Speed songs from Thiles CD's [Archive]

phizban

Aug-23-2004, 11:37pm

My basic question is can anyone play chris thile songs up to speed? (ANY of them) I'm having major trouble. I can get close, but i just can't get that last little bit yet. I can play WHAT A BLAST up to speed, but that's just hitting chords pretty much. Also what songs of his do you guys know?

I've written out a lot of his songs, but i can't play them up to tempo yet.

Here's a list of what i know at about 10-20 ticks below tempo:

Desvairada (i'm still learning it all though)

Ode to a Butterfly (base tune)

Hop The Fence (base tune)

Tom Bombadils (base tune and first solo)

Wolfcreek Pass (base tune and B-part/bridge barely)

Raining at sunset (base tune)

Big Sam Thompson (base tune)

Club GROSS (base tune)

Laurie de tullins

Songs i have no hope of playing cleanly EVER:
Song for a young queen (The cross picking is the main problem)

Caprice #1

So anywho, my goal right now is just speed, i'm an ex-violinist, so my left hand is in top shape.

p.s. #I'm left handed, meaning my right hand is naturally less coordinated. I was just wondering if there are any other left handers here who also have trouble with their right hand?

gdae85

Aug-24-2004, 1:08am

I can play desvairada, Stranded in Kodiak, Cuckoo's nest and Fisher's Hornpipe

250sc

Aug-24-2004, 4:56am

I play Desairada and Cuckoo's nest but no where near Chris's speed. I'll probably never play that fast but the musical ideas are worth learning.

mandonewbie

Aug-24-2004, 6:04am

Chris K,

Have you tabbed out "Stranded in Kodiak"...If so would you mind sharing with some of us?...You can get me at barryflht@aol.com

Albert Whiting

Aug-24-2004, 8:04am

just to answer the left handed question. chris is also left handed but plays right handed. i think you are doing so much with both hands that it doesn't matter.

phizban

Aug-24-2004, 10:39am

ok, thanks for the response to the left-handed question.
"Stranded in Kodiak" is a good song i haven't learned yet, I haven't really played too many songs off of his new album with mike marshall.

gdae85

Aug-24-2004, 4:03pm

Stranded in Kodiak is a really simple song. I have been playing for only about 2 months and it took me about 2 days or 3 to get note by note the first 2 minutes of the song. The first solo shouldnt be a problem either. The second solo is much more demanding. The beginning is just a simple arpeggio.
Although it is a beautiful tune .. I find the album version to be pretty lame and not chris thile worthy. Take a listen to the Woodsong's version. It'll be much more fun to get that solo. The CD version of the solo will leave you empty (yes, empty)once you get it all .

E------------------------------------------------------
A--------3------4------4------4-----------4--------3---
D-----3----3---------3---3-------------1-----1---------
G--2---------5----6--------6-------0-----------3-------

-------------------------------------------------------
-------3--1------------------1-------------------------
----1--------6-5--3-------3-------6--5-----------------
-5---------------------4-------------------5--------------

----------------------------------------------------------------
------------3--------4--[4]--4---6----7--------7------7-
---------3-----3---------------------------6------6-----
--2-->5-----------5---------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------
------------3---------4--4--6--3----6-7--3--------1----0------- #
---------3-----3------------------------------5----------------
--2-->5-----------5---------------------------------------------

# # # # # # # # # # # # # # *WOODSONGS VERSION

gdae85

Aug-24-2004, 4:04pm

These are the notes .. try to figure out the timing and stuff .. is not that difficult

Dfyngravity

Aug-24-2004, 4:15pm

Does anyone have Big Sam Thompson tabbed out? I figured the first part out but the faster second part I can't get it all. Thanks

phizban

Aug-24-2004, 9:32pm

I know it but i don't have it tabbed yet. give me a little while and i'll see what i can do =-)

mandonewbie

Aug-25-2004, 8:44am

Thanks Chris,

I'll give it a shot.

mandonewbie

Aug-25-2004, 8:44am

Thanks Chris,

I'll give it a shot.

sandcastlefaith

Aug-25-2004, 9:31am

I have memorized and can play up to speed:

