Mr Tamborine Man Byrds vs. Dylan

[tamborineman]

I noticed on the dvd that shows Dylan at his first Newport folk fest that he used an Em on the `I promise to go under it` line where the Byrds hold the G to A thing. The Em sounded good and more natural to me. Excuse me for not explaining this better but I don't have a guitar here to count this out. I still stick with the Byrds version for authenticity..., Hey this is a Byrds forum. This always seems to throw other musicians, in fact this whole song seems to throw both rock and country bands I have played it with, even though they always think they know this song. I know what you're thinking, it's not me [ laughs ]. It should be easy but its not. I have also noticed that finger picking seems to throw off drummers. I tell them to count and don't watch me. Whats your experience or comments ?

[lyle_from_minneapolis]

My experience with Dylan is that bands covering his songs usually smooth over many of the intricacies that he employs. And he himself constantly changes up his approach, lyrics, arrangement, key signature... A recording session with him is known to be a much-too-fast and bewildering experience for the other musicians...he makes the notoriously impatient Lennon appear slow and methodical.

But I love that Em, and if you ever perform this song solo, Dylan's version is the moneyshot. The Byrd's version works best for bands and hit radio--it's all about the jangle and the harmonies, the group feel and the groove--it's one of the best pop songs ever recorded, but it also condenses and reduces the meaning of one of the best songs ever written. In a way, it was dumbed down...but before y'all put shotguns to my head, it was the only way to make it a successful pop song, it launched a new sound and a legendary act, and it's one of my favorite all time cuts.

But if I was forced to keep one and lose the other, I'd keep the Dylan original.

[tamborineman]

well put lyle. I usually preform solo as of late.

[lyle_from_minneapolis]

Hey, wait a minute---WELCOME TO THE FORUM!

[tamborineman]

thanks mark. I don't now why it took me so long to find you guys. I've had my 360-12 for 5 years. I may live in the woods, but now, I'm not alone in the woods. I've been a Byrds and Dylan fan since the 60's. It does seem I am alone in my quest when it comes to northern michigan.

[tamborineman]

hey mark, something else you reminded me of....my local musical crowd, both players and listeners totally underestimate dylan as guitarist/musician. his use of folk, bluegrass,celtic and other styles is quite impressive to say the least. and almost anything written by Bob sounds like the Byrds when played on a Ric-12

[lyle_from_minneapolis]

Almost everyone thinks he is lousy at everything except cryptic lyrics and strangled vocals.

Almost everyone is wrong.

[jimk]

I noticed on the dvd that shows Dylan at his first Newport folk fest that he used an Em on the `I promise to go under it` line where the Byrds hold the G to A thing. The Em sounded good and more natural to me....

I've been working on my hybrid picking, and I've found that the Em just seems to be a natural thing for me to insert. But then, I've always had a fondness for ii7, V7, I chord progressions. I don't know why it wouldn't work with a band. I'll have to get with some buddies and see if we have a train wreck over that chord progression. (I also like tweaking the hits just a little, too. It just makes them....I dunno...different, for sure.)

JimK

[mcd220]

Great words Guys! I'm both a "Dylan & Byrds" guy, and I really enjoy Bob's voice, especially on "Ballad of a thin man". On "All I really want to do", maybe not as much!

I could certainly listen to the entire Dylan catalogue "Byrdified", at the same time, It's hard to imagine anyone but Bob doing "The lonesome death of Hattie Carrol", one of my all time faves.

Favourite version on "Mr. Tambourine Man"??

The Byrds, but do it with ALL the verses!!!

Best, Christian



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[mcd220]

"A recording session with him is known to be a much-too-fast and bewildering experience for the other musicians...he makes the notoriously impatient Lennon appear slow and methodical."

Mark & Hank-You guys are really on it! Everything you say gells right down the line on this end!

Although I've never tried it, I understand "Don't think twice, it's alright" has some very trcky guitar work. At the same time, "Highway 61 is of course riddled with errors; majors when they're supposed to be minors, out of tune instruments, etc.

Having said that though, it's an album for all time, and one of my persoanl faves to be sure! Hey, it's got Mike Bloomfield!

But yeah, also coupled with the fact on how records were record in the '60's:

Quickly! This adds to Bob's already impatient recording manner immensely.

Great stuff.

Christian

[tamborineman]

hi jimk, it's that the band wants to go to Em, or some other unknown land. but then it doesn't quite sound right to thier semi-educated byrds ear. this is when the stumbles and strange glances start.
personally, I like to do first, second and fourth verses.

[jimk]

Favourite version on "Mr. Tambourine Man"??
The Byrds, but do it with ALL the verses!!!

Yeah, I'm with you there...sing all the verses. It's kind of a weird, surrealistic song. And there are an awful lot of words to cram in. Not an easy song for me to memorize.

JimK

[tamborineman]

Cristian, dude, Don't Think Twice is a definate favorite but it might require a new thread...

[lyle_from_minneapolis]

I've found it looks daunting to memorize a long Dylan song like Tambourine Man, but once you spend a little time with it, each line just flows from the next one pretty naturally. What amazes me is that I never forget them once learned--they just burn their way into the brain.

[tamborineman]

well mark here we go, i do a lot of dylan songs in my solo act. almost all in the Byrds finger picked 12 string style. i will admit i use lyric cheat sheets. tamborineman is one i don't need lyrics for as it has been indellably etched into my brain. this subject [ dylan songs ] almost requires a special catagory. maybe we could call it Ric FrIendly Dylan Songs, that would include almost everything he wrote before 1976 or so.