pogo97

Dandy list, Phil. My own essential list is shorter (I have an ebow, but "essential"?). Whenever I'm playing guitar -- acoustic or electric -- I carry three things in my pocket that I consider essential: a tuner, a capo, and a slide. Most players just need the first two.

"Hey, can you play this event for the exposure?" Here in Canada, exposure is something you die of.

Thank you, Phil. That may be a signal for me to relax. It's true that I've written more songs, maybe a half-dozen, since then. Maybe I should do a "greatest hits" before I retire.

I recorded a CD in 2013 and have sold them all. I'll have a chance to remix etc. before I have another batch made. For one thing, nineteen songs is too many and I think it should be cut back to twelve songs. But I'm most curious about the mix and (probably the weakest part) the mastering. Here's a sampling from spotify I can suggest a couple of songs to focus on if you'd like. I probably can't erase the budgie chirping on some tracks, but I'm okay with that.

The Standard Standards This is from a little programming project using iTunes. I found songs from five pretty good sources of "standards" on the internet and in my books and used smart playlists to list songs that were on four or five of the lists. The Lists: Dave's Database top 100s internet Dick Hyman 100 songs you need to know songbook music vault -- Warner Brothers songbook Top Standards internet wikipedia jazz standards internet On all five lists: Avalon Body and Soul Lover, Come Back to Me Somebody Loves Me Sweet Georgia Brown What Is This Thing Called Love? On four of five lists: Am I Blue Avalon Body and Soul Dancing in the Dark Embraceable You Get Happy I Can't Give You Anything But Love I Get a Kick Out of You I Got Rhythm I'm in the Mood for Love I've Got the World on a String Jeepers Creepers Just One of Those Things Lover, Come Back to Me The Man I Love Night and Day Oh, Lady Be Good On the Sunny Side of the Street 'Round Midnight Skylark Somebody Loves Me Someone to Watch Over Me Sometimes I'm Happy Sweet Georgia Brown Tea for Two The Very Thought of You The Way You Look Tonight What Is This Thing Called Love?

In part, you should consider what you're using the two guitars for. In a band context, I mostly see players/singers use a flat-top as a rhythm instrument; strumming to drive the beat. [video=youtube;wsgXeMFFAK8] Sonic nuance is 'way secondary to being heard clearly without muddying the mix. And electric? A whole different matter. Tone tone tone and tone. So unless your band has you finger-picking and playing leads on the acoustic, I'd say focus on your electric sound and just run the acoustic through the PA.

I'm very fond of my Fender Deluxe Reverb. It's not designed for acoustic, but it's good and clean. Maybe with a DI in line to send to the mains. And for electric -- awesome! I know there are some does-it-all modeling amps out there but I have this thing against digital and, despite therapy, refuse to subject my beautiful analog signal to the insult of being converted to digital and back again.

And, just in the nick of time: http://www.harmonycentral.com/articles/arranger-keyboards-as-studio-tools-are-you-nuts

I think everyone should learn this song, if only so they can choose to sing it or not sing it if circumstances dictate.

POPULAR CALYPSO SETLIST A short list of calypso (and mento and goombay) songs that are relatively well-known in north america, along with an early and idiomatic performer: Big Bamboo Lord Creator Boo Boo Man (Mama Look a Boo Boo) Lord Melody And The Caribbean All Stars Brown Skin Gal The Charmer Choucoune (Yellow Bird) Emy de Pradines et son orchestre Day-O (The Banana Boat Song) Lord Foodoos And His Calypso Band Drink-a-Rum Lord Kitchener Gin & Coconut Water Wilmoth Houdini Hold 'Im Joe Mac Beth The Great Island in the Sun Count Owen And His Calypsonians Island Woman Vincent Martin and the Bahamians Jamaica Farewell Harry Belafonte Jean & Dina Sparrow John B Sail (The Wreck of the John B) Blind Blake & The Royal Victoria Hotel Calypsos Man Smart Woman Smarter (Not Me) King Radio Mary Ann Roaring Lion Matilda King Radio Mr. Walker Sparrow Out On the Rolling Sea Bahamian Traditional Singers Rum and Coca Cola Lord Invader Ugly Woman Roaring Lion Wau Wau (Shame and Scandal) Lord Melody Yellow Bird André Toussaint

POPULAR LATINO SETLIST A short list of Cuban (mostly) songs that are relatively well-known in north america, along with an early and idiomatic performer: Amapola The Castillians Andalucía (The Breeze and I) Ernesto Lecuona Aquellos Ojos Verdes (Green Eyes) Don Azpiazu Bésame Mucho Lucho Gatica Brazil Tito Puente Cerezo Rosa (Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White) Pérez Prado El Manisero (The Peanut Vendor) Don Azpiazu Guaglione Pérez Prado Guantanamera Joseito Fernandez & Indio Nabori Malagueña Ernesto Lecuona Mambo No. 5 Pérez Prado María Elena Los Panchos Mosaico Lecuona Cuban Boys Patricia Pérez Prado Perfidia Los Panchos Quien Será? (Sway) Pablo Beltrán Ruiz Quiereme Mucho (Yours) Victor Cuban Orchestra Siboney Ernesto Lecuona

I love "The Letter." And I do it with the Box Tops changes, too, rather than Joe Cocker's. This can cause some disruptions when playing with other people.