Desvairada
Fisher's Hornpipe
House of Tom Bombadil
Raining at Sunset
Aldaraanian Melody
Kneel Before Him
Ah Spring
When Mandolins Dream
A Night in Mos Eisley

Just remember, it's more important to have a song learned to wear you can play it totally clean and mistake-free, even if you are playing it a few clicks on the metronome slower than Thile. Speed will come with practice and time behind the instrument, but accuracy and cleanliness will not if all you are working on is speed. Just keep that in mind.

phizban

Aug-25-2004, 9:42am

is there any basic technique or advice you could give for right hand on whend mandolins dream, he plays that so fast for all the cross picking and arrpeggios involved

sandcastlefaith

Aug-25-2004, 12:35pm

There aren't any pieces of miracle advice I can give you, just work a lot on the crosspicking that's involved, and stay as loose and relaxed as possible. Work on it really, really slow at first, or as slow as you need to make sure there are no mistakes, and make sure your pick strokes (up and down) never have mistakes. Just keep working, you'll get it. It took me 2 weeks of working on it before I could play it at speed.

Emmiemando

Aug-25-2004, 12:47pm

I have trouble with the c-picking on SOng for a YOung Queen too. I can play lots of little licks but puttung them all together is some tuff stuff. I can also play Laurie De' Tullins, You Deserve Flowers, SOme of Ode to a Butterfly. Pretty much like you.

joshro78

Aug-25-2004, 1:02pm

Hey Sandcastle
Why don't you record and post some of those over in the Recording Project? I would definitely like to hear someone else play Thile's songs up to speed. Come on, you know you want to!
Josh

eightstrings

Aug-25-2004, 2:50pm

Man, I sure would like to hear some soundclips of you guys playing these songs...

sandcastlefaith

Aug-25-2004, 5:53pm

I have a few songs recorded that I could put on there, nothing by Thile though. Give me a while, and I'll get my stuff together. I'm just so busy. I have school, soccer practice (4 hours a day), and work, plus practice time. I'll try to get a few things recorded one of these days.

TheNaivePicker

Aug-25-2004, 7:00pm

Thats a good question Actually..erm.. let me think...
Ones I can play up to speed/pretty well anyhow:

You Deserve Flowers
Bridal Veil Falls
Harvest Time
The Lament for Dewayne Pomeroy (sp?)
Stranded in Kodiak
Big Sam Thompson(some of it anyhow)
What A Blast

Ones Im still working on:
Scrapple for The Apple
Desvairada
Club G.R.O.S.S
Song for a Young Queen
Panhandle Rag
Shamrock Isle

I know theres more, Im a Thileaddict...Oh my.. I must right that word down, It sure is Thiletastic!http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

Songbird

Jun-12-2005, 5:36pm

Sorry for bumping up an old topic but I'm still very interested in hearing other people play Thiles songs http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

ShaneJ

Jun-12-2005, 5:50pm

I can play The Fox up to speed, but I don't hit all the notes that Thile plays. I can play Sweet Afton, How Great Thou Art, and He Will Listen To You also - up to speed (these aren't fast, so that's easy), but I don't hit all the notes he does in some parts.

Thile's playing is more than just fast and clean, it's melodic. It's like he plays entire little songs in each line. He plays more than a phrase. He doesn't just pick 64th notes on the same note. He picks nice melodies in 64th notes. That's hard to duplicate.

mandomadman

Jun-13-2005, 9:11am

I've just begun to learn Thile tunes,and the guy's a genious. His classical training really shows. I hear Bach,Beatles and Van Halen and more in his playing. I don't think there is any piece of music on the planet he can't play. I too would very much like to hear the recordings of others playing his tunes note for note and to speed. If you guys really exist,lets hear it! Because you deserve fame and fortune too. If you can play like that,then it's time to come out of the bedroom. Post your recordings here and or mandozine! I double dog dare you!

I feel myself and others want to know if Thile is really from another planet or a mere mortal. If we hear someone else playing like him maybe we could feel like we have a slight chance of getting that good too.

beginer,intermediate,advanced,professional,THILE

Baron Collins-Hill

Jun-13-2005, 10:10am

howabouts those recordings? hows abouts those tabs? anything would help, i too am a mad thile addict and would love some tabs.

