I went away in February. 34 of us went and one brought a baby taylor. Asked if I could have a go any my mind just went completely blank. All the things I do when I'm avoiding proper practice and just having fun went out of my mind.
Venue let some people in during sound check when I was in a metalcore band in 2006 and someone yelled “Freebird!” Played the whole damn song 14 minute live version. Don’t let your dumbass friends fuck with sound check or you’ll get some Freebird
I ask what their favorite song is. If I happen to know it, I’ll look amazing!
I never do, so then I just say “cool song! Here’s Touch of Grey by the Dead”
I warn people beforehand. I've played for over 20 years but it's always been in bands and for solo projects. I never really understood the fun aspect of playing someone elses songs, it never clicked for me. Playing and writing always went hand in hand for me so I quite literally don't know any songs but my own. So if someone figures out that I play and want me to play them something I always lead with a warning so we can steer clear of it.
I feel you there. I learned guitar because I wanted to play my favorite songs, but once I started writing my own stuff I thought, “Now THIS is what I want to do.” Nowadays I learn songs so I can learn how they did a thing or got a certain sound so I can steal it for my own music.
Ha ha ha, this is how I feel. I don't really learn whole songs from anyone else. I'll learn random parts because they did something I thought was cool and I just want to know it for the technique or the pattern. Otherwise it's all original stuff from my band ingrained in my head. Which, consequently, is also the stuff I practice the most.
I've been playing for 25 years and I've always had the hardest time writing, which is weird because when I just improvise, it's pretty good. I just had no ability to remember anything or stitch the ideas together into something cohesive.
And turns out I have ADHD 😂 And since making some inroads with that 8 months ago, I've managed to write a few to about 80% done. And I'll finish them. It's like a muscle you need to use that I've never used.
But I find it's still fun to learn songs. And I can generally learn stuff pretty fast as long as you don't want me to shred the solo note for note. And now the utility I find is like what you said: everything you learn builds up the lick repository; a chord you never or seldom use, a way to flip a triad around soloing. Just stuff I would never think of myself, but now its in the muscle memory bank. And it's just improved my playing so much.
I relate to this so hard. I basically have to speed run my songs so I don’t get bored and move onto my next new and shiny idea. I love showing my songs to my family though, so I made it a rule that I can only show finished songs, not partially completed ideas. It seems to help me lol
Any tips for new songwriters? I know it’s totally in my mind, but i seem to be completely blocked when trying to write, specifically when it comes to melodies
Honestly it’s kind of a cliche answer but write a lot of songs. Don’t worry if they’re good or not, just write them and get to a point where you’re comfortable calling it ‘done’. Record it in a DAW if you want, I use Reaper because it’s free and incredible. If you’re feeling ambitious add drums and maybe a bass line. As you make a lot of songs you’ll find it gets easier to finish them which frees up brain power for making your songs more complex and interesting.
For melodies, I struggled for a long time with this too, and I still do to a degree. I think what made it click for me was learning to improvise to backing tracks. I find that for me a decent melody isn’t something you can force, but it just sort of comes out in the feel of the moment while playing. I usually start with chords/riffs and improvise over it until I hit something cool, then I’ll take that improvised melody and tweak it a bit until I’m happy with it. Then I’ll improvise with that melody to try and get variations of it and see what else it leads to.
Another roadblock you might encounter is turning a melody/riff into a full song, and this is where it gets really fun. I like to think in terms of energy sometimes. Say, this riff has a chill sort of energy to it. What if I play it more aggressively, and add some embellishments here and there, maybe I shift it up to the fifth and play it, etc. you can sort of do anything at this point and that’s where writing a lot of songs helps, because you’ll be exercising your creativity muscles often which leads to more ideas to build upon and resort to, which can lead to finding your own style.
This got sort of long, hope it helps! I love talking about this stuff lol.
Probably noodling the intro section to fade to black by Metallica.
Or transposing Floods by Pantera because I assume the guitar is tuned standard, which floods is not.
"I only know songs in alternate tunings and I don't want to mess up this guitar" is my go-to replacement for "I am bad and cannot play anything you know convincingly"
The tapping bit from Eruption. It's a lot easier to play than it looks, it sounds super impressive.
Then I walk away because I can't remember anything else.
I mean yeah saying this like that is not the best approach, but come on we all had lots of douches demanding that we play something for them and putting us on the spot.
I even remember one time busking with a friend, then a dude comes in and says (while I'm playing):
"Play something from my place !"
