Guitar songs

These are videos of a few of the songs I'm covering on guitar. 

The original is on the left, the cover I do sounds more like the one on the right. This is the first song I learned on guitar, I really like it and I do my own simplified version of it.  There is also this cool version of it called 17 Pink Sugar Elephants, which is the same melody but with different lyrics.  I just heard it today, and I'm going to have to learn those lyrics because its like learning a new song but a whole lot easier since I already know the melody. 

This is the 2nd song I learned on guitar. This is a cover of the original song (which I can't find a video for), by Malvina Reynolds. You probably don't recognize her name, but she actually wrote "Little Boxes on the Hillside," which has recently come back into play thanks to the show Weeds (its the intro song). I like this version with the ukulele a lot.  My version still needs some honing down, but its a fun and not too difficult song for a beginner. 

I had to learn a Woody Guthrie song of course.  Woody Guthrie says, "if you play more than two chords you're showin off." I like that philosophy.  This song I play with just a simple C and A minor, doesn't get any better than that! I also like his message. My favorite part is:

 "well its always we've rambled that river and I, all along your green valley I will work till I die.

My land I'll defend with my life if need be, cause my pastures of plenty must always be free."
The best part about Woody Guthrie songs is they are like reading about a time in history which was pretty incredible, the 1940's, and from the point of view of an ordinary man who used music to document it.

Woody is the man.

I had to learn Wagon Wheel too, its a classic. I actually didn't know that it was originally written by Bob Dylan (left) and that OCMS (right) just added lyrics and basically finished the song. It reminds me of Marquette.

I have no idea what this song is about, do you? Just curious. I like playing and I'd say its my 2nd best song as far as ability and confidence.  Plus the Smiths are one of the great bands of the 1980's.

I also felt it neccessary to learn a Johnny Cash song. I learned this song yesterday, I do a different kinda slowed down version. I like this song. I remember listening to it alot in high school, actually I still remember all the words.

Welp, thats what I've been workin on.  Hope to add some more songs to the list and keep practicing since I have a lot of "free time" at the moment.  haha. 

I'm going to start going to Woodruff's in Ypsi for open mic night. Its Tuesday nights from 7pm-10pm. There are a wide range of acts, mainly people playing acoustic guitar, but a lot of different sounds.  Everyone is really friendly and they serve KBC. They just opened in December so come support a new buisness in Ypsi.  Besides its been a long winter and nothing is better than good old fashioned live music to cheer you up!