Jeff Hoelter

Jun-13-2005, 11:26am

For those who don't already know, there are a buncha Thile solos in TablEdit format here:
http://mandozine.com/music/tabledit_search.php

Type Thile in the Artist field and have at it!

Jeff

adda_as

Jun-13-2005, 12:50pm

I'll just say; mostly the same as sandcastlefaith.. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

btw, here's a little (but old) site I made for him.. http://mandolingutt.net/nateroberts/ (http://mandolingutt.net/nateroberts/)

giverin

Jun-13-2005, 2:04pm

giverin

Jun-13-2005, 2:05pm

Here's what ive managed to get up to speed:
Raining at sunset (the full crosspickin tricky 6 mins!)
Shamrock shores (the harmonics thingies)
Ode to flutterby (full)
Bitersweet reel (good song for practisin crosspicking)
Robin and Marion
Ah spring (sounds surprisingly like blackberry blossom)
Night in mos eisly
kneel before him
cuckoos nest
sweet afton

workin on more, but exams seem to be taking over at the mo.

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

Stephanie Reiser

Jun-13-2005, 8:06pm

how do you guys open those tabedit files at Mandozine?
I can never open them.
Thanks in advance.

ShaneJ

Jun-13-2005, 10:32pm

Stephanie, you need to download either the full (paid) version of TablEdit, or the free TEF Viewer program (can't edit and then save your work, but can edit during each viewing - just lose it when you close).

You can get either of them at TablEdit.com. Good luck! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Stephanie Reiser

Jun-14-2005, 3:57am

Thank you SJennings.
I appreciate it.

adgefan

Jun-14-2005, 6:13am

Mike, how's Chris Cross coming along? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

The only thing of Thile's stuff I can play anything like up to speed is his crosspicked version of Dixie. There's a few other "simpler" (by his standard) tunes like Slime Rock, Leaves Fall, Hop the Fence, Old Dangerfield, Laurie De' Tullins etc. that I could probably get if only I bothered to put the time into them. Too busy learning easy things at the moment though!

Now, what I want to know is, can anybody play Stealing Second or Wolfcreek Pass up to speed? They must be the most challenging ones of the lot.

giverin

Jun-15-2005, 12:41pm

Stealing second up to speed!!!!!
Its like trying to fly to the moon in under an hour.

Nolan

Jun-15-2005, 2:01pm

phizban, you are well on your way.... anyone that can play Wolfcreek pass, well that's impressive. Good job.

My frustration with Thile tunes is that the guy has too much tone and his playing is too clean! I might be able to get something up to speed but it sounds like I'm using a a 2x4 for a pick.

Songbird

Jun-16-2005, 8:51am

I share your frustrations. I'm currently trying to learn When Mandolins Dream. I know it's totally out of my league but I like the challenge. I have the tab, the mp3 of the dvd to slow down and of course the dvd to study the positions. I figure with all of this I can get it down. It's just a question of how long it will take.

Stephanie Reiser

Jun-16-2005, 6:56pm

songbird, it took me 3 months to memorize When Mandolins Dream. Now I can practice it in earnest. But it is worth it. Can I play it like THile? Heck no. I can play the first 3 sections quite quickly, though. I am hoping that when I get my new mando finished that I will be able to play better some. Equipment does make a difference sometimes.

Songbird

Jun-18-2005, 1:43am

Ah nice one! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif any particular passage you struggled on?

Stephanie Reiser

Jun-18-2005, 3:33am

Yeah, getting the pulloffs to sound right was kinda hard in those first three sections. Played faster they sound better. Measures 130 thru 176 was kinda hard because the action is too high on my instrument, but I'm building a new one with a radiiused fretboard and banjo frets, and the action wont be so high. And also, I am taking Chris's advice: Practice slowly and cleanly. Emphasize that. But occassionally I 'let er rip' just for the fun of it.

Songbird

Jun-18-2005, 1:10pm

Ah the 130 - 176 measures are my favourite part of that piece. I ca't wait to get to it. Part of me wants to skip different sections so I can learn my favourite bits first lol. But I'm glad other people out there can play this song. Gives me hope that it's accessable.

phizban

Mar-01-2006, 5:55pm

By the way, I have a lot of Thile stuff written out myself, whether they be songs or solos or just little licks I've heard him play. However, the music is only viewable in a pdf file, and a lot of songs contain all the notes, but are not mixed in a proper arrangement (because most stuff I write is so I can remember it later). I don't know if there's a way I can put these files up online, but if I find a way I'll do so.

reely989

Mar-01-2006, 7:38pm

Wow you guys are a lot more patient than me. A lot of his stuff i think(key word) i could physically and technically handle, but it would take a long time. Stuff off of his first two albums seem more accessible than his NAWWAL. Of course sometimes stuff that sounds simple is really hard. Here are some of his that i know

Big Sam Thompson
Night at Mos Eisleys
Hop the Fence
Ode to a Butterfly
When You Come Back Down
Sweet Afton
Stealing Second(first half)
Kneel Before Him
Swallowtail Jig
Angeline the Baker(woodsongs)
Laurie De Tullins(majority, need to put it on Slowgold and set some loops)
On a June Day(Mark O'Connor 30 year retrospective)

i realize they are not all his tunes, but hey, he played em.
Now, after being shamed by the determination of all you fellow players, i believe i will start on When Mandolins Dream. Of course I already know my patience will wear thin very quickly.
Are you guys learning this stuff from tab, or by ear. The latter is much more time consuming, and since i hate tab i learn very few solos from anyone note for note.

Caleb

phizban

Mar-01-2006, 9:59pm

Being over a year since this I made this post, I've done some improving. =-)

I have stuff I've written out in .pdf (sheet music) form Here (http://www.umich.edu/~asleep). Just look in the music folder. Take note that the songs that are written out may not be properly arrange or complete, yet most of 'em are. (These were originally written just so I could remember the tune, so I didn't spend much time writing the music "neatly"). Also, on the subject of Chris Thile's tunes, I have played pretty much all of them, so if you don't see music for the song you were wanting to learn, send me an e-mail at

asleep@umich.edu

Cheers,
Lee

mandopete

Mar-02-2006, 3:59pm

Was listening to Deciever today and thinking about the tune "Jessamyn's Reel" - anyone know where to find a transcription for that?

Jeff Hoelter

Mar-02-2006, 9:50pm

A friend wrote Jessamyn's out and sent it to me...I don't know where it is at the moment but I'll try to see if I can find it. If I can't, maybe I can put it into TablEdit... Give me a day or two.

Jeff

mandopete

Mar-03-2006, 8:34am

Cool Jeff, thanks!

Jeff Hoelter

Mar-03-2006, 8:42am

Here it is! Not sure the chords are right, but that's what my friend wrote when she transcribed it. Listen along to the CD to get the right feel for the melody. Gosh does Thile do some nice improv on this one...tasty!

Jeff

adgefan

Mar-03-2006, 9:21am

Thanks to Lee and Jeff for the notation/tab - I really appreciate it. At last something to give me a clue on how to play Raining at Sunset!

I'm still nowhere near being able to play like Chris (and to be honest, I don't really want to because I know I never will), but I just love listening to him improvise and trying to copy a few licks. Current favourites for doing this are his versions of Big Sciota with David Grier and Reel d'Issudoun with John Hartford.

SpookyReverb

Mar-03-2006, 9:42am

Wow, I had never heard of this guy (I'm new to mandolins), so I listened to a few clips on the iTunes music store . . . hot dang, he can play! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

mandopete

Mar-03-2006, 3:42pm

Ya need to get cable out in cave!

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

Vincent

Mar-03-2006, 3:59pm

I remember that Thile was asked about technical practice routines and replied that he had to limit himself when doing technical exercises. His point was that it was so *satisfying* to work on one little bit repeatedly and see some improvement in one sitting that he had to hold himself back. Now his secret is out...

reely989

Mar-04-2006, 12:43pm

I am really now admiring you guys even more. I was inspired by this topic to start working on his stuff again. I have learned most of Song For A Young Queen, and the A section of Wolfcreek Pass. I thank everyone in this topic for inspiring me to be less lazy and maybe learn some awesome tunes.

By the way, after reading my previous post, it sounded rather arrogant. I apologize, I didnt mean for it to come across that way.

Caleb