Gig material

[verbs4us]

There is interest at work in getting a few of us musicians together @ lunch to try to gig a bit. There are a few guitarists, one keyboard, one guy who knows violin. The keyboard and violin guy are classically trained and read music. I play mostly Celtic and Old Timey on mando but can bluff may way with almost anything. The challenge is the guitarists. None read music; 2 read tab. The biggest challenge is musical taste. One guy plays only Pearl Jam. Another is a jazz player. Two of the guitarists cannot play and sing at the same time (apparently, this ability, which I take for granted, is not universal). So the challenge is: What shall we play, other than “Happy Birthday”?

I proposed “A Little Help From My Friends,” since it’s well known, not that hard, has some nice 7ths and minors, and presents opportunities to riff.

Other ideas?

[Richard500]

Matching outfits.

[Mark Gunter]

Neil Young’s Heart Of Gold

Also, not to be picky, but to be picky, are you guys actually gigging, jamming, or busking?

[farmerjones]

Pick a key. Then, either a 12bar Blues, or some easy chord progression, like 1-4-1-5. With a chord progression you can get everyone together. Then from there, it's a matter of attaching lyrics. A chord progression has no style/genre.

[Bren]

The biggest challenge with guitarists is getting them to leave some space so the mandolin can be heard.

What kind of gigs do you envisage you'll get?

[Dave Hicks]

Carter Fambly stuff is easy to pick up.

D.H.

[EdHanrahan]

Carter Family stuff is easy to pick up...

... as is Hank Williams. Most folks will have some familiarity with 5 - 10 songs under both suggestions. (Or is that 77 y/o thinking?)

[Dave Hicks]

... as is Hank Williams. Most folks will have some familiarity with 5 - 10 songs under both suggestions. (Or is that 77 y/o thinking?)

Nope - I'm only 71!

D.H.

[James Vwaal]

Try "St. Louis Blues", an easy song in G, and the guitarists that I have played music with seem to really enjoy it because it is the BLUES. Very easy to improvise over, they can all try out their Stevie Ray Vaughn licks.

[NDO]

Feathered Indians (Childers)
Hallelujah (Cohen)
Country Roads (Denver)
The Sound of Silence (Simon and Garfunkel)
Copperhead Road (Earle)
Tequila Sunrise (Eagles)
Nearly Forgot my Broken Heart (Cornell)
Hurt (Cash version)

A little of everything

[tmsweeney]

though this goes against my better judgement
"Wagon Wheel"

[CES]

Oh, NO YOU DIDNT!!

(I don’t hate WW like some, and if it gets the crowd stoked, agree, go for it)…

[Kevin Winn]

Mustang Sally......

[Fretbear]

"Take This Job And......."

(I'll go sit in the corner)

[BillWilliams]

Two that I have used for similar occasions that have simple chords and are possibly familiar to most of your group:

• Tomorrow is a long time (Nickel Creek, Dylan)

• Never ending love for you (Country Gazette, Delaney and Bonnie)

[Mandobart]

Two chord songs - Tulsa Time, Jambalaya, Unknown Legend, Rex's Blues, Horse With No Name, lots more.

But, seriously, unless you're purely doing this just for fun and don't expect to get paying gigs the band you describe sounds IMO the makings of a sonic mess. Realistically better suited for just jug band stuff.

The great majority of my playing is purely fun jams, social activities. As soon as we take on a paying gig we cull it down to the "good" players, put together a set list and have several rehearsals ahead of time.

[Dan in NH]

Pick a key. Then… 12bar Blues

This. 12 bar blues in E, 12 bar blues in A. That’s an easy 500 songs that everybody already knows the words to.

[steve in tampa]

If the guitar guys don't like it they won't play it, or at least play it well.

Old Time music has many songs that were translated to bluegrass, country, and rock.

Get a "Fakebook" with traditional songs. Someone will click on something.

[Jim_G]

The old John Hartford rule should apply. As long as one person can play the song (any song) all the way through give it a shot.

[Phil-D]

Almost anything Eagles or Grateful Dead