What Is The One Song...

[elenbrandt]

Okay, it's early, I haven't had enough # http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/coffee.gif

So...out of pure curiosity...what is that one song, riff, piece of music that you have always wanted to play (well) but it still eludes you?

[Karen Kay]

A note for note version of Blackberry Blossom by Dave Peters! Both Guitar and Mandolin.

[mcmando]

Raining at Sunset from Thile's Not All Who Wander Are Lost CD.

[mandowannabe]

Raw Hide like Mr. Monroe! G.B.

[GaryM]

There's a beautiful tune called "McDougals Pride" that I play with a Harp player friend of mine. We only ever play half the tune, then someone will say "we gotta learn the rest of that sometime" We never do!! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[mad dawg]

I can't say I have always wanted to play it since it is a fairly new song, but I would love to be able to play Thile's Song for a Young Queen (from Not all who Wander...) as well as he. I just can't get it right---or even close---but it sends shivers up my spine when I listen to it on his CD; I would love for my playing to have that effect on others (as opposed to making others' hair stand on end).

[mandough]

I wish someone would do a mandolin version of the song "Gypsy" by Fleetwood Mac. It's got that mandoliny sounding solo at the end too (even though I know it's a guitar).

[kvk]

"Rhapsody in Blue" -Gerschwin

Can't imagine how the whole thing would be playable on a mando so I figure you'd have to reach genious level to play. Maybe start with just United Airlines part:-)

-Ken

[OlderThanWillie]

It's a song that not many know of or have heard but one version of it was done by Jethro Burns-- its name is Nola.

[Daniel Nestlerode]

I can't say I have always wanted to play it since it is a fairly new song, but I would love to be able to play Thile's "Song for a Young Queen" (from Not all who Wander...)
Yep, that tune just grabs you by the lapels and tella you in no uncertain terms that Chris is going to play the HECK out the mandolin for the duration of the CD doesn't it? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif It was the first tune I thought of when I saw the title of this thread.

But I could think of a BUNCH of tunes about which I thought upon hearing them for the first or 30th time, "Man I wish I could play like that." "Chili Dawg" from Grisman's Dawg '90 comes to mind as does Don Stiernberg's "Estate," Bach's Variation #1 (from the Goldberg Variations) as done by Mike Marshall and Chris Thile, and the appropriately aforementioned "Rawhide" by Bill Monroe.

There's so much great stuff out there to inspire and create aspirations for levels of skill attainment, that one tune just won't cover it.

Best,
Daniel

[carolynbeth]

well, hard as it is to narrow it down to just ONE song that I want to play really well and can't http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif #if I hafta, I'd say Dark and Slender Boy (Simon Mayor's version).

Someday......

Carolyn

[John Rosett]

i started workind on "donna lee" by charlie parker about 12 years ago. it proved to be too much for me at the time, but i think i could get it now. i just haven't buckled down and worked it out. i'm going to weiser next week, so maybe i'll work on it there.
john

[Eugene]

Calace's Gran Preludio, op. 175...ouch!

[Flyer]

For me the one would be....Johnny Statts "Escape From Taiwan"..

It'll never happen but wow.....

Too many to choose from tho..

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[Furnman]

Well, I hate to put up a post that says "I gotta echo the above", but...

I would sacrifice a right digit to do Thile's "Song For a Young Queen" and "Raining at Sunset" justice. Or maybe just one knuckle for one of them.

[Jack Roberts]

Prelude to Bach's Second Cello Suite. It wanders around beautifully, but I can't keep track of where it goes!

Jack

[hellindc]

I can play "Jerusalem Ridge," but not like I'd like to! I guess I could say the same about "Raw Hide."

[bratsche]

Bach's Chaconne from the D minor Partita. Some parts of it are sounding so beautiful, but others are still just so damb stubbornly difficult on these mandokinthingies... I've got about 80-85% of it down, but the remaining passages require a quantum leap in RH technique for me, I'm afraid. (sigh)

bratsche

[JiminRussia]

"My Last Days on Earth" the way Big Mon did it.

[keymandoguy]

Jim inRussia that Monroe song is a studio production with alternate tuning and split strings. So I dont think anyone can solo that song? the wind and low notes were added at the studio. I have to second Johnny Staats Leaving Taiwon that is one fast # http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[Ken Berner]

"Classical Gas" by Mason Williams

[mandopete]

Great thread idea Elen!

For me there are actually three tunes that have been on my radar screen. #The first is Chris Thile's "Ah Spring", which I have always thought would be a great tune for a mandolin competition.

The second tune is "Ride The Wild Turkey" by Darol Anger, but it's Adam Steffey's solo on the Jerry Douglas recording that gets my heart going.

And last, but by no means least is Sam Bush's "Leather Britches" from Late As Usual. I have started working on it numerous times, but have never really gotten a good grip on his phrasing.

So Elen, what's yours?

[cbogle]

"I Remember When" by Sidney Bechet; a very beautiful and haunting melody.

[Joe F]

It's a toss-up between "Jerusalem Ridge" and Kenny Baker's "First Day in Town."

