Difficulties of Love

This is a song I first recorded with the Wetband. I like playing this using a Rasgueado Flamenco guitar strumming technique. Rasgueado involves strumming the strings at some point using one finger after another. For this song I used a hard brush down with the full hand and often hitting the end of the fingerboard to add some percussion, then a Rasgueado strum up with each finger one after the other. Some Rasgueado uses all four fingers, but for this one I use the first three fingers one after another and leave out the pinky. This kind of strum works best on a nylon string or classical guitar. 

Here is a version with just nylon string guitar and vocal and no overdubbing: 

 

 And here are the chords and lyrics.  I use standard chords for this song, included barr chords F# and Bm:

 This song was first recorded with the Wetband and to keep things simple I left out the Rasgueado strum:

 Difficulties of Love with the Wetband

Crazy Mixed Up World - Double Dropped D

Crazy Mixed-Up World is played using the Double Dropped D tuning where you lower both the 6th and 1st strings to D:   DADGBD. 

Here is the song played with just guitar and vocal and no overdubbing:

 

And here are the chords that are used:

And here are the lyrics and chords.  The intro to each verse is strummed:  Dm(x2) Dsus2 D5 with some bass added with the thumb pick on the 6th string.

 

The first recording of this song was done with the Wetband:

 Crazy Mixed-Up World with the Wetband

 

 

Dreams Fly By

 This is a strumming song in Dropped D tuning (6th string tuned down to D)

It starts in standard D and this is slid up until all fingers are on the 5th fret for the Fmaj7/D.  The Em7 is played like a standard Dm7 that is slid up two frets.

Through the Rain

This is an easy song to finger pick, but the chords are played higher up the neck than usual. 

 

Many of these chords have the same shape and can be moved up and down the fret board to add a slide effect.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some Rainy Day - First foray into jazz!

 

I consider this song to be my first foray into more of a jazz guitar style:

 

 Through the verses I pluck the chords three strings at a time with thumb pick, 2nd and 3rd fingers.  I have simply identified the chords by fret number to save space: 

The first verse is a slow introduction with the chords played in a simple arpeggio way: T 2 3

The other verses are chords plucked simultaneously by thumb, 2nd and 3rd fingers.  I use the 2nd and 3rd fingers so that the 1st or index finger is free for strumming if needed.

For the chorus sections starting with "Saving it up" I change to a slightly different picking pattern:  T-3 2 3

All Winter Long

This is one of my favorite recordings with the Wetband.  It is played with chords high up the neck and you can get some harmonics ringing as well.  I use a brush strum with my fingernails and add some bass with the thumb pick.   Here is a solo version with just vocal and guitar and no overdubbing:



Here are the high chords.  Note:  for the Am/E and D/E  I do a bit of alternating bass on the open E and A bass strings.

Here are the lyrics and chords.   Note:  the [E] that appears is the bass E string played with the thumb pick to add some rhythm.

Here is the song played with the Wetband. Eric Dennis added some of his fine mandolin style lead guitar as well as harmony vocals. Ted Burton did some great bass. Wayne Burton added some excellent guitar playing and rhythm slapping.

 

Shelter of Song

This is another simple picking song in D played in standard tuning with a strong bass line in the verses.  It uses standard chords except for the D/F# which is a standard D with F# added on the low E string, and the Asus2:

Here is a version with just guitar and vocal:

 

And here is the picking tablature and music:

  Here is the recording was done with The Wetband on our album Sheltersongs:  Eric Dennis added some great harmonica and lead guitar, Ted Burton played bass and Wayne Burton played guitar. Everyone joined in on the harmony vocals: