The First Song You Mastered

[woodyng]

the first actual song i learned to play was the bassline for "walk this way" (aerosolsmith),back when it was a new song..and beleive it or not,for me,the most difficult thing in the world to play is a standard blues (my mind tends to wander and i lose my place!). at one time,i had worked out the parts for yes' "gates of delerium",but never actually played it with a live band.

[wj350]

Well, "mastered" is a bit of a strong term to describe any thing I play, but the first song I learned was House of the Rising Sun. In terms of my more recent efforts (past 3-4 years), I'd say "Ticket To Ride" and "I'll Be Back" are very comfortable tunes for me.

Bill

[nattiep]

First song I started messing with was Money. required bass song. i couldn't get that at the start so I went to In The Flesh.

Hardest song to play? hmmm.. The middle section of Iron Maiden's To Tame A Land is nuts. Can't do that.

[johnallg]

First song - Lovin' Spoonful's "Do You Believe In Magic." Hardest - Yes' version of America - still working on a few parts to that.

[doctorwho]

For the first song, because for me this goes back all the way to 1967, the memory is a bit fuzzy ... IIRC, it was either Day Tripper or, more likely, House of The Rising Sun.

Most difficult is one I'm still trying to learn: You Were on My Mind, the Wee Five version.

Since I'm a hack bass player, I might as well add that the first bass line I learned was Into The Sun by Grand Funk Railroad.

[tmossman]

Day Tripper. Took me five days to learn it. One day to learn how to tune my first ever instrument (a Hofner bass), one day to realize my Hofner wouldn't tune, one day to buy a new 77 4001 AZ (first Ric, missed terribly), one day to learn "the riff", one day for the rest of the song. I still remember the pain from the endless smile plastered on my face when I realized I could "make" music.

[rictified]

I played guitar before I played bass, first songs were all Ventures tunes, although technically not a Ventures tune I think the first was Pipeline followed by Walk Don't Run 64. The only song I can remember ever trying to learn note by note on a bass was the bass solo in Bouree by Jethro Tull on Stand Up, I still remember it to this day, this was probably in 1972.

[rictified]

the first actual song i learned to play was the bassline for "walk this way" (aerosolsmith),back when it was a new song..and beleive it or not,for me,the most difficult thing in the world to play is a standard blues (my mind tends to wander and i lose my place!). at one time,i had worked out the parts for yes' "gates of delerium",but never actually played it with a live band.

Blues is not an easy form to play although many people think it is, (usually the easier they think it is, the worse they are at it). It takes bigger ears than just about anything because it's such a spontaneous style and it depends on feeling much more than virtuosity. Took me a long time to be able to relax enough to play it, I'm a rocker first and foremost and am or was used to playing on top of the beat all the time. I had to learn to relax and play in the pocket rather than try to propel the band along like I always did. When I play blues I try to relax but listen intently at the same time, not an easy place to be in until you get used to it. I love playing it now but it was like learning a whole new form of music for me, I had to start right at the beginning.

[JakeK]

Just chords, I don't remember. I think it was probably "Help!" by the Beatles.

The first RIFF I learned all the way was "Satisfaction" by The Stones. Fun song to play!

[scotty]

Martha & the Muffins - Echo Beach.I loved this song so that i had to get it and the thing is I still Muck it up!

[longhouse]

I started writing my own stuff just as soon as I had a few chords under my belt. My first guitar came to me during Desert Storm. Can't believe it's been that long ago now!

The first cover song I learned through and through was, of all things, 'Heart Full of Soul' by the Yardbirds.
I still regard that solo as a showpiece of attitude, tone, and economy.

[winston]

The first song that I managed to pull off perfectly was "Walking the Dog" by Rufus Thomas. From there I went on to "Smokestack Lightning" by Howling Wolf and about the same time (Roy Clough woud love this admission) I learned "Apache" by the Shadows. At the age of 14 I was just covering my bases, just in case opportunity came knocking.

[goofyfoot]

"Spanish Harlem Incident" by Dylan. Believe there were five chords ~ G, C, C/D, G/D, D. Hmmm, I should try my hand it again. Regards....Goofyfoot.

[gregga41]

First song - Tom Dooley, an old folk song recorded by The Kingston Trio

Oh the painfull memories of being taught that song at guitar classes as an 8 yo! All i wanted to learn was to play Monkees or Beatles songs and all i got for 2 years was that and another, "Kumbaya" IIRC!!!
It took me a long time to "master' any one particular song, but the best i can put up there would be "Alright Now" by Free, coupled with "I saw her standing there". Still trying!!

[Banningburg]

I had picked up a lot of songs in bits and pieces but the first one I nailed down in its entirety, rhythm and solo parts, was the Beatles' "I Saw Her Standing There". I was in a TV media class and our project was to produce a half-hour show. We decided to have our version of the 'world's most dangerous band' with drums, bass and guitar. I volunteered for guitar and decided I had better learn a full song for our exciting mid-program show-stopper. I plugged in my newly-acquired 325V63, put on the Beatles, and learned all parts of the song within an hour - and managed to pull it off in front of the cameras.