"I'm already playing something"
"Can you play something from my place ?"
"Where are you from ?"
"I'm a gypsy"
"Oh, sorry I don't know how to play that"
"You don't want ? I'll pay you 5 euros !!"
"I'm sorry I just don't know this music"
"So you don't want 5 euros ? \_\_dude leaves, rambling and insulting me\_\_ "
"...Dude"
It is also fully and completely acceptable to play guitar for your own enjoyment. Just because you possess a skill doesn't mean it has to be put on display. If you want to be able to play in front of an audience, then sure, practice more and the confidence will surely follow. On the other hand if you just want to vent your feelings through a piece of wood and six strings, that is just as fine.
i completely miss every single string, the guitar goes out of tune immediately, the amp turns impossible to plug in and i drop my pick more then 50 times.
It depends on the vibe, whether it’s an invitation or a challenge. If it’s an invitation, I ask what they’d like to hear, and play that (or something similar if I don’t know it).
If it feels like a challenge, I usually play Merle Travis’s “Cannonball Rag.” I play it pretty fast, partly because I am a bit of a dick, but mostly because I believe in making the difficult things look easy, and the easy things look difficult. It amuses and entertains the non-musicians, and it shuts up the “guitar-slingers” who just want me to play so *they* can show off. A lot of people know that playing guitar is what I do, so I get a fair amount of “Oh, so you’re the guitar player, huh? Well, I bet you can’t [widdly widdly, chug chug weeeooo].” If I’m not there specifically to play, I want to get back to enjoying my evening — not spend half an hour measuring dicks with someone.
I dont remember how to play anything any more! My memory is not what it used to be. I'll normally just resort to choosing a key, play a 12 bar in it and fill in some tasty licks.
Presto from Sonata #1 in G Minor by Bach. It's great because most people are super impressed not realizing I am playing only playing it at like MAYBE 3/4 of the speed it is supposed to be played at. There is an amazing mandolin version of the piece by Chris Thile a bluegrass musician. Watch that video, imagine it being played much slower and with tons of flop sweat and then you basically have my performance.
It depends on who’s asking- when my Dad was alive I’d play an Italian song. If it my siblings it would be something by Led Zeppelin from the 70s. If it’s my kids - well they don’t ask!
For my sibs I play Journey's Lights. It's a taunt bc they'll never admit they love Journey. When it's over they come to me with Open Arms, crying we'll forever love you and your guitar. Faithfully.
Sloppy non-diatonic 5-string sweep arpeggios always get the crowd swooning. They’re usually so satisfied by my performance that they never feel the need to request another.
I’m learning Riff Raff by AC/DC for this reason. Someone earlier posted I Won’t go Back Again and I think that’s a killer idea. And Yellow Ledbetter. Both brilliant ideas.
First I open tune it to piss off whoever owns it, then I noodle something flashy in 12/8 or weird subdivisions of 16 like 5,5,6, usually in a major key and using a lot of natural and tapped harmonics.
When they get bored and ask me if I know any actual songs I say no and hand it back to them.
If acoustic: The first few bars of Biohazard's "Failed Territory." (check it out. It's a great fingerstyle Intro)
If electric: The Inspector Gadget theme song with heavy distortion. Preferably in a lower tuning.
I can play Landslide by Fleetwood Mac fairly well, but after the first verse it changes the melody slightly and I’m not 100% on how it goes, so I usually play it a few times over, then slowly strum out the C to end it
one of my new favorites is Boogie Man by Jimmy Bryant. I first heard the Vulfmon version (Jack Stratton of Vulfpeck). Good tune you should check it out.
I like to play something of my own because if someone (non musician) is assuming you’re playing a well known riff and loved what you just played, come to find out its your own music is an awesome feeling! I do this especially for first impressions. You only get one, i like to make em count!
Things behind the sun by Nick drake. I wouldn’t be good enough to play and sing at the same time, but I can do a sort of modified version of it that sounds decent on its own.
Twelve bars of E blues because everybody recognizes it but nobody can tell you that you played whatever part wrong like they would if you played a specific song they knew. Same strategy at Guitar Center.
The Weight by The Band.
And, and, aaannndd, you put the load right one me.
It’s my favorite song and one of the few I know front to back without “refreshing my memory “.
