McGuinn's Metal Fingerpicks

[idealassets]

I just had a look at my CD's and found that "The Day Walk" is the first bonus track on the 20-Bit remastered version

Oh yes, thats here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zR5EKsRiNsE Its also on my 4CD Byrds Set, thats out in the car. This song is obscure enough that most likely I will never play it. My Byrds song list for now:

1. Mr Tambourine Man
2. Turn Turn Turn
3. Bells of Rhymney
4. Mr Spaceman
5. He Was A Freind of Mine
6. All I Really Want to Do
7. Feel A Whole Lot Better
8. Lay Down Your Weary Tune
9. Change Is Now

Craig

[Folkie]

Craig,

You must have some great fingerstyle chops to do "He Was a Friend of Mine." Have you transcribed that one?

Robert

[idealassets]

Have you transcribed that one?

Robert,
I will finish transcribing He Was A Friend of Mine. Fingerpicking (not "fingerstyle") is my favorite way to play. And with the Roger style, you get the best of both worlds. On his later material (Back From Rio) he is excellent at doing some picking and then adding a major accent with some flatpick strokes. I feel that Back From Rio is some of Roger's finest work, not to mention that John Jorgenson is also on the album providing some additional great lead guitar work.

Back to fingerpicking, I feel that it is more of a "feel" than a technical perfection. So on my tabs I usually indicate the timing and location of chords or finger positioned tabs, if its not a standard chord. I have the 1960's Byrds Songbook (among other 60's song books), and it doen't show any of the fingerpicking timing, just the main chords or lead notes. So I have arrived at my own patterns and accents, which are close to the original versions.

So if anyone has any swapping material, I want to get especially Renassance Fair and Have You Seen Her Face. So far I have all of Turn Turn Turn and Mr Tambourine Man done, and need to check Mr Spaceman & He Was A Friend of Mine to finish them.

Lets transcribe! I know there are some folks that are good at it, since if I can do it with less than 2 years on guitar (many years on drums), some guitar guru's ought to be able to get on board.

-Craig

[idealassets]

This is me recently on a borrowed set drums: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibF70XY6 ... ture=share
I don't have anything on guitar yet. Maybe soon. Craig

[Folkie]

Craig,

That's great that you're making some progress on "He Was a Friend of Mine." I don't fingerpick much, so that one has always seemed difficult to me. It sounds like your tabs are pretty authentic, so I would love to see some of them. What exactly is the 1960's Byrds Songbook? Is it still in print?

There's a halfway decent chord transcription of "Have You Seen Her Face?" online on Ultimate Guitar. You might check that one out. And our own Tom O'Keefe (Beatbyrd) recently recorded a nice version of "Renaissance Fair," so maybe he could help you with that one.

By the way, the terms "fingerpicking" and "fingerstyle playing" can be used interchangeably. For example, I have a National Guitar Workshop book called
"Beginning Fingerstyle Guitar," that teaches fingerpicking.

When you finish those transcriptions, please post them for all to see!

Robert

[idealassets]

What exactly is the 1960's Byrds Songbook? Is it still in print?

Its called "The Byrds" (for Guitar Tab). Its a songbook with 10 of their songs. It has the lyrics, chords, and lead tabs. This book shows up occasionally on ebay. I bought mine last year, and it seems to cost more every time I see one come up for sale.

It has Chestnut Mare on it, so was probably made about 1970. But the book has pictures in it from about 1965.

The problem with the book is that I have watched Roger McGuinn play some of these leads, and his fingering is much more sophisticated than the tabs in the book indicate.

So if I make a PDF of my tabs, how would I post it on this forum? Can an image be posted with a .PDF suffix?

Craig

[Folkie]

Yes, Craig, I agree (that is, if this is the out of print Wise Publications book titled "The Best of the Byrds"). Oversimplified tabs, yes (I always see a red flag when the cover of a book reads "For Easy Guitar Tab.") But, unfortunately, this is the only Byrds tab book out there, and we are desperately in need of new transcriptions. McGuinn's chords are easy to notate and to learn, but his fingerpicking patterns are anything but. I've found particularly helpful the tab book that accompanies McGuinn's 12-string guitar DVD. Still, it seems unfair that just about every Beatles record has been transcribed authentically, but the Byrds have somehow gotten short shrift. That's why we need people with good ears and good transcribing skills, like you and a few other members of this forum.

[RonnyK]

Craig,

I would love to see anything you have managed to tab in the way of McGuinn's fingerpicking patterns. I agree that the publicly available tab is either overly simple or wrong. I have the DVD but even found portions of the accompanying booklet that appear to be inaccurate when compared to his playing on the DVD (the Turn, Turn, Turn intro, in particular).

Thanks,

Ron

[idealassets]

portions of the accompanying booklet that appear to be inaccurate when compared to his playing on the DVD

Yes, of course its difficult to figure out exactly what Roger does, even though its on the DVD its still a bit difficult to see it all. The tabs were done by someone else.

These songs can be played with a more simplified version of the leads, which is what I have been doing, and for that matter its what the majority of other folks do, for example ex-byrds member Peter York on 12 string. On that note, many folks are impressed by that alone, without the banjo rolls being done. But its more preferable to be able to play them as authentic as possible.

It may take some time. The muscles take some time to develop as well. I have noticed it in the fingers, hands, wrist, and forearm. Fortunately the fretting hand is doing about the same thing as before.

Craig

[bowser2533]

does anyone out there know if roger mcguinn uses flat wounds or round wounds on his 370/12?

[jimk]

portions of the accompanying booklet that appear to be inaccurate when compared to his playing on the DVD

Yes, of course its difficult to figure out exactly what Roger does, even though its on the DVD its still a bit difficult to see it all. The tabs were done by someone else.

These songs can be played with a more simplified version of the leads, which is what I have been doing, and for that matter its what the majority of other folks do, for example ex-byrds member Peter York on 12 string. On that note, many folks are impressed by that alone, without the banjo rolls being done. But its more preferable to be able to play them as authentic as possible.

It may take some time. The muscles take some time to develop as well. I have noticed it in the fingers, hands, wrist, and forearm. Fortunately the fretting hand is doing about the same thing as before.

Craig

Good points, Craig. It took me a full two years to come as close as I have. And that was practicing every day.
JimK

[stsang]

does anyone out there know if roger mcguinn uses flat wounds or round wounds on his 370/12?

Welcome to the forum, Gary! The general consensus is that Roger uses flatwounds. He seems to endorse the Pyramid flatwounds (but that's a whole other topic!).

[Gardener]

Hello! I started with this McGuinn fingerpicking style a month ago and i think that it's going to work for me... in a few months i will nail it, i'm pretty sure. But i need to practice hours and hours everyday. It's good fun though. I started using Dunlops but then i got some Nationals and i prefer the second ones (all metalic). We just started this Byrds tribute band and of course someone had to play the 12 string and I stepped forward.

[jimk]

Welcome to the RRF, Errapel. Congrats to you and your Byrds tribute band, and enjoy the journey. Once you really get the hang of it, you'll be playing that way quite often.
JimK

[Gardener]

Welcome to the RRF, Errapel. Congrats to you and your Byrds tribute band, and enjoy the journey. Once you really get the hang of it, you'll be playing that way quite often.
JimK

Thanks Jim! The thing is that since I started with the McGuinn hybrid fingerpicking, I don't play anything but 12 string hybrid fingerpicking. I don't do 6 string nor single-flat-picking any more. I think it's the fastest way of getting to feel confortable with the style. I read Roger McGuinn use to play 8 hours a day when he first got his Rickenbacker 12.