This is for a museum gig where the exhibits include WWI, a photographer active from 1921 to 1955, and the St. Lawrence River. So we decided to do a chronological gig with a couple of water songs tossed in. I'm pleased to say that all of these songs are absolutely first-class except "The Thousand Islands Song" which is kinda B-grade but, ya know. . . Gananoque "Canadian Gateway to the Thousand Islands" and all that. There's another song, "I Sent My Wife to the Thousand Isles" from 1916. It's pretty stupid, too, but again. . . It WAS good enough for Al Jolson to record it. 1910 Some Of These Days 1911 Alexander's Ragtime Band 1912 Moonlight Bay 1913 Waiting for the Robert E Lee 1914 Sister Susie's Sewing Shirts For Soldiers 1914 It's a Long Way to Tipperary 1914 Keep The Home Fires Burning 1914 They Didn't Believe Me 1915 Pack Up Your Troubles In Your Old Kit Bag 1916 Walkin' The Dog 1917 K-K-K-Katy 1917 For Me and My Gal 1925 Paddlin' Madeline Home 1926 When the Red Red Robin Comes Bob-bob-bobbing Along 1927 Side By Side 1927 Ol' Man River 1927 The Best Things in Life Are Free 1928 Honeysuckle Rose 1929 Can't We Be Friends? 1929 I'll See You Again 1930 I Got Rhythm 1930 Lazy River 1931 As Time Goes By 1932 Try a Little Tenderness 1932 Let's Have Another Cup of Coffee 1933 It's Only a Paper Moon 1934 What a Little Moonlight Can Do 1935 Summertime 1938 Heart And Soul 1940 When You Wish Upon a Star 1940 Polka Dots and Moonbeams 1941 I'm Glad There Is You 1946 Choo Choo Ch Boogie 1946 Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens 1949 The Thousand Islands Song 2013 Walking by the River 1650 The Water Is Wide

For the early music enthusiasts.

I have a couple of musical persona. I'll bore you with my old old stuff setlist another time. I'm working with a couple (that makes us a trio--still allowed?) who are into, I guess, alt country-ish. Some nice songs here. My own contributions are two of my own songs on the grounds that they're good songs any nobody else sings them, but mostly I'm the electric guitar player. Right now, Shelagh and I join Norbert at his gigs and do one set together. Once we're doing full nights (and if there's room on stage) I'll also haul along my piano. Here's our current song list: Most of the Time Bob Dylan Stars Go Blue Ryan Adams Kindness Ryan Adams Answering Bell Ryan Adams Angel From Montgomery Bonnie Raitt Amie Pure Prairie League And It Stoned Me Van Morrison Bartender's Blues James Taylor Brown Eyed Girl Van Morrison--we do this very slow, as a wistful ballad; otherwise no touch with bargepole Reste un Peu Ani K Unlonely John Prine Diddy Wa Diddy Papa Doo Doug Gifford front porch song Doug Gifford Under Your Breath Ryan Adams For Free Joni Mitchell Mary Patty Griffin And for the Christmas season: Christmas Must Be Tonight The Band Nothing But a Child Steve Earle

My tuner recommends tuning just after the furnace becomes necessary in the fall and/or just after you stop needing the furnace in the spring. Seems to work pretty well. I get my piano tuned once a year; twice would be better but not $100 better. Untuned pianos can stay playable for many years, they just sound progressively worse and may take a second (or third?) tuning to get them stable enough to hold their tune.

You need to do your research but, as you said, an old instrument flaunts its flaws. If it sounds good (though probably out-of-tune) it probably is good. You do, though, need to budget moving unless you have a bunch of strong obedient buddies and a truck.

Do you have Kijiji or Craigs List or equivalent? You'll often see pianos for very little or free and often the price is unrelated to the quality of the instrument because the sellers didn't buy it and don't care--they just want it out of the house. That's how we got our piano and, though it's not a Steinway, it's a wonderful instrument and very rewarding to play. Best $400 I ever spent.

There are also many 'so called' tuners out there who do not do a good job. If you find a good one - stick with them. No kidding. I've got a wonderful tuner: willing to work on an old piano (the first tuner I called refused--only does modern pianos) and game to tune it to Werkmeister III temperament once he was clear I knew what I was asking for. Owen Greyling FTW!

It's a little bit confusing...I have had opinions of people feeling very confident about tuning their pianos, and other ones not so much. Do you feel happy with your acoustic piano, or after some time it gives you too much problem?. I have seen a lot of people getting rid of them. People get rid of their pianos most often because the kids have grown up and moved out and mumndad don't play. If you accept that tuning will be about a $100 to $200 a year commitment, you'll be fine. That's really not much in the great run of things.

I looked very seriously into it; read the books; opened up the piano and stared at it for hours; called a technician; no regrets

It's not. I was barely working before and I'm barely working (at, mind you, a nice enough rate) now. My wife's a teacher with reasonable seniority. If I was dependent on construction or manufacturing or their derivitive, I'd be worried. We've just elected a minority Conservative government with a control-freak anti-human true believer at the helm. I'd be very worried.