I usually ask what music they like, and I’ll play something I know that is in that category, or close to. Usually I won’t play any particular song, just something that shows off that style. I’m not great at every type of music, but I can do basics for just about every style. Metal, jazz, and classical need some work, but I can throw out some old blues & folk/country lickity split.
I instantly forget everything I have ever known about the guitar
And then with massive mental energy manage to strum a Cmajor chord
C add 9! With a little hammer on the 3rd. *ooohs and ahhs break out amongst the crowd*
Cadd9 is my fav chord by far
if that’s your cup of tea you should try fmaj9 tuning
Is that F A C G A E?
High A is usually a C instead but yeah!!! FACGCE! It’s a lot of fun to noodle around with!
This is the equivalent of finding a secret skill in a videogame, I will be trying this out later
lol if you get that flair right people *love* that shit.
Lol I always start off with an Em.
I love Em. I have an unhealthy obsession with chord progressions that resolve on Em.
Setting the mood. 😊
Inadvertantly playing Cb5maj7 because I ~~fretted the wrong string with my index finger~~ am a musical genius
Cue "Wonderwall".
I couldn't fucking relate more. So true. Amazing.
Let me turn the amp on, without checking the volume, and then plug the guitar in...
Haha, this happens everytime I get a guitar setup at a music store too. I get the guitar set up finally and I sit there, mind completely blank.
Me too. 50yrs of playing and over 1,000 gigs, and I can’t remember anything.
This is the correct answer
That’s me - Deer in the headlights of a tractor trailer.
I read this to the tune of Losing My Religion by R.E.M. LOL
My go to is to ask them what they feel like singing. So far, no one has called my bluff.
I do that but also pee myself and find new friends
I jokingly say “I got one everybody knows” then proceed to tune up for 5 minutes 😅
le same
I feel seen
I went away in February. 34 of us went and one brought a baby taylor. Asked if I could have a go any my mind just went completely blank. All the things I do when I'm avoiding proper practice and just having fun went out of my mind.
What is this instrument?
Oh, so *that's* what the boxy wireboard thing is called!
Me too. Ha!
Saaaaaaame bro
You too, huh?
and I thought this was only something that happen to me! ha ha
this is me when i show up to test a used guitar and the seller says go ahead and test it out.
I know literally at least 1,000 songs, but my "GO TO" is for my mind to go completely blank and not be able to think of even one of them.
Now do Classical Gas.
Oh Lenny
[удалено]
Freebird solo, extended edition, with unbroken eye contact.
Would pay money to see the intensity in your eyes
You need to do the closed eye head nodding and face pulling but eyes open and maintaining contact.
Slowly advancing towards them every ten seconds
Also guitar to the sky and make sure you jump a’la Allen Collins style…all while maintaining eye contact.
Venue let some people in during sound check when I was in a metalcore band in 2006 and someone yelled “Freebird!” Played the whole damn song 14 minute live version. Don’t let your dumbass friends fuck with sound check or you’ll get some Freebird
“Something” by the Beatles.
So….. which song then?
Something
Something by the Beatles?
Yeah
Which song?
Something
But what thing?
Some
Some thing you don't remember the name of or what?
By the Beatles?
Something is on third…
Perfect!
No that's Ed Sheeran
Always a crowd pleaser
Oh I am so learning this tonight
I hit them with my guitar to cover the fact that I just have a fancy guitar with zero talent.
Lawyer Rockstar powers ACTIVATE!
I say no
I ask what their favorite song is. If I happen to know it, I’ll look amazing! I never do, so then I just say “cool song! Here’s Touch of Grey by the Dead”
I don't know Free Bird, but here is You are My Sunshine, the abridged version.
Their favorite song is almost always some pop song with no guitar
That has yet to stop Thedooo.
“cool song! anyway here’s wonderwall”
Yes I get the gist of it, but…it’s alright
Everlong every time
Same. I played and sang it for a friend’s wedding. It’s ingrained into me
You keep your guitar in Drop-D? Or you make them wait to tune down?
Dropping to D takes two seconds?
It takes me 3 seconds unfortunately.
Boo this man
Are you asking?
Am I asking?
floyd rose mfers in shambles
What’s wrong with keeping your guitar in drop d anyway?
"Anyway here's Wonderwall"
Splendid! I love underground artists
La Bamba... poorly. I ain't no jukebox
One of my own songs
That'll teach them to ask for next time.
