Learning Songs from the Record Again

There's been a song running around in my head for weeks--Uncharted, by Sara Bareilles--so tonight, I decided to learn to play it. I haven't learned a song from a recording this way since, well, when I looked like the photo to the left.

This time, I was able to play the song on my iPod with one earbud in and the other out--to hear if I was getting close. Of course, I had to sing an octave below Sara (I'm not Paul McCartney), but I worked it out--mostly. I needed to capo the first fret to move the pitch up to what I assume is the way it was recorded. It's possible that the studio sped up the song, too, I guess.

I any case, I now have a song from 2010 (or 2011) that I can play and sing to go with all those ones from the mid to late sixties that I learned off those vinyl albums and by ear. Who knows where this could lead? Maybe I'll go do another open mike night somewhere.

No Milk Today to Uncharted - What Makes a Favorite Song?

Years ago, when a song became a favorite it was usually because they played it in heavy rotation on the radio. I might go buy the "45," but normally I just waited, and when I heard the first few notes of it, I'd go, "YAY," and enjoy it.

Well, with iTunes you can own anything you want in a matter of seconds, so I now have some of my all-time favorites available with a click. That's good, but the accidental and sudden arrival of two or three minutes of bliss is no longer part of it.

But--I've had a few new favorites lately, including Owl City's Fireflies and now, as I reported here recently, Sara Bareilles' Uncharted. Yep--They're on my iPod, but I still like it when they pop up on SiriusXM's The Pulse (now, Channel 10).

Listening to what constitute my favorites, I can see that I'm more of a pop guy than a hard rock guy, and that melody (including it in the bass) is what I like best. I like pop songs with orchestral accompanyment. Not surprising for a guy who also considers Beethoven's Pastorale Symphony (No. 6) in his list of musical treasures. I love Glen Campbell's Wichita Lineman and, of course, Richard Harris' MacArthur Park, too.

Consider this favorite from 1967--No Milk Today by Herman's Hermits. See--my ears haven't strayed that far.