Gilliangirl Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Okay, I somehow got watching James Taylor tonight and messing around with this tab. It sounds pretty darn good but what an incredibly laborious process. I'm a strummer and a travis picker primarily. But what a great song. I loved it then; I love it now. So what say you? is it worth it? Do I have that much time left (I'm 52)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilliangirl Posted January 12, 2011 Author Share Posted January 12, 2011 Shoot! I meant to do this as a poll. Too late? Okay, how about one week two weeks one month Just give up now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onewilyfool Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 GG....THIS IS A GREAT THREAD.....I WAS JUST TALKING TO MY BUDDY, AND HE TOLD ME IT TAKES HIM 100 TRIES TO GET A SONG INTO PERFORMACE MODE. JUST TO "LEARN" THE WORDS AND CHORDS TO A SONG TAKES ME ABOUT 40 TRIES. TO GET THE EMBELLISHMENTS, BASS RUNS DOWN, ETC. TAKES ME ANOTHER 40 AT LEAST, AND IF I DON'T KEEP PRACTICING, I 'LOSE' THE SONG....LOL....I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR HOW LONG IT TAKES OTHERS. GG THERE ARE MANY GOOD 'LESSONS' ON YOUTUBE FOR THIS SONG......I LEARN BEST FROM WATCHING.......I LIKE TO WATCH...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Low Country Boy Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Definitely worth it - wonderful melody and beautiful poetic lyrics - which = JT. This is one of my favorite songs ever. As for practice (you probably already know this!), I always learn the song first - strum the chords and sing the lyrics and get the rhythm down - then get to the picken! Time to nail it depends on many factors: primarily your skill level and your degree of focus when practicing. Getting all those picking fingers to work together ain't easy! Best of luck and please update us with your progress. LCB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigKahune Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 If completely unknown - Practice chording; Practice chording and lyrics; Work out embellishments (base, hammers/pulls, runs, picking/fingerstyle, instrumental/interlude); Practice chording, lyrics and embellishments; When you've got it down - polish reps. That's about 2 to 3 weeks. B) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilliangirl Posted January 12, 2011 Author Share Posted January 12, 2011 GG....THIS IS A GREAT THREAD.....I WAS JUST TALKING TO MY BUDDY, AND HE TOLD ME IT TAKES HIM 100 TRIES TO GET A SONG INTO PERFORMACE MODE. JUST TO "LEARN" THE WORDS AND CHORDS TO A SONG TAKES ME ABOUT 40 TRIES. TO GET THE EMBELLISHMENTS, BASS RUNS DOWN, ETC. TAKES ME ANOTHER 40 AT LEAST, AND IF I DON'T KEEP PRACTICING, I 'LOSE' THE SONG....LOL....I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR HOW LONG IT TAKES OTHERS. GG THERE ARE MANY GOOD 'LESSONS' ON YOUTUBE FOR THIS SONG......I LEARN BEST FROM WATCHING.......I LIKE TO WATCH...... OWF I've heard that before. No wait, I'VE HEARD THAT BEFORE. No seriously, I've tried that before and I think I need more haha. I just found Justin Sandercoe's version of it so might give it a go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilliangirl Posted January 12, 2011 Author Share Posted January 12, 2011 Definitely worth it - wonderful melody and beautiful poetic lyrics - which = JT. This is one of my favorite songs ever. As for practice (you probably already know this!), I always learn the song first - strum the chords and sing the lyrics and get the rhythm down - then get to the picken! Time to nail it depends on many factors: primarily your skill level and your degree of focus when practicing. Getting all those picking fingers to work together ain't easy! Best of luck and please update us with your progress. LCB Yeah, I've always loved the song but the idea of committing to it (to finally learn it ) seems overwhelming tonight, especially after viewing that tab But yes! Chords first, then start specializing. Thanks LCB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilliangirl Posted January 12, 2011 Author Share Posted January 12, 2011 If completely unknown - Practice chording; Practice chording and lyrics; Work out embellishments (base, hammers/pulls, runs, picking/fingerstyle, instrumental/interlude); Practice chording, lyrics and embellishments; When you've got it down - polish reps. That's about 2 to 3 weeks. B) 2 to 3 weeks you think? You don't know me very well, BK! LOL Seriously, the lyrics I've had memorized since the song first came out, the chords are pretty basic, so it might be do-able! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danner Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Fire an Rain is not that difficult. It's one of JT's easiest. One weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EuroAussie Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 I would say about two weeks to be comfortable with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G McBride Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Karen, You will pick it up pretty fast. Chords and singing in a week or two and then just start playing around with the picking as you are singing. You will be surprised how quickly it will come together. You need to make it your own anyway not a JT copy. I have confidence in you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murph Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Do I have that much time left (I'm 52)? HEY....... I'm 52, and I've got PLENTY of time left. In fact, I JUST GOT STARTED........ (little inspiration for ya, there......) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnneS Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Karen, You will pick it up pretty fast. Chords and singing in a week or two and then just start playing around with the picking as you are singing. You will be surprised how quickly it will come together. You need to make it your own anyway not a JT copy. I have confidence in you. I agree...your passion for the song will guide you; you'll learn to play it the way you love it. I learned to play Paul Simon's "Kathy's Song" when I was about 13 because I needed to. And last summer, I got completely re-enamoured with it...and I learned it again. Seems the old songs we love come back to us much quicker--and much more fully--than we might expect, even as we reach to master them in a new way. And 52 is oh, so young! But you better get going--when you get to be as old as me (53), the wheels really start to fall off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spot Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 justin will set you right!