Need King Crimson and/or Gentle Giant song

Cafe Society
1

I have a friend who will not respect me unless I can play King Crimson and/or Gentle Giant on acoustic guitar. Which songs should I learn? They must be:

a) possible for one guitar player
b) cool (popularity not necessary)

Thanks.

2

Point b is bound to personal taste, but point a is a bit tough. You might consider Gentle Giants’ Funny Ways and King Crimson’s Matte Kudesai, but in both cases they include additional instruments and you will have to simplify and rearrange a bit - or find some else’s rearrangement. Let us know how it turns out, ok?

3

Try “Think of Me with Kindness” by Gentle Giant (off the “Octopus” album.) I imagine that could be very pretty arranged for solo acoustic guitar.

4

For King Crimson, I’d suggest “The Night Watch” as something that would sound OK on acoustic guitar.
Guitar tabs here:
Night Watch

5

I used to play ‘Court of the Crimson King’ and ‘Moonchild’, solo, on acoustic guitar. The former was harder to sound good on without that big Mellotron blast in the chorus (IIRC – it’s been 25 years).

6

Robert Fripp has stated that technologic innovation is an important aspect of King Crimson; as such there are almost no songs which feature acoustic guitar. I suppose that I Talk to the Wind could be adapted. Three of a Perfect Pair was performed as a solo acoustic piece by Adrian Belew, but I get the impression it would be very hard for us mere mortals to play. (A version of this can be found on Belew’s CD Salad Days.)

7

I think Adrian Belew also performed an acoustic version of Heartbeat from, IIRC, the same album. It could be another candidate.

8

As others have noted, Robert Fripp almost never writes music for acoustic guitar- in fact, I can’t recall an album since “In the Wake of Poseidon” on which he played an acoustic guitar.

A few tracks that you could probably play on acoustic guitar:

  1. “I Talk to the Wind” (on “A Young Person’s Guide to King Crimson,” I heard an early rendition of this song with Judy Dyble on vocals and Ian McDonald on acoustic guitar)

  2. “Peace: A Theme” (short, pleasant instrumental from “ITWOP”)

  3. “Cadence and Cascade,” a ballad from “ITWOP.”

  4. “Formantera Lady,” a Boz era ballad from “Islands.”

  5. Heck, you could probably play “In the Court of the Crimson King” as an acoustic ballad.

  6. John Wetton’s “The Book of Saturday” might work on acoustic guitar

9

Astorian - you and I think alike. My first instinct was to suggest “Cadence and Cascade”.

10

Thanks everyone!

Lots of Gentle Giant on iTunes, but no King Crimson. Is there anywhere on-line I can grab a couple of songs?

11

I think Fripp’s working on it. Keep an eye on www.disciplineglobalmobile.com becase something should eventually show up there.