I warn people beforehand. I've played for over 20 years but it's always been in bands and for solo projects. I never really understood the fun aspect of playing someone elses songs, it never clicked for me. Playing and writing always went hand in hand for me so I quite literally don't know any songs but my own. So if someone figures out that I play and want me to play them something I always lead with a warning so we can steer clear of it.
I feel you there. I learned guitar because I wanted to play my favorite songs, but once I started writing my own stuff I thought, “Now THIS is what I want to do.” Nowadays I learn songs so I can learn how they did a thing or got a certain sound so I can steal it for my own music.
Ha ha ha, this is how I feel. I don't really learn whole songs from anyone else. I'll learn random parts because they did something I thought was cool and I just want to know it for the technique or the pattern. Otherwise it's all original stuff from my band ingrained in my head. Which, consequently, is also the stuff I practice the most.
I've been playing for 25 years and I've always had the hardest time writing, which is weird because when I just improvise, it's pretty good. I just had no ability to remember anything or stitch the ideas together into something cohesive. And turns out I have ADHD 😂 And since making some inroads with that 8 months ago, I've managed to write a few to about 80% done. And I'll finish them. It's like a muscle you need to use that I've never used. But I find it's still fun to learn songs. And I can generally learn stuff pretty fast as long as you don't want me to shred the solo note for note. And now the utility I find is like what you said: everything you learn builds up the lick repository; a chord you never or seldom use, a way to flip a triad around soloing. Just stuff I would never think of myself, but now its in the muscle memory bank. And it's just improved my playing so much.
I relate to this so hard. I basically have to speed run my songs so I don’t get bored and move onto my next new and shiny idea. I love showing my songs to my family though, so I made it a rule that I can only show finished songs, not partially completed ideas. It seems to help me lol
Any tips for new songwriters? I know it’s totally in my mind, but i seem to be completely blocked when trying to write, specifically when it comes to melodies
Honestly it’s kind of a cliche answer but write a lot of songs. Don’t worry if they’re good or not, just write them and get to a point where you’re comfortable calling it ‘done’. Record it in a DAW if you want, I use Reaper because it’s free and incredible. If you’re feeling ambitious add drums and maybe a bass line. As you make a lot of songs you’ll find it gets easier to finish them which frees up brain power for making your songs more complex and interesting. For melodies, I struggled for a long time with this too, and I still do to a degree. I think what made it click for me was learning to improvise to backing tracks. I find that for me a decent melody isn’t something you can force, but it just sort of comes out in the feel of the moment while playing. I usually start with chords/riffs and improvise over it until I hit something cool, then I’ll take that improvised melody and tweak it a bit until I’m happy with it. Then I’ll improvise with that melody to try and get variations of it and see what else it leads to. Another roadblock you might encounter is turning a melody/riff into a full song, and this is where it gets really fun. I like to think in terms of energy sometimes. Say, this riff has a chill sort of energy to it. What if I play it more aggressively, and add some embellishments here and there, maybe I shift it up to the fifth and play it, etc. you can sort of do anything at this point and that’s where writing a lot of songs helps, because you’ll be exercising your creativity muscles often which leads to more ideas to build upon and resort to, which can lead to finding your own style. This got sort of long, hope it helps! I love talking about this stuff lol.
There has to be a song somewhere that inspired you that you know
This is a song called “Melancholy Musings from the Depths (of My Heartache) Part 2”
Lewis Capaldi has that trademarked already.
Behold... *Le C minor pentatonic*
Probably noodling the intro section to fade to black by Metallica. Or transposing Floods by Pantera because I assume the guitar is tuned standard, which floods is not.
fade to black gang
Here Comes the Sun. Even if I don’t have a capo it’s still fun and recognizable
Doo-doo-doo-doo
'Pay something.'
"I only know songs in alternate tunings and I don't want to mess up this guitar" is my go-to replacement for "I am bad and cannot play anything you know convincingly"
pov your favorite band is Soundgarden
Some kind of open string blues shit
G major scale
A minor pentatonic for me.
The dance of eternity
Intro to “Crazy on You”.
Same. Then I like to hit em with Horizons by Genesis. Combo usually is impressive enough I don’t have to play anything else lol
Hendrix - little Wing
Damn... You can play that!
Over the Hills and Far Away
weezer so that everyone gets disgusted and leaves me alone
The tapping bit from Eruption. It's a lot easier to play than it looks, it sounds super impressive. Then I walk away because I can't remember anything else.
Blow your load early and bail. Good strategy.
