Most neophyte singers copy big time musical stars singing. This is good because you find out what styles and range fit you. You never know if you sound good doing a song until you try it. Then as posted above, you cull out the sucky ones and keep the tunes you do best.
After years of covering popular singers, you get an idea of what your original style should be and start breaking new ground in that direction.
651 2011-03-19 14:48:38
Re: What Key do I sing in? (15 replies, posted in Acoustic)
652 2011-03-19 12:17:59
Re: This won't last long! (12 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
Newbie plucker wrote:
jerome.oneil wrote:Some of the best advice I ever got was... "You may not ever find another guitar like that again, but you can always get a new old lady."
Or else end up a lonely old man with a very nice guitar.
I'm no genius but sometimes no company is better than bad company.
A good guitar will never deliberately put you down.
653 2011-03-19 12:14:47
Re: Help with a few chords... (4 replies, posted in Song requests)
The chords on the sound track are: F minor, C# Major 7th,Ab and Eb. and it repeats.
With a capo in the first fret you can use open chord shapes:
Em, C major 7th, G and D.
toots
654 2011-03-18 09:32:02
Re: Chords for: ‘Alone but not Lonely’ by Mary Chapin Carpenter (16 replies, posted in Song requests)
If you post a link to a video or audio I might help if it's not terribly complicated.
toots
655 2011-03-18 09:17:23
Re: What Key do I sing in? (15 replies, posted in Acoustic)
Mostly, but not always, the first and last chord in a song is the key of the song. Most often a song in "C" will begin and end with a C chord.
Some melodies are written high in a particular key and others written low in the same key.
All we need to be concerned with is finding our comfortable vocal range.
Try it higher, try it lower until you find a range where you can sing it most comfortably. It varies with each different song.
656 2011-03-16 09:31:09
Re: Buddy stuart 99lbs of dynamite (2 replies, posted in Song requests)
mightytiger, The song is in Eb so you may find it easier to capo the first fret and use Chord shapes in the key of D, or play it in D.
The first progression is D, A minor, G and A.
At the lyric, "When she kisses and holds me tight" chords are:
D, F#,G,G# and A (same chords at"When she squeezes with all her might").
The bridge chords are:G, D G D then E (pause) at "care I know" (There would be an E chord but the guitar line lays out)
Chords over the second half of the song are the same as the first half.
I bet a dollar to a dime you are learning this song to woo some woman.
toots
657 2011-03-14 23:37:21
Re: End pin woes (8 replies, posted in Acoustic)
Topdown's link describes a method to build up the thickness of the end pin with glue. Allowing the glue to dry completely before reinserting the end pin allows it to be pulled out anytime without sticking.
658 2011-03-14 23:29:36
Re: Vintage V300 (4 replies, posted in Acoustic)
JustinG, I have an Ovation Applause. With the plastic back and laminate top, it is a good boat guitar. The moisture doesn't affect it as bad as wood. It is not very loud but at my age, I don't need a guitar drowning my voice out.
I also have a mid 70's Yamaha dreadnought acoustic. It plays like a dream since I had a good luthier set it up and it has a sound to die for.
You can hear it in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LU0-gj- … re=related
toots
659 2011-03-14 13:23:25
Re: Well...... I tried it. (13 replies, posted in Recording)
Zurf wrote:
geoaguiar wrote:Wishing you luck...and I will buy that beer. I go to DC for work now and again. We'll work out a meeting place.
Make a point of it, PLEASE!
Pete - I don't think I'm going to Youtube it unless and until I get myself to a point where I've done some open mics. That's why I'm practicing in my "studio" with a mic, pickup, and amp. Also, I find it's a whole, whole, whole lot easier to control my voice in process when I can hear myself. I'm going to start recommending using a mic and monitor when people ask about improving their singing.
- Zurf
Good idea, Zurf.
I learned to sing on stage using a microphone. I learned to listen to the sound coming out of the speakers and to make changes to THAT sound which is a more accurate representation of what you sound like than what you normally hear.
Open mic concerts teach us to focus outside of our selves and direct our communication outward towards the audience. Do simple songs that you know well at first. As you sing, never forget to aim your sound at the far end of the room. Your voice will automatically project and your sound will focus out to the crowd like it should.
660 2011-03-14 12:45:09
Re: Drinking Songs (34 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
wlbaye wrote:
I've been waiting but no one's gonna put it up , so here it is
The Best Drinking Song !
I was afraid to post that one, Wlbaye. Rodney Carrington is, to most, the ultimate hardcore funny. He and Pat Dailey are in a league all their own. Rodney's piano man is one sick individual.
I appreciate the fact that your sense of humor is as decadent and jaded as is mine.
toots
661 2011-03-14 12:35:43
Re: Drinking Songs (34 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
topdown wrote:
Tubatooter - It was just announced that Pat Dailey is playing at a bar in Tampa this coming Saturday, 3/19. I plan on going. If you've got the hankering for another drive, I got a bed for ya in St. Pete. It's a 21 and over show, so bring a fake I.D.
Jeff, that would be so great. Can't have any more fun than catching Pat Dailey's show and picking guitar and hoisting beers with you, buddy. Thank you for thinking of me, sir. Rain check, please?
I wouldn't need a fake I.D. I'm so darn old there is this dude with a shovel who follows me around every where I go.
