About a year ago I thought I'd try to learn some James Taylor, Fire and Rain to be more exact, but it was a bit over my head and humiliation ensued. I've got a ton of respect for his guitar playing, it's so intricate but yet he makes it sound so simple.
Well, I thought that a couple days ago, I'd give it another shot, and I think my playing is starting to get there.
This is just my attempt at the intro.
http://www.box.net/shared/gqh5hu5viz
In Space, no one can hear me sing!
sounds great.
Great job... I had the same experience a while back - gave some of his songs a try and went away with my tail between my legs.
Did you get this out of a book or online tabs? Can you pass me the link or give me the name of the book?
PS: I finally got a copy of Fingerpicking Disney that you mentioned in another thread (that was you, right?). Awesome book... lots of great songs. Candle on the water and Can you feel the love are now front and center in my practice routine.
My Fingerstyle Guitar Blog:
http://fsguitar.wordpress.com
My Guitars
Ibanez Artwood AWS1000ECE-NT
Schecter S-1 30th Anniversary Edition
Ovation CS257
LaPatrie Etude
Washburn Rover RO10
Thanks guys!
I bought a tab book 2 days ago called "The Best of James Taylor"
http://www.amazon.com/Best-James-Taylor/dp/0793514207
It doesn't have a couple songs in it that I would have liked, but I had forgotten about them when I bought the book and didn't realize they were missing until looking of songs on youtube. It's still a great book though.
Glad to hear you got the Disney book. It really is a great book. The reviews say the songs sound nothing like the music in the movies, but I'm guessing he's just not playing right, because they all sound fine to me.
Can You Feel the Love Tonight is the next one I'm going to work on from that book. I can play it pretty well just passing through it, but I think with a bit of focused practice it will sound much better.
In Space, no one can hear me sing!
That Joe... I don't really have the budget for any more songbooks right now... my wife will kill me :)
Can you take a look at this tab and let me know if it is close to what you have... sounds okay to me:
http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/j/james_taylor/fire_and_rain_ver2_guitar_pro.htm
My Fingerstyle Guitar Blog:
http://fsguitar.wordpress.com
My Guitars
Ibanez Artwood AWS1000ECE-NT
Schecter S-1 30th Anniversary Edition
Ovation CS257
LaPatrie Etude
Washburn Rover RO10
It's a bit close to what I've got, but the've added somethings and took away others...that's the best way I can describe it. If I had a scanner I would scan the pages and send it to you. Actually, I can go to my parents to do that, I'll be over there this morning.
This book was sort of an impulse buy for me....I really shouldn't have bought it. :lol:
In Space, no one can hear me sing!
it sounded good joe - its a nice piece.
how did you record this - i know you usually use video's - did you mic up your guitar or is it an electro acoustic you can plug straight in?
"I like to play that guitar. I have to stare at it while I'm playing it because I'm not very good at playing it."
Noel Gallagher (who took the words right out of my mouth)
Thanks!
The guitar is electric/acoustic but I didn't use the electronics.
I had used the mic that was built into my laptop so it was pure acoustic sound from a fairly crap mic, then I did some noise removal on it, and it made is sound actually quite good.
In Space, no one can hear me sing!
cool!!
do you need a special software for noise removal - how do you do it?
everything i record has loads of hiss on it?
"I like to play that guitar. I have to stare at it while I'm playing it because I'm not very good at playing it."
Noel Gallagher (who took the words right out of my mouth)
I sent you a PM with the software that I use.
In Space, no one can hear me sing!
Damn that's good! One of my favorite JT tunes :D
Joe ... it sounded like music. Mission accomplished. Congrats!
"Work hard, rock hard, eat hard, sleep hard,
grow big, wear glasses if you need 'em."
-- The Webb Wilder Credo --
Way to go, Joe. 8)
I too had that James Taylor pack-it-away-for-next year experience. Twice so far.
Roy
"I wonder if a composer ever intentionally composed a piece that was physically impossible to play and stuck it away to be found years later after his death, knowing it would forever drive perfectionist musicians crazy." - George Carlin
Thanks guys! I'm still working on the song, there are some parts that are pretty tough, but the intro for me was a HUGE success.
In Space, no one can hear me sing!
James Taylor isn't easy. Good job Joe!