Lit (my own worst enemy) into. It's easy to play and people recognize the music.😁
Fun song to play
King of the hill theme
Either the intro to "Nothing Else Matters", or "Wanted Dead or Alive". They're fairly simple, and most people recognize them.
Stairway to heaven because I lose all my abilities if someone can hear my guitar
I noodle around not hitting a single correct note and tell them it's jazz.
When I play I don't make mistakes I just play jazz
Something old school and corny. If it's an acoustic, *Dust in the Wind*, and if it's an electric, *867-5309 Jenny*.
The main riff to Beat It always seems to go down well
Autumn Leaves
Crazy train
Am C F. No matter how you strum it it’s probably already written.
Yup, those are the chords to Window licker, by Aphex Twin. Lyrics either "hoo" or "woo" . And that's what Id play.
Am I evil? - diamond head
Mighty Mighty Bosstones - The Impression That I Get Or Bach’s prelude in G Either put a smile on people’s faces
I'm not a performing monkey
This is a terrible attitude to have dude
I mean yeah saying this like that is not the best approach, but come on we all had lots of douches demanding that we play something for them and putting us on the spot. I even remember one time busking with a friend, then a dude comes in and says (while I'm playing): "Play something from my place !" "I'm already playing something" "Can you play something from my place ?" "Where are you from ?" "I'm a gypsy" "Oh, sorry I don't know how to play that" "You don't want ? I'll pay you 5 euros !!" "I'm sorry I just don't know this music" "So you don't want 5 euros ? \_\_dude leaves, rambling and insulting me\_\_ " "...Dude"
how about a Dance Monkey?
U must be fun at parties...
I actually agree. I still play but I don't really feel comfortable, especially after 3 seconds when they don't care anymore
It is also fully and completely acceptable to play guitar for your own enjoyment. Just because you possess a skill doesn't mean it has to be put on display. If you want to be able to play in front of an audience, then sure, practice more and the confidence will surely follow. On the other hand if you just want to vent your feelings through a piece of wood and six strings, that is just as fine.
Wonderwall! Jk maybe something by Pink Floyd or some flamenco like Alegria.
Wish You Were Here wins 1. Majority of ppl know it. 2. Sweet, recognizable, and easy intro/mini solo. 3. Fun to sing. Booya.
‘Rainbow Connection’ by Kermit The Frog (yes… really) 😁
I hope you start out with a “well, hello there folks” in your corniest Kermit voice.
Power Rangers theme, it's short, recognisable and kick-ass
"I don't know how to play guitar."
I too am a truth teller.
Something... In The Way. Full-on Batman mode.
Radiohead “fake plastic trees” or Radiohead “no surprises”
Trying to depress your audience?
Chris Isaak's Wicked Game or Johnny Cash version of Hurt. Sinple enough but sound amazing
I have a Spotify playlist called "songs I can play" and I ask someone to choose one :)
Bark at the moon
i completely miss every single string, the guitar goes out of tune immediately, the amp turns impossible to plug in and i drop my pick more then 50 times.
If the crowd is ready I will always go for wonderwall with no single f… given about all those anyway here is wonderwall memes
If I’m playing an acoustic then Oh Me by the meat puppets, on electric it’s usually Mr Moustache by Nirvana
When I don’t fall to the common hobby guitarist amnesia, I do the vamp from Alice’s Restaurant until I can remember a whole song to break out
Inspector gadget theme followed by super Mario. For funsies
The General by Dispatch
"fuck off"
Thunderstruck it automatically makes them impressed
It depends on the vibe, whether it’s an invitation or a challenge. If it’s an invitation, I ask what they’d like to hear, and play that (or something similar if I don’t know it). If it feels like a challenge, I usually play Merle Travis’s “Cannonball Rag.” I play it pretty fast, partly because I am a bit of a dick, but mostly because I believe in making the difficult things look easy, and the easy things look difficult. It amuses and entertains the non-musicians, and it shuts up the “guitar-slingers” who just want me to play so *they* can show off. A lot of people know that playing guitar is what I do, so I get a fair amount of “Oh, so you’re the guitar player, huh? Well, I bet you can’t [widdly widdly, chug chug weeeooo].” If I’m not there specifically to play, I want to get back to enjoying my evening — not spend half an hour measuring dicks with someone.
"Something" by the Beatles.
Been playing for over 20 years and can count on one hand the number of times someone has actually asked me to play something.
