not a recording question per se, looking for song suggestions...

[minofifa]

hey everybody,
well even though this doesn't have much to do with recording or gear, i figured i'd ask seeing as there are many guiear enthusiests in one place.

I'm looking to learn 10 or so new songs for the holiday season. i want to go home and have some new tunes to play for the family and friends. I'm not looking for Christmas carols!!! Basiclaly the criteria is this:
1. a well known cover: something everybody would know OR
2. a song that just sounds good on a solo acoustic guiar (dave matthews, john mayer, jack johnson etc).
3. i like to sing and am an intermediate guitar player. im no eric clapton but i know my shit a bit.

so give me your top 10 song ideas. what good songs have you heard on the acoustic recently? what good original sound covers have you heard?

 

[minofifa]

oh yeah, and i'm not partial to any style, in fact i would like a nice mix of shit. just no heavy metal or punk rock please. i wanna keep my acoustic in one piece... i'll save stuff for the ibanez....

 

[Tadpui]

Some of my favorite acoustic covers, especially for the family:

-"The Upper Peninsula" or "Romulus" from the album "Greetings From Michigan!" by Sufjan Stevens. Stunning songs that can translate well to acoustic if you have a capo.
- There are several songs off of David Bowie's "Hunky Dory" that make great acoustic numbers.
- If you have the patience to use alternate tunings, try something off of "Pink Moon" by Nick Drake.
- There are some excellent acoustic numbers on "Harvest" by Neil Young
- If you own "Heartbreaker" by Ryan Adams, its full of Dylan-esque acoustic tunes.
- Speaking of Dylan, songs like "It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry" or "Queen Jane Approximately" off of "Highway 61 Revisited" are simple on guitar, or just about anything off of "Blood On The Tracks".

I know, most of this is unfamiliar, but there is some beautiful music here. Who knows, you might turn your family or friends on to some new music!

Actually, I'm going to be playing most of this stuff for my family and friends over the holidays. I have arrangements for a lot of this stuff, so its all possible to play on solo acoustic/vocal.

 

[minofifa]

I know, most of this is unfamiliar, but there is some beautiful music here. Who knows, you might turn your family or friends on to some new music!

no man this is exactly what i was lookin for. I'm gonna rent those CD's from the library and check them out later today, thanks for the ideas.

any others?

 

[Sloan]

For some kickass fun acoustic songs, check out Elliott Smith.

 

[pdadda]

In no order:

1. DMB-Pay for what you get
2. Tom Petty-Free Falling
3. Rocky Votolato-Holding onto Water
4. Damien Rice-Cannonball
5. .....Oops, the water is boiling. Gotta go make some mac and cheese...

 

[pdadda]

The Kinks-Lola

 

[pdadda]

If you can sing, Radiohead-Fake Plastic Trees or Killer Cars or Karma Police

 

[Scottgman]

Breaking the Girl by the Chili Peppers is a pretty cool acoustic guitar song.

What's Up by 4 Non Blondes is something pretty much everyone < 35 would know (and it's real easy). Downside: it's a chic singing... might not be in your range.

Several Zep songs... a good one would be Rain Song. Bron-y-aur Stomp is a really cool kind of foot stomping song... but it's fairly tough to play the finger picking parts. Over the Hills and Far Away is a classic. (Just say NO to Stairway )

Jane Says by Jane's Addiction. Super easy and alot of people know it.

Here Comes the Rain Again by The Eurythmics. They did a really cool acoustic version of it on VH1. Again, a female vocalist... may or may not be a problem.

Just some ideas...

 

[pdadda]

Lou Reed-Perfect Day
Weezer-Jamie OR Butterfly
Ben Lee-Cigarettes Will Kill You

 

[Scottgman]

Oh yeah... Dave Matthews Crash will get all the woman hot and bothered... unless your crowd is all family... then that would be kind of weird.

 

[pdadda]

Green Day-Time of your life
Mmmmm....mac and cheese...

 

[pdadda]

I'm embarassed to admit this: I did a solo acoustic cover of Poison's Every Rose Has It's Thorn as a joke at one of my band's gigs. Every single person was singing along and loving it.

 

[postalblue]

beatles anyone?
there are plenty of songs in their catalogue that fulfill your requirements. some are definitely for advanced guitar players, like 'blackbird', but many are easy enough.

 

[Tadpui]

For some kickass fun acoustic songs, check out Elliott Smith.

Oh, God! I can't believe I forgot to mention Elliot Smith! His guitar arrangements can be a bit complex, but if you learn any of those songs, you'll keep them with you forever. In particular, check out the albums "Either/Or" or his self-titled for very acoustic-friendly songs.

Good call!

 

[minofifa]

Thanks very much guys! haha i'm kindof excited to go play my guitar now. I have recognized the odd song mentioned and the ones i do know are exactly along hte lines of what i am looking for. That speaks well for the ones i don't know yet.

Oh yeah... Dave Matthews Crash will get all the woman hot and bothered... unless your crowd is all family... then that would be kind of weird.

haha well auntie Georgina will be there and i'm not picky.....

and of course i'm kdding, i would never get with any family, 2nd degree or closer.

 

[DigitalSmigital]

haha well auntie Georgina will be there and i'm not picky.....

and of course i'm kdding, i would never get with any family, 2nd degree or closer.

Ahh, a man of true principles.

 

[cobradenim]

Van Halens "Spanish Fly"!!!!!
Anything by CCR. It's all fairly simple and everybody knows them.
Led Zeppelin "Tangerine."
Rush "The Trees" is fun and "Closer To The Heart". Try "In The Mood" from the first album. It's in a southern rock style.
Niel Young "Needle and The Damage Done"
Believe it or not, AC/DC songs always work accustic.
"No Reply" The Beatles
Have fun

 

[minofifa]

i think i can say with quite a bit of confidence that i will not be covering any Rush tunes, that cover of "summertime blues" they tried was the straw that broke the camel's back for me

how bout some avril lavigne?

 

[Armistice]

I don't know that Elliot Smith, much as I love his stuff, is quite family material - perhaps don't try "White Lady" in front of Aunt Georgina...