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Play like Bert...

Bryan Burnett | 19:59 UK time, Friday, 20 April 2012

To those who think Get It On might have lost some of it's eclectic nature I offer up as evidence tonight's playlist featuring everything from Dizzee Rascal to Danny La Rue with a bit of Nick Cave thrown in to liven things up. Superb mix if, not a little bit mad.

On Monday we mark the death of Bert Weedon whose promise to 'play in a day' made many of us pick up a guitar. Legends like Eric Clapton and Brian May were among those who learned to play using his techniques. So I'd like to ask those who are musical, what was the first song you learned to play? I won't ask you to prove it by playing it for me, but any photographic evidence of the bloggers brandishing an 'axe' would be welcome.

Comments

  • Comment number 1.

    I learned to play "Here come the Farmer's Men' at piano lessons. I don't want you to spend any time searching for it

  • Comment number 2.

    i learned Amazing Grace on the piano and mama weer all crazee now on the kazoo

  • Comment number 3.

    MONDAY



    Like most kids, I tried to learn guitar. But not for long. My preferred instrument was the piano accordion. This was (if memory serves) the first tune I mastered.


    Red River Valley - Slim Whitman


    Keep it Country!

  • Comment number 4.

    Ìý
    NEWSFLASH!


    On the very day this theme is being broadcast, cameras covering Glasgow's bus lanes become operational. So, unless you're driving someone else's car,
    stay out of the bus lanes!


    >8-D

  • Comment number 5.

    Hmmmmm


    Red rag & bull.....

  • Comment number 6.

    Pretty sad the affect a court hearing can have on a proud flautist

  • Comment number 7.

    Take it Julie's glued to ´óÏó´«Ã½4 tonight

  • Comment number 8.

    as i was saying......i've played a few tunes

    the mandolin.
    nearly the greatest instrument.
    i could play these.....

    'when i'm dead and gone'................mcguinness flint

    'fat man'....................ask SG

    'maggie may'......................rod stewart


    the 'tin whistle' is a decent enough instrument and so is the wee tune 'caliope house',its stuck on the end of this mike scott gem.....

    'a man is in love'........waterboys.......(with caliope house stuck on the end)

    and i was once taught the chanter by a member of a great island piping family.
    so one day i am going to up sticks and head to the west coast of clare and purchase a set of uilleann pipes and learn to play.....

    'the kildare mans fancy' like yer main man o'flynn

    cheers frae the dale

  • Comment number 9.

    - Obernkirchen Children's Choir - Piano
    - Mr. Acker Bilk - Clarinet (Trad boom)
    - Grethe & Jørgen Ingmann - Guitar (The Beatles were just around the corner)
    - Paul McCartney - Mandolin

  • Comment number 10.

    Just looked up my original notes


    Blaw, blaw, sook, blaw, sook,
    Blaw, blaw, sook, blaw, sook,
    Blaw, blaw, sook, blaw, sook, blaw.....
    Start spreadin the news....

    New York, New York - Frank Sinatra




    I also looked up the notes on the mouth organ for Madame George but they aren't allowed

  • Comment number 11.

    I can play 'The Hens March Through The Midden' on the comb and paper ;o)

  • Comment number 12.

    Has there ever been
    a dafter theme?

  • Comment number 13.

    Ah kain







    Well, yer richt, ah cah mind





    DC practising drums tae Rolling Stones DeadFlowers

  • Comment number 14.

    #5

    Some of those authorised to use the bus-lanes drive as if they're part of Team Red Bull!




    Before a pedestrian or cyclist is killed, speed cameras for Glasgow's bus lanes anybody?

  • Comment number 15.

    Ìý


    Howzabout red light cameras for bicycles?

  • Comment number 16.

    #14 @ ya MM frae kilbowie

    don't even get me started on the doyen of the community.......the glasgow cabbie!!

    sometimes they park side-on to keep the economy of the city ticking over....couldnae do without them imho.

    cheers frae the dale

  • Comment number 17.

    Ìý
    Massive for Fat Man - Jethro Tull (see #8)

  • Comment number 18.

    Ìý
    Happy Birthday, Your Majesty; Happy Birthday to you!


    :o)

  • Comment number 19.

    what a ridiculous theme. First song - probably Ba Ba Black Sheep.

    And if I hear the word eclectic again used once more I'll ..oh never mind.

    And another thing, are people going to claim that Anji was the first thing they played on their guitars? Oh really? And that'll be Bert Jansch played at last, but hey, what about Davey Graham?

    I bought piano music for

    Rag Mama Rag - The Band
    Hey Jude- the Beatles
    Whiter Shade of Pale - Procul Harum

    did I ever manage to play them I wonder?

  • Comment number 20.

    #15. Is that no different to a motoring Amber Gambler? Those who mount the pavement need their heads examining & give the rest of us a bad press.

    #16. Good grief... I'm no fae the old-town but a lovely post Blitz scheme!

    Please give space to road cyclists whit you do re those on mountain-bikes is up to you >8-0

  • Comment number 21.

    I remember getting knocked off my Raleigh Chopper as a ten year old only for the driver to get out his car and scream look what you've done to my
    ** paintwork ya wee ****

    As i picked ma twisted bike and grazed knees off the road I cursed my mother for making me wear short trousers.

    He got in his car and drove off. I'm still looking for him. Red morris marina man with the yellow shirt, look out PP is gonna get you one day.






    * Other bikes were available....but no as good

  • Comment number 22.

    #

    - Spencer Davis Group - Bass guitar

    - Spencer Davis Group - Organ

  • Comment number 23.

    I vote we hand the whole show over to the Glen Miller Orchestra

  • Comment number 24.

    - Elias and his Zig Zag Jive Flutes - Penny whistle
    - Jon Sass - Tuba

  • Comment number 25.

    Did yer mammy never buy ye a stylophone ?

  • Comment number 26.

    So its for musicians is it? eh, I'll get ma coat

  • Comment number 27.

    #25

    Nah! She did buy him a red Morris Marina and a rather fetching yellow shirt...

  • Comment number 28.

    #26

    Wid that be the first coat or the second coat?









    Put me oot, Ah'm oan fire!

  • Comment number 29.

    - Gryphon - Bassoon

    - John Williams - Classical guitar (by ex-Gryphon Richard Harvey)

    - Brett Domino - Stylophone

  • Comment number 30.

    Ìý
    I stand corrected!



    Again...

  