[elenbrandt]

What's mine? #Hmmmm...there's a bunch of them. First choice would be Jerry Douglas' riffs on Theile's "Song for a Young Queen". #I have also been hacking at Gershwins' "Rhapsody in Blue". There is a slow and beautiful piece called "New Lifetimes" written by Mark O'Connor (which he recorded with Chet Atkins)which is pretty enchanting. #Also Tony Rice's "Old Grey Coat". #And of course, to play "All Along the Watchtower" like Jimi would be the ultimate (nyuk,nyuk) #Hell, I would like to play at least ONE piece exquisitely. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[mandopete]

So several years ago I set my sights on Goin' Back To Old Kentucky by Sam Bush on the Mandolin Extravanganza recording. I loaded the tune into Transkriber and worked on the bloody thing at 1/3rd speed for about 6 months http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Long story short, I was finally able to learn the tune and performed it at the Chiliwack Bluegrass festival mandolin competition and won. My point being is given today's technology combined with enough patience and time, anything is possible.

[Michael H Geimer]

That's be Rocky Raccon for me. It's a great song, and a great story ... but I am unable to sing it in it's native key, and have never found a good accompaniment solution for any key that works for my voice.

I've thrown away many-a good tune over such obstacles, but when I am successfull at moving a song into a new key / position / instrument / etc. then I know that I've truly made a song my own.

One success can make all the throw-aways worth my while, but I still wish I could solve Rocky Raccoon.

Hmmm ... maybe I'll try again at lunch with the Mid-mo.

- Benig

P.S. Here's a couple more that have frustrated me for some time now.

Ol' 55 - Tom Waits
Mother Nature's Son - Beatles

[Daniel Nestlerode]

P.S. Here's a couple more that have frustrated me for some time now.

Ol' 55 - Tom Waits
Mother Nature's Son - Beatles
Benig,
# # I think I can help with Ol' '55. #If I recall correctly (the CD is at home), TW recorded that in F#. #I used a capo on my guitar to figure it out in E forms and then transposed it to G so I could play it without the capo and sing it a little better.
# # I have heard The Eagles' version but I've never tried to figure out what key they're in. #Sarah McLachlan does a passable version of it too.
# # I've got a chord chart & lyrics for it somewhere. #Send me a private message with your email address if you would like it.
I haven't played it on mandolin (yet), but I'm going to try the melody now. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

HTH,
# #Daniel

[Michael H Geimer]

On piano in F# is the definitve approach.

G is *the* place to do it on guitar.

I need to do this song in E, but haven't found anything that really works for me. Obviously you did, so maybe I need to search for voicings out of 1st position E on guitar.

Thanks for the tip.

[GMatt]

Wolfcreek Pass by Chris Thile. Damn those triplets...

[Givensman]

The next one

[Bob Sayers]

Well, I'd really like to play bluegrass fills with the dexterity and consumate taste of Adam Steffey and Marc MacGlashan. Unfortunately, my fingers won't cooperate. In an entirely different vein, I'd like to hear someone work up a mandolin version of Antonio Carlos Jobim's "Wave." Bossa Mando, now there's an idea!

Bob

[levin4now]

I second the motion for BlkBrryBlossom, and throw in seconds for Beaumont Rag (Doc Watson's version for example = the one that made me know and love that song)...

Heck - for now I'm dreaming of a clean 140 bpm of an easy version of Fisher's Hornpipe!

ADM

[Nick Triesch]

Crossroads by Cream. I think it could sound cool. Nick

[mandogeek]

I was fortunate to see Jerry Douglas and Sam Bush play "Crossroads" on Bela Fleck's Bluegrass Sessions tour a few years back. They absolutely BURNED through that song. They traded amazing solos back and forth to make it the most memorable rendition I have ever heard. I would love to have a recording of that night!

[Fretbear]

Erik Anderson recorded a beautiful version of "0l' 55" on his "Be true to You".

[Patrick Gunning]

Well, this one isn't on the mando, but Casey Driessen's fiddle version of Jerusalem Ridge. I would highly recommend going to his site and hearing it. His crazy high part (D part in the song I guess you would say) I can never get right.

On the mandolin, maybe John Reischman's Holy Jumped Up, I get so close but can never seem to polish it off.

On the guitar, it'd have to be Darrell Scott's live solo version of "Hard Living." from the 4/10 concert in Seattle this year (my 18th birthday). Greatest guitar solo ever, not to mention the rest of the song. Come to think of it, playing anything like Darrell Scott would be quite satisfying.

[Daniel Nestlerode]

On piano in F# is the definitve approach.

G is *the* place to do it on guitar.

I need to do this song in E, but haven't found anything that really works for me. Obviously you did, so maybe I need to search for voicings out of 1st position E on guitar.

Thanks for the tip.
no problem!

FWIW, I listened to it last night and I'm sure the guitar player has tuned down a half step so that he/she could play out of G while being in F#. There's a little hammer-on just before the lyric starts that gives it away. (If you're playing a Gmaj chord with your middle, ring, and pinky fingers you can use your index and middle finger to hit C and E notes giving you a quick Gsus4/C5 chord if you leave your pinky and ring fingers playing G notes --that's the hammer-on I'm talking about.)

Didn't have time to play along on mandolin, but I will tonight.

Best,
Daniel

[Michael H Geimer]

" I'm sure the guitar player has tuned down a half step so that he/she could play out of G while being in F#. #"

Surely. Similiarly, there is an ease of fingering for piano that happens in F#. That is why so many of TW's piano tunes are in F#.

- Benig

Afterthought ... proabably *the* main factor that brought me into Bluegrass and Old-Time songs was the ease with which I could transpose the songs into keys that worked best for my voice. It seems that many - most? - modern songs are built with 'siganture riffs' that likely will not transpose well.

That isn't a neccessarily bad quality in a song, but personally I still put the more classic melody / lyric based songs on a higher pedistle, as I think there is more craft involved in that style of songwriting.