Good acoustic covers to learn

[Ides of March]

I mostly play originals but I want to start building up a good list of covers that are good one's to learn. I play some covers now like some Oasis, Elliot Smith, Johnny Cash, Neil Young. Some advice from people who play covers in bars solo and in bands that would be good one's to learn so I can maybe get some solo gigs lined up would be much appreciated.

[devilrob1979]

Bron-Y-Aur Stomp!

[A-Bone]

Richard Thompson's acoustic catalog is a master class in accompaniment. Of course, if you can play most of this material, you are already well beyond most guitarists. They aren't just technically advanced and impressive, however; Thompson has given the world a monumental body of work creatively and expressively, as well.

[coldfingaz]

Four Strong Winds & Long Black Veil

[erplander]

Richard Thompson's acoustic catalog is a master class in accompaniment. Of course, if you can play most of this material, you are already well beyond most guitarists. They aren't just technically advanced and impressive, however; Thompson has given the world a monumental body of work creatively and expressively, as well.

Couldn't agree more!

[soulohio]

discography please?!

Richard Thompson's acoustic catalog is a master class in accompaniment. Of course, if you can play most of this material, you are already well beyond most guitarists. They aren't just technically advanced and impressive, however; Thompson has given the world a monumental body of work creatively and expressively, as well.

[waxnsteel]

Most of these I do acoustic
http://homepage.mac.com/vrwilliams/Personal13.html

Basically, I picked tunes that fit my range, and figured out interesting ways to play them. I don't want to bore myself.

Still gotta know Margaritaville and maybe Sweet Caroline.

[zombywoof]

One thing - don't limit yourself to acosutic tunes.

"Born of the Bayou" (which I play in Open E) is a blast to play on an acoustic.

Another fun one is Britney's "Oops, I Did It Again" - great to watch folks pretend like they are too cool to know the words but after a bit they sheepishly start joining in and by the end pretty much most are singing along.

Also Chuck Berry's "The Promised Land." I sometimes play this is in a medley with Woody's "Do Re Mi."

[bunuel]

vintage punk works well for acoustic. Helps wake up the audience, breaks up the set, and gives one a chance to practice the percussive rhythm vibe. Stooges, clash, ramones, all work well, mebbe even better with a 12string. I always do a bit funk, too, prince's stuff is a go-to. Again da funk breaks up the potential for monotony both for performer & audience. I find that it's key to keep everyone engaged & listening!

[TwoTubMan]

"Embryonic Journey"

[uncletele]

here comes the sun-beatles
from the beginning-emerson, lake & palmer
nights in white satin-moody blues
man of constant sorrow-dan tyminski/union station
norwegian wood-beatles
dust in the wind-kansas
turn your radio on-john hartford
big yellow taxi-joni mitchell
black water-doobie bros.
melissa-allman bros.
something in the way she moves-james taylor
pinball wizard-the who
i've just seen a face-beatles
ruby tuesday-stones
crazy on you-heart

Oldies but goodies, yes. But show me something better!

[goodwill559]

The Rain Song

[buddaman71]

I play two 3-hour solo acoustic gigs per week, and my crowds seem to really like acoustic reworkings of Prince tunes, U2, Men @ Work, Ryan Adams, Pete Yorn, Foo Fighters, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Springsteen, etc.

I actually try to limit the percentage of "acoustic" tunes that are in my set, since so many other solos acts automatically do that. People LOVE turning "Crazy Train" or other heavy, fast tunes into spacy acoustic ballads. All 80's tunes seem to really go over well too!

Good luck!

[prsisbest]

I play two 3-hour solo acoustic gigs per week, and my crowds seem to really like acoustic reworkings of Prince tunes, U2, Men @ Work, Ryan Adams, Pete Yorn, Foo Fighters, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Springsteen, etc.

I actually try to limit the percentage of "acoustic" tunes that are in my set, since so many other solos acts automatically do that. People LOVE turning "Crazy Train" or other heavy, fast tunes into spacy acoustic ballads. All 80's tunes seem to really go over well too!

Good luck!



I've found this to be true as well, we sometimes do full band acoustic shows, and the people love it! We play the same songs as our standard electric shows, but it's like they get a new life being unplugged!

[buddaman71]

I've found this to be true as well, we sometimes do full band acoustic shows, and the people love it! We play the same songs as our standard electric shows, but it's like they get a new life being unplugged!


Last Monday, someone in the crowd threw out a request for Plush by STP. I hadn't played it in probably 10 years, but I just launched into it and by the third line the entire bar area (about 30 people) were singing it at the top of their lungs and sang the ENTIRE song with me!!

It was one of the most fun memories I have of any solo gig.

[Ides of March]

Last Monday, someone in the crowd threw out a request for Plush by STP. I hadn't played it in probably 10 years, but I just launched into it and by the third line the entire bar area (about 30 people) were singing it at the top of their lungs and sang the ENTIRE song with me!!

It was one of the most fun memories I have of any solo gig.

Wow man that's awesome. I forgot about plush. I gotta look that one up.

I do have some Johnny Cash, Oasis, Gorillaz (el Manana), James Taylor, Elliot Smith, Lit (miserable), Neil Young. But not many. I have focused on originals for so long I completely refused to do covers. But when I do them I forget how much fun they are. I told my wife I just learned Have you Ever Seen the Rain by CCR, she said I hate that song.
Erm, thanks babe.

[buddaman71]

I have always been, by nature, the serious, rather dark-souled performer. Lately, I just decided to try to have fun and enjoy the hours I spend with the audience and try to connect with them and give them a fun diversion from the tedium of daily life. I've been joking around more, loosening up and even flirting with the females in the audience, and I have NEVER had better crowd response and tips. The barstaff has even commented that their revenues are up quite a bit as well, because people are staying longer and drinking stronger!

I am a singer/guitarist primarily, but I have written 30-40 originals over the years and probably play about 6-10 of them per night. I guess in my experience, winning the crowd over with unique versions of songs they've heard numerous times can get them interested in hearing a performer's original tunes. Nothing new or groundbreaking here, but I just wanted to share. After almost 2 decades of playing gigs, I have decided to focus on having a great time and the crowd has been coming along for the ride. Better late than never I guess!!

:drink

[JSeth]

Lots of good suggestions already - couple of things... be sure you play the tune in a key YOU CAN COVER!!! Sometimes a song will have an instrumental section or intro that just doesn't sound right in a different key, so use your judgement... I will sometimes run songs together that seem to fit; either in the same key, artist, or some other connecting thread (feel or content).

Other than that, don't be afraid to convert full band tunes to one guitar... I do a lot of tunes solo that one might not expect; a 12 string gives a lot more options and power to some songs. "Time Out of Mind" by Steely Dan is one cover that I'm proud of doing - w/ 12 string, I can cut "Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys" amazingly well, and the 12 string gives a lot of body to the opening lines of "Another Star" by Stevie Wonder...

Have fun with it! Playing solo/singing is pretty demanding - if you don't make it happen, it DON'T happen!!! But, you can go anywhere you feel like going, change grooves and tempos - no one needs rehearsing!

Good luck! Love it...

[Ides of March]

I added a couple Radiohead tunes and Down Under from Men at Work which I haven't tried yet but I think I can make it work. As long as my list gets longer and I can have a bunch of songs to make a night out of it I should be ok.