Since guitarists are by nature a rather competitive rabble, and I by nature am neither competitive nor rabblous ; I have long sought a venue in which I could stand a chance of succeeding in a contest. So here’s the question of the evening:
What’s the very first song you ever learned on the guitar? Do you remember? Was it terribly lame, or braggingly cool?
I found the music in a guitar magazine and learned it in ten minutes flat. Not bragging about the learning speed; it amazed me. The song is one of my favorites, though; so it’s cool to have it in my hands. Anyone beat that one?
You learned to play “Breakfast in the Field” by Michael Hedges in 10 minutes, the first time you picked up a guitar? What are you, a freaking mutant?
Me, I learned about a dozen Eagles songs, Stairway to Heaven, Dust in the Wind, and all that kind of stuff. MY first song I think was ‘Lyin Eyes’, which can be played by basically strumming G, C, Am, D. And THAT took me a few days.
No, I’d been banging around on an old one for quite a while. Saw Michael open for Shadowfax in early 1984 (had never heard of him before), and went and got an old cheap guitar the next day. He opened with “Silent Anticipations.” I was hooked. “Breakfast” was just the first song that I actually bothered to learn. By that time, I’d fathomed most of the mysteries of harmonics, and had gone through countless broken strings futzing around with experimental tunings. The guitar did not survive the ordeal; and within a year, had to be replaced. Too much percussion, I guess
IIRC, my first tune was “Hell’s Bell’s” by AC/DC. It wasnt exact, but it was close enough. I learned a few more tunes from them before moving on to the Van Halen stage. My friends were soooo sick of VH because I played them constantly. But I can still jam out “Mean Streets” better than anyone I know. Lately, I’ve been working on Eric Johnson’s “Cliffs of Dover”. I have it all down except for the “solo”.
BTW, If anyone know’s where I can the tab for Steve Morses “Joy to the World” from the compilation cd, “Merry Axe-mas”, please let me know. That tune ROCKS!!!
Well, the intro maybe. But for most of us late seventies/eighties types, the first things we learned all the way through (insofar is they can be said to have an “all the way through”) were “Louie, Louie” and “Wild Thing”, which of course are the same chords in slightly different rhythm.
After that I determined that I lacked the digital dexterity to play guitar and took up playing bass whenever I was in company with others. Though I was pleased at working out “Suspicious Minds” to an acceptable level of competence.
I think that’s everyone’s first, but only on the E-string.
The first song I learned that actually sounded like a song was Jack and Diane by (then) John Cougar.
The guy in the dorm room next to mine was a bassist for a band and he invited me to come hang with some other guys across the hall who were musicians. I hadn’t participated too much in the conversation or the jamming being so new. Then one of the guys says, “Who the Hell on this floor keeps playing Jack and Diane over and over. If I hear that song one more time, I’m gonna puke.” Followed quickly by me slinking out of the room.
I think the first song I learned was “Back in Black” by AC/DC.
Fun song, I learned it years ago. Now when you can nail the entire song at full tempo with a band, you have something to show off BTW, Eric improvises the solo when playing live.
Get ready smile big, everybody. I have got your pick-me-up for the day.
So here I am, reading through the threads, see this one and think, “Oh hey! Guitar! How cool is that? Maybe I can learn something!”
I read the OP. I read the successive posts. And I think I can’t possibly dare to embarrass myself by adding to it.
But I guess I never learn.
Here it is, folks. London Bridge. No chords. Sorry. All on the E and B strings.
HEY! I just started playing last Friday. Don’t you think that’s pretty impressive? Oh well. If it made you all smile, it was worth the humiliation.
STRUUTER: I knew I could beat SOMEBODY! Now you’ve got to learn “Breakfast”. That’ll freak out your fans. If you’ve got Adobe Acrobat, click on the link in my OP. It’s really a simple song, but lots of “choreography” (two handed chords, fretting from top and bottom of the neck, etc.). Blows people away, 'swhy I likes it!
Unless it’s a different song (maybe, but I doubt it), you’re thinking of “Wildwood Weed” by Jim Stafford. Funny, funny song. Couldn’t find the lyrics anywhere online, though. All about that wonderful weed they used to smoke on the farm, that that Federal man comes and burns it all down. Last line when the agent is driving off is something like, “We just all smiled and waved, sittin’ on our sack of seeds.” Sound like it? Haven’t thought about that song in years, but my brother used to have the 45rpm of it.
Mine was “Spirit In The Sky” by Norman Greenbaum. 12 bar jugband blues. BTW I’m a drummer by trade and usually leave the guitar playing to others. But I inherited a 12 string Applause acoustic/electric and love to play it.
The first song I learned was “Blind” by Korn… my across- the- street neighbor and guitarist sister and other neighbor taught it to me. I didn’t even have my own bass by then. My family wanted to surprise me on my birthday but they got it early so it was hidden in a closet for about a month. Everyone knew but me…
; I have long sought a venue in which I could stand a chance of succeeding in a contest. So here’s the question of the evening:
BTW, Eric improvises the solo when playing live.
Get ready smile big, everybody. I have got your pick-me-up for the day.