Members maltomario Posted January 28, 2010 Members Share Posted January 28, 2010 and have it ready to play for Saturday morning. Gymnastics competition with thousands of people, and my singer (who is singing the anthem) decides at last second he wants me to play acoustic guitar accompaniment with him. I want to make sure I do it well and give the song the respect it deserves. Anyone have any tips on what sort of arrangement would work well in this situation? Its going to be a busy next few days while I learn this one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jpnyc Posted January 28, 2010 Members Share Posted January 28, 2010 It Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members adlo76 Posted January 28, 2010 Members Share Posted January 28, 2010 show up with your Guitar Hero controller around your neck and then act all surprised like "what dude? what?" when they all freak out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members maltomario Posted January 28, 2010 Author Members Share Posted January 28, 2010 sigh. If I get just one useful reply it will be a refreshing deviation from the norm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mrbrown49 Posted January 28, 2010 Members Share Posted January 28, 2010 Keep it simple. People will be focusing on the singer so just try to hit the chord changes and keep a simple rhythm. Maybe play some harmony's with the vocals on the top of your chords near the end to build it up a bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members slvrsrpnt Posted January 28, 2010 Members Share Posted January 28, 2010 http://guitar.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://zepperfan.tripod.com/star_spangled_banner.txt http://www.tabguitarlessons.com/T/traditional/star_spangled_banner.crd.htm not sure if either are accurate, quick googly searchage provided these Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members igge Posted January 28, 2010 Members Share Posted January 28, 2010 Play Jimi Hendrix version. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GuitarNoobie Posted January 28, 2010 Members Share Posted January 28, 2010 sigh. If I get just one useful reply it will be a refreshing deviation from the norm. sad, but true... but as jpnyc says it's not that hard, just need to memorize and practice... i used to know it, but i forgot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members maltomario Posted January 28, 2010 Author Members Share Posted January 28, 2010 its not the difficulty of the song. its whether or not i should strum the chords or play individual notes. deciding on what would sound best as a duet. And yes I'm aware of tab and google. That was not what I was asking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mrbrown49 Posted January 28, 2010 Members Share Posted January 28, 2010 its not the difficulty of the song. its whether or not i should strum the chords or play individual notes. deciding on what would sound best as a duet. And yes I'm aware of tab and google. That was not what I was asking. Hit the big chord changes and accentuate the rhythm with walking notes. As I said earlier it might be nice to add some harmony to the melody during the 'dramatic' parts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GuitarNoobie Posted January 28, 2010 Members Share Posted January 28, 2010 its not the difficulty of the song. its whether or not i should strum the chords or play individual notes. deciding on what would sound best as a duet. And yes I'm aware of tab and google. That was not what I was asking. oops, i misunderstood... sorry... i personally think single notes with a little chorus would sound best, but that's just my opinion... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members One-armed Alec Posted January 28, 2010 Members Share Posted January 28, 2010 Which one? Just kidding - good luck for the gig. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members _pete_ Posted January 28, 2010 Members Share Posted January 28, 2010 Play Jimi Hendrix version. Nah, that's a little tired. Since you have a singer, how about an acoustic version?A 12 string would be nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members golias Posted January 28, 2010 Members Share Posted January 28, 2010 If my favorite singer in the world offered me $1000 to accompany them on guitar while they sing the National Anthem on live TV at the start of the Superbowl, I'd probably still say "no." That song is best without accompaniment. If you must do it, less is definitely more. Chord changes only. And for the love of all that is good, don't try to Hendrix it up. Everybody who tries ends up merely reminding everybody listening that they are NOT Jimi Hendrix. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ExiledCrow Posted January 28, 2010 Members Share Posted January 28, 2010 *puts on flame-retardant poncho* I have to say I've never been a big fan of our national anthem as a piece of music because, as jpnyc said, it really WAS a drinking song. A drinking song designed to make one's voice crack and warble. I can't sing worth a damn and so I can't sing it, but I've heard even well-trained pros say it is just HARD to sing well. And I know we've seen it sung badly. No problem with the words, just wish they had picked a different tune .... Sorry, pet peeve .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Trotskyismyniec Posted January 28, 2010 Members Share Posted January 28, 2010 throw everyone for a loop and learn "Oh Canada" instead. When everyone gets mad rip open your jacket revealing a communist hammer and sickle t-shirt and back out of the auditorium giving everyone the middle finger and pantomiming a jerking off motion near your crotch. make sure you make this face while doing it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Trotskyismyniec Posted January 28, 2010 Members Share Posted January 28, 2010 really though, I don't think anyone expects much out of it other than doing it as a formality. As long as you don't screw up it doesn't really matter how you do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members superdistortion Posted January 28, 2010 Members Share Posted January 28, 2010 I like playing it in C. But I don't sing it. They say you have to start out low or else you won't be able to sing the high notes. Let us know how it goes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members El Glom-o Posted January 28, 2010 Members Share Posted January 28, 2010 Tempo. It's not a funeral dirge. Most people perform it much too slowly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Brian Krashpad Posted January 28, 2010 Members Share Posted January 28, 2010 Tempo.It's not a funeral dirge. Most people perform it much too slowly. I'll be danged. You're right. Not that you're not usually right, just that I never thought of that before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Saint Frank Posted January 28, 2010 Members Share Posted January 28, 2010 I like playing it in C. But I don't sing it. They say you have to start out low or else you won't be able to sing the high notes. Let us know how it goes. I played it and sang it in Gmaj for a Navy friend's retirement ceremony. C would be entirely too high for me. I just pretty much strummed the chords at the vocal rhythm. Moved the bassline along at the last part (Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bluesway Posted January 28, 2010 Members Share Posted January 28, 2010 i do it every year about 5 times a year. ... i always play the first three notes of the melody with the singer and start a simple accompaniment. i use mostly triads and seventh chords and i've found most kids sing it best in the key of F. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members roygbiv Posted January 28, 2010 Members Share Posted January 28, 2010 SHRED! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members El Glom-o Posted January 28, 2010 Members Share Posted January 28, 2010 I'll be danged.You're right.Not that you're not usually right, just that I never thought of that before. It seems as though they want the performance of the tune to take the same amount of time as the original bombardment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members volvo1800 Posted January 28, 2010 Members Share Posted January 28, 2010 Get one of those EZ play keyboards with the programs, set the drums to waltz. Then rock your lead over it as cheesily as possible. If you could do it while mounted ontop a bucking horse, that would be for the better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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