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqGagNzr2Kc&feature=related Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rambler Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Why set a time limit? Let Roddy Doyle(The Commitments) have the floor "It had been woeful but it was a start. The Lips believed in starts. Once you had a start the rest was inevitable." [img http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/d/roddy-doyle/commitments.htm[/img] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6stringTom Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 52? Heck, you've got time to learn dozens of songs and several additional instruments, if that's what you want to do. As for Fire & Rain, I would think it is a matter of how much you concentrate your attention on it, but certainly a month should be plenty of time, unless it is way beyond your current skill level (and I'm doubting that's the case). I find a lot of times I get a song basically learned, but not polished, and then move away from it for a while. Could be a few days or a few weeks. When I go back to it, I hear some things I want to modify and then, if I really want to make the song mine, I work out the final kinks. Probably other folks do this a bit differently. One nice thing about being an amateur musician is that we are usually under no pressure to learn tunes for a specific performance, so we can afford to let them simmer a while. On the other hand, I know a lot of songs that I would consider 95% of the way to performance quality, and I don't have a lot of drive to get that final 5%. Like others have said, "Go for it." It's a good feeling to get those "always-wanted-to-sing-that-one" songs mastered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larryp58 Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Constant practice and devotion, I'd say one week! It sounds more difficult than it actually is. The big thing with JT's music is developing that "touch" or "feel" that his music carries. If it ain't there, it just don't work! Good luck! (I know you can do it, Karen!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gretchen55 Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 The first time you run through the tabs it will seem very difficult if not impossible. But try it a few times the first session, then put it away. Try it again the next day- it will seem easier. Don't work on it for longer than 15 minutes at a time. Certain parts will take longer, but if you keep trying, you'll get it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack6849 Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 The nice thing about learning great songs like "Fire and Rain" is that the process, once you get it rolling a bit, will keep you inspired. Then when you finally get your arrangement to the point where its begins to sound "close", you realize that the pay-off is really going to be worth all the time you've spent so far.... and so much more. Good luck, Karen. This is one of the all-time classic guitar tunes, and a great one to have in your "stable". Notice I could have used the term "repertoire", but, in your case, the "stable" reference seems very appropriate. Jack6849 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vincentw Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 That's a fantastic lesson from Justin. Thanks for posting the video. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rambler Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 PS I recall, Karen, youve expressed some trouble memorizing chord sequences, so just again a little reminder to listen for the melody notes moving through the high notes of the chords (try arpeggiating--strumming through--the upper strings, rather than the whole chord). Listen for bits of the tune. Hopefully, your ear will pick that up, go "yeh it has to resolve to "G"--what else/" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilliangirl Posted January 14, 2011 Author Share Posted January 14, 2011 Karen, You need to make it your own anyway not a JT copy. I have confidence in you. I agree, G. That stands for any song, IMO. If we try to do the song EXACTLY like the oroiginal, we will always come up short because the original is the standard. So it's better to put our own spin on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilliangirl Posted January 14, 2011 Author Share Posted January 14, 2011 HEY....... I'm 52, and I've got PLENTY of time left. In fact, I JUST GOT STARTED........ (little inspiration for ya, there......) Thanks Murph Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilliangirl Posted January 14, 2011 Author Share Posted January 14, 2011 I agree...your passion for the song will guide you; you'll learn to play it the way you love it. I learned to play Paul Simon's "Kathy's Song" when I was about 13 because I needed to. And last summer, I got completely re-enamoured with it...and I learned it again. Seems the old songs we love come back to us much quicker--and much more fully--than we might expect, even as we reach to master them in a new way. And 52 is oh, so young! But you better get going--when you get to be as old as me (53), the wheels really start to fall off. Anne, I think my wheels started coming off at 46 I have to go listen to Kathy's Song again now....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilliangirl Posted January 14, 2011 Author Share Posted January 14, 2011 52? Heck, you've got time to learn dozens of songs and several additional instruments, if that's what you want to do. As for Fire & Rain, I would think it is a matter of how much you concentrate your attention on it, but certainly a month should be plenty of time, unless it is way beyond your current skill level (and I'm doubting that's the case). I find a lot of times I get a song basically learned, but not polished, and then move away from it for a while. Could be a few days or a few weeks. When I go back to it, I hear some things I want to modify and then, if I really want to make the song mine, I work out the final kinks. Probably other folks do this a bit differently. One nice thing about being an amateur musician is that we are usually under no pressure to learn tunes for a specific performance, so we can afford to let them simmer a while. On the other hand, I know a lot of songs that I would consider 95% of the way to performance quality, and I don't have a lot of drive to get that final 5%. Like others have said, "Go for it." It's a good feeling to get those "always-wanted-to-sing-that-one" songs mastered. It's definitely within my skill level, but looking at 7 pages of tab is overwhelming Yeah, I hear ya on learning the songs to an acceptable (or less) level, then returning to polish them later, or even continuously returning to them and tweaking them. I struggle to remember what I've done the last time I picked it up, then find myself re-doing some of my own work. I need to write things down. Anyway, I'm forging ahead on F&R. I've got the intro down pat so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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