I have a gig on the 19th playing a BBQ cook-off. I have several comedy BBQ songs ready to go and a fervent desire to pig out.
I'm still planning a trip to your location. Haven't got a firm date yet.
toots
662 2011-03-14 12:11:40
Re: Stop! Hey, What's That Sound?! - Buffalo Springfield's hit song (2 replies, posted in Acoustic)
A really good job by all A1S.
Proud of you, buddy.
toots
663 2011-03-13 00:56:48
Re: Drinking Songs (34 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
I can never contemplate drinking songs without thinking about the Irish who some say, invented booze. I have also heard that whisky was invented to prevent the Irish nation from taking over the world.
Would like to dedicate this to Old Doll, an honored Chordian, who is recovering from surgery and is sorely missed by many of us.
Get back to us soon, dear lady.
664 2011-03-13 00:34:34
Re: yes roundabout (8 replies, posted in Electric)
Here's a U-Tube tutorial on the intro:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ar8_oT8C … ure=fvwrel
or:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6JKOjxh … re=related
Chords are Em, Am on the lyric "way". After that there is a walkdown that sounds like: Bm, D, G maJ 7 AND F. Then Em to Bm. Em, Am, then the walkdown again (Bm,D,G maj7 andF) to: (G, C, Csus, C, Csus, C, G) followed by: (G C, Csus, C, Bb,Bb, G)
Em at:"I'll be there with you". Em to Bm for the riff.
At 3.26 in this video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riE2xHDgODg&NR=1 There is a Bb.Bb,Em. That takes you to the piano solo where the chords are G and Bb. At the guitar solo at 3.55 the chords are: G6 to F until the riffs they play together at the end.
Final chords are: Em to Am over the riffs to the end.
I decided to give it to you this way rather than e-mail so other Chordians can see it.
Enjoy,
toots
665 2011-03-10 12:50:51
Re: chords for Young Years by Dragon (2 replies, posted in Song requests)
Hi, MP.
The chords are G, E minor, C and D.
There is an extra A Minor in the bridge.
Coming out of the ride there is a walkup that goes A minor, B minor, C and D.
I liked the song. Have fun.
toots
666 2011-03-10 12:36:10
Re: COMA By Max Sharam (3 replies, posted in Song requests)
Hi, Jewels8080,
The quiet verse part seems to be D minor to Bb back and forth.
The loud part with the lyric "coming around" goes (D,A,D then G,C,G,C)x2
Then back to Dm, Bb
Couldn't detect any chords over the lead guitar ride, but afterwards:
Dm, Bb until the "coming around" loud part chords over and over to the end.
toots
667 2011-03-10 12:18:56
Re: Drinking Songs (34 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
WW55,cool! Any fun song is a drinking song when you're snoggered.
668 2011-03-10 12:15:45
Re: Drinking Songs (34 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
That's cute, MKM. Never heard that one before.
A little nasal twang never hurt anybody.
There may be a place in a country drinking song medley for a few lines from that song.
Thanks
669 2011-03-09 22:14:38
Re: Drinking Songs (34 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
badeye wrote:
here's one for ya toots.. the master of the telecaster
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjVfc8-Y … re=related
badeye
Great video, Badeye. Albert Collins finger picks a mess of lead guitar on his Telecaster and is one scary looking dude. He had that crowd right where he wanted them.
Quote Pat Dailey, "I ain't drink. I just been drunkin'."
670 2011-03-09 14:12:30
Re: Mardi Gras Music (3 replies, posted in Bands and artists)
Professor Longhair represents traditional Mardi Gras Music:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wAMr3V5 … re=related
Gotta love the meters music:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nCJIlOO … re=related
Everybody needs to know how to do the second line dance:
671 2011-03-09 12:49:18
Re: OK old guys and physiologists (32 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
I'm in shape.
Round is a shape. 
toots
672 2011-03-09 12:31:25
Re: Playing to my OWN age (13 replies, posted in Acoustic)
I appreciate you guys embracing music from our bygone days. I'm 69 and have been playing music since high school.
The above approach works fine if your audience is old duffers like we are. If we plan to play for a younger or mixed age group, we better be prepared to "get it on".
We may have snow on the roof but there is still fire in the furnace and junk in the trunk. We must never forget how satisfying and fun it is to rock out. Yes, we can relate to and play oldies but as our abilities permit we can afford to be generous enough to include music for younger audience members.
673 2011-03-09 01:31:51
Topic: Mardi Gras Music (3 replies, posted in Bands and artists)
Today is Fat Tuesday, the final day of Mardi Gras - a two week long boozeup leading up to Ash Wednesday and the 40 grim, do-without days of lent.
Mardi Gras music is fun toe-tapping stuff. In myn humble opinion, Doctor John does it best:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JESFMO1H … dded#at=74
674 2011-03-08 14:08:05
Re: friday's blues fix (1,560 replies, posted in Bands and artists)
Here's a blues song by the mega-talented Asylum Street Spankers.
This tune is clean enough for Chordie standards.
If you will, play some other cuts by this band. They are risque but FUNNY.
toots
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zr3NiNMk … re=related
Their arrangement of a Chordie favorite:
675 2011-03-08 12:40:50
Re: Drinking Songs (34 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
I covered this tune by Pat Dailey on my "Signature Tunes" C.D.: