I am grateful to you all.

Thanks

Alan

J D Sauser · Post by **J D Sauser** » 12 Mar 2006 11:30 am

Well John, if it helped making your day, your nice words sure helped making my day... so we're even

Thanks! ... J-D.

james sluder · Post by **james sluder** » 12 Mar 2006 2:01 pm

Hi Joe..i just had to use the a & b pedals
because i dont have any knee levers lol.

im playing a fender 400 8 string 4 on the floor psg..im in the prosess of adding [2 ]knee levers to try to improve it..

Another great easy tune is amazing grace in D 5rd fret . that was my second tune..

Wayne D. Clark · Post by **Wayne D. Clark** » 21 Mar 2006 6:34 pm

I see you have a number of good selections suggested. Amazing Grace is always good, one of the first songs I learned on the Banjo. Here are a couple more if you like gospel & hymns, "One day at a time", and "I'll meet you in the morning," and one that is a litle more up beat is "I'll fly away". We all had to start some place. By the way I got these out of an old "Country & Western Gospel Hymnal" by Zondervan in Grand Rapids Mi. 49506, It may be out of print.

MSA D10 8/2

Wayne D. Clark · Post by **Wayne D. Clark** » 21 Mar 2006 8:19 pm

Thanks to Richard Durrer for "E" address to Linkon guitar Co. Will put it to use in the morning.

MSA D10 8/2

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 21 Mar 2006 8:42 pm

As mentioned earlier (thanks Justin !) I did a 2 string, 2 pedal version of Danny Boy on my site.
There is downloadable tab and an MP3. Its simple but not dumbed down. If you can make it sing you got something.

It should be pretty easy to find on my site.

thanks,

Bob

[This message was edited by Bob Hoffnar on 21 March 2006 at 08:46 PM.]