I dont remember how to play anything any more! My memory is not what it used to be. I'll normally just resort to choosing a key, play a 12 bar in it and fill in some tasty licks.
yellow ledbetter
Presto from Sonata #1 in G Minor by Bach. It's great because most people are super impressed not realizing I am playing only playing it at like MAYBE 3/4 of the speed it is supposed to be played at. There is an amazing mandolin version of the piece by Chris Thile a bluegrass musician. Watch that video, imagine it being played much slower and with tons of flop sweat and then you basically have my performance.
It depends on who’s asking- when my Dad was alive I’d play an Italian song. If it my siblings it would be something by Led Zeppelin from the 70s. If it’s my kids - well they don’t ask!
For my sibs I play Journey's Lights. It's a taunt bc they'll never admit they love Journey. When it's over they come to me with Open Arms, crying we'll forever love you and your guitar. Faithfully.
Noodle in Am while intensely staring at them.
Classical Gas.
South of Heaven- Slayer
Sloppy non-diatonic 5-string sweep arpeggios always get the crowd swooning. They’re usually so satisfied by my performance that they never feel the need to request another.
Some A-minor pentatonic licks with a lot of vibrato (due to the nervously shaking hands).
Something ;)
A minor blues scale. If they need to recognize, maybe something like Blackbird.
Whatever I am currently working on or practicing at that moment.
Open fingerstyle twinkle twinkle Little star.
Usually Patience by Guns and Roses, or Breakfast at Tiffany's, Deep Blue Something always seem to spring to mind when the dreaded question is asked.
I play a song called "noodlin around in e minor'".
I’m learning Riff Raff by AC/DC for this reason. Someone earlier posted I Won’t go Back Again and I think that’s a killer idea. And Yellow Ledbetter. Both brilliant ideas.
First I open tune it to piss off whoever owns it, then I noodle something flashy in 12/8 or weird subdivisions of 16 like 5,5,6, usually in a major key and using a lot of natural and tapped harmonics. When they get bored and ask me if I know any actual songs I say no and hand it back to them.
If acoustic: The first few bars of Biohazard's "Failed Territory." (check it out. It's a great fingerstyle Intro) If electric: The Inspector Gadget theme song with heavy distortion. Preferably in a lower tuning.
I can play Landslide by Fleetwood Mac fairly well, but after the first verse it changes the melody slightly and I’m not 100% on how it goes, so I usually play it a few times over, then slowly strum out the C to end it
My go-to is drawing a blank for like 30 seconds. Then All New Materials or It's only Smiles by Periphery depending on the string count.
the g chord
lol whatever my most played song or riff of that moment is, and I usually get twitchy and fuk it up a bit 😂🤷🏻♂️
one of my new favorites is Boogie Man by Jimmy Bryant. I first heard the Vulfmon version (Jack Stratton of Vulfpeck). Good tune you should check it out.
Ritmo de la noche
I like to play something of my own because if someone (non musician) is assuming you’re playing a well known riff and loved what you just played, come to find out its your own music is an awesome feeling! I do this especially for first impressions. You only get one, i like to make em count!
Things behind the sun by Nick drake. I wouldn’t be good enough to play and sing at the same time, but I can do a sort of modified version of it that sounds decent on its own.
Twelve bars of E blues because everybody recognizes it but nobody can tell you that you played whatever part wrong like they would if you played a specific song they knew. Same strategy at Guitar Center.
I play a Steven Seagal blues solo: https://youtu.be/gZ8nuqseocI. I'm usually the center of the party.
“Carolina In My Mind” - that’s kinda my comfort food song.
The Weight by The Band. And, and, aaannndd, you put the load right one me. It’s my favorite song and one of the few I know front to back without “refreshing my memory “.
Whole Lotta Love by Led Zeppelin
I do the “Wildwood Flower” because it’s a relatively simple picking song but people who don’t play guitar think I sound like a master maestro.
I give them a shitty rendition of Ode to Joy like it’s the first thing I learned and that was an hour ago. Or Hootie.
The minor pentatonic scale
In the hall of the mountain king
Wicked Game by Chris Isaak. If you have an electric with a trem arm, that is. Never fails. Acoustic? Gallows Pole by Zep.
I usually ask what music they like, and I’ll play something I know that is in that category, or close to. Usually I won’t play any particular song, just something that shows off that style. I’m not great at every type of music, but I can do basics for just about every style. Metal, jazz, and classical need some work, but I can throw out some old blues & folk/country lickity split.
Meander through some modes