What songs would make good instrumentals?

David Hartley · Post by **David Hartley** » 29 Apr 2009 4:28 am

I need some ideas?

David Hartley

Bent Romnes · Post by **Bent Romnes** » 29 Apr 2009 4:43 am

Hi David,
As for me, I find something great in almost any song that is performed by an accomplished player. I suppose the exception to that would be songs that have been worn out from too much playing by too many artists.
I'll give you the names of two songs and let's see if you can do something with them.

They are both by Gordon Lightfoot.
The first one - The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald is a beautifully haunting tune. The problem with this tune as an instrumental is that it seems to repeat the same line over and over and to my thinking it would take a heck of a good player to make this one interesting. I think you would be up to that task.
The next one - The last time I saw Her Face(don't confuse it with The first time ever I saw your Face)- is just a difficult song to play in my opinion; tricky phrasing, difficult chord progression. I currently have requested this song from one of your fellow pickers there in the UK. It sure would be interesting to see what each of you could come up with! Hey, maybe even collaborate!
Bent

Rick Campbell · Post by **Rick Campbell** » 29 Apr 2009 5:01 am

Bent Romnes wrote:Hi David,

They are both by Gordon Lightfoot.
The next one - The last time I saw Her Face(don't confuse it with The first time ever I saw your Face)

How about a song about "between the first time and the last time I saw your face"?

BTW: A favorite of mine is "Too Much Of You, Still On My Mind". Lloyd Green had a good version of it. I heard Jack Green sing it. Great stuff.

Al Anderson · Post by **Al Anderson** » 29 Apr 2009 5:10 am

it's all in the game. Johnny Bush version

Dennis Lee · Post by **Dennis Lee** » 29 Apr 2009 7:30 am

something in the same vein as "Witchita Lineman", more haunting and enchanting songs where a baritone guitar to compliment the steel would be great on trade-offs

Cameron Tilbury · Post by **Cameron Tilbury** » 29 Apr 2009 7:52 am

I believe that Curly Chalker did a whole album of Gordon Lightfoot material. If I remember correctly, it was called Nashville Sundown. The cover art was the Nashville skyline at sundown.

Cameron Tilbury · Post by **Cameron Tilbury** » 29 Apr 2009 8:12 am

There are some great Ian Tyson songs that work well as instrumentals: Four Strong Winds, Someday Soon are just a couple.

Bent Romnes · Post by **Bent Romnes** » 29 Apr 2009 8:26 am

Rick, I commented on your wit in Humor so as not to hijack the thread

Jack Francis · Post by **Jack Francis** » 29 Apr 2009 8:32 am

How about a different genre.."You've lost that lovin' feeling".

Leroy Riggs · Post by **Leroy Riggs** » 29 Apr 2009 8:33 am

Lily Dale!!

Billy Tonnesen · Post by **Billy Tonnesen** » 29 Apr 2009 8:48 am

Big band compositions:.
Marie.
Take the A Train
Undecided
Stompin at the Savoy.
Jersey Bounce
etc. (with good swing beats)

Brett Day · Post by **Brett Day** » 29 Apr 2009 8:54 am

"Under The Boardwalk". I've played it at shows and it's great for steel.

Brett

Rich Peterson · Post by **Rich Peterson** » 29 Apr 2009 8:59 am

"Wonderful Land" by the Shadows

"Big Beaver" by Bob Wills

"Memory" from "Cats"

"Chariots of Fire"

Gary Cosden · Post by **Gary Cosden** » 29 Apr 2009 9:01 am

For something a little different - Roger's & Hammersteins's "My Favorite Things".

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 29 Apr 2009 9:05 am

"Rollin' On The River Of Love" by George Strait

Edward Meisse · Post by **Edward Meisse** » 29 Apr 2009 9:14 am

stars fell on alabama
a nightingale sang in berkeley square
sweet loraine
september in the rain
i'm gonna sit right down and write myself a letter
birth of the blues
she's funny that way

Roger Crawford · Post by **Roger Crawford** » 29 Apr 2009 9:27 am

Bridge Over Troubled Water

Les Anderson · Post by **Les Anderson** » 29 Apr 2009 9:34 am

Maria Elena.

Your instrumentals don't always have to be country oriented.

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 29 Apr 2009 10:08 am

"Rhapsody in Blue"?

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 29 Apr 2009 10:13 am

'Dizzy Fingers' - that'll keep you busy for a bit...

Sonny Priddy · Post by **Sonny Priddy** » 29 Apr 2009 10:42 am

i'm with You Jack. SONNY.

Tracy Sheehan · Post by **Tracy Sheehan** » 29 Apr 2009 10:43 am

Chalker did bridge over troubled waters.I have about every thing he ever recorded on cassete tape.
The masterpiece IMO is where he did If,with only him self playing.
The other favorite of mine is, his recording of For Once In my life.
Some one should record Steel Guitar rag.Can't believe i said that.

Les Anderson · Post by **Les Anderson** » 29 Apr 2009 10:55 am

Tracy Sheehan wrote: Some one should record Steel Guitar rag.Can't believe i said that.

Tracy; though that tune has been played by every steeler out there; the better players get more milage out of Steel Guitar Rag than the middle of the road players. I still like to listen to Buddy Emmons play the Steel Guitar Rag. Great finger work.

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 29 Apr 2009 11:10 am

I love old tunes like Moonlight In Vermont,Pennies From Heaven,Stardust,etc played on C6th,by great pickers such as Herby Wallace,etc, Also like to hear a different twist put on some tunes,One of my favorite CD'S is [STEELIN' THE HITS] GREAT STUFF,has Mike Fried,Marty Rifkin,Mark Switzer,on steel.songs like Star Trek Theme,Surfer Girl,Theme from I Dream Of Jeannie,12 songs in all,GREAT,GREAT, picking on this one. DYKBC.

Tony Dingus · Post by **Tony Dingus** » 29 Apr 2009 11:21 am

Fair and Tender Ladies has a nice melody and I also heard Tommy White take a solo of this song with the Whites on the opry which was great.

Tony

The Steel Guitar Forum

What songs would make good instrumentals?

What songs would make good instrumentals?

songs?

songs

Instrumentials:

Re: Instrumentials: