I have a feeling this man is providing a tremendous public service by revealing how the magic was created…
Pentangular magic – behind the curtain
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Musings on the byways of popular culture
And the original – almost a UK hit single 48 years ago:
Thanks Colin, I love watching musicians even though I can’t play myself. I do wonder how much more appreciation players of the instruments have of watching.
Funny, I can appreciate it and feel that it adds something to my appreciation of the record – in awe of Jansch’s chords (for those are without doubt Janschian chords) – without actually wanting to learn to play it. I’ve never felt any desire to play anyone welse’s music but I’ve created a fair amount of my own – that’s not being arrogant; I just don’t have whatever part of the brain it is that people have who want to play covers or hang around guitar shops trading licks. If I pick up an instrument i only want to create – but I’m similarly in awe of others who do the same in leagues far above me, like Jansch did.
I presume a lot do both and most learn the songs of others to acquire and enhance their technique. Surely you started doing Chuck Berry licks?
No, honest – I’ve never played a Chuck riff in my life. I COULD figure it out, but I’d always be thinking ‘I’ve no need to be doing this’. That’s not disrespect to Chuck or to people who learn other people’s songs – but I’ve almost never performed in public so I’ve had no need for knowing the kind of rock staples that lots of others here know. That said – dredging my memory as I type – I did once learn the Pentangle arrangement of ‘Lord Franklin’ for a local radio thing. home-recorded a version of a Bruce Cockburn song, just because I liked it, once performed ‘Born To Be Wild’ at a couple of garage band shows and figured out a couple of covers for a friend’s album that I was co-producing – but that’s about it for 30+ years. Not even 20% of a Twang live set!
You mean when, in short pants, you hoofed itcdown to your guitar teachers place you weren’t plunking out say a skiffle song ?
I don’t play any covers other than occasionally a bit of a jam on “Down by the river”! Like you I hardly know any songs by other people. Mind you I can do Chuck, and a passable Johnny Winter.
Another French bloke playing lovely acoustic guitar though in DADGAD where that one is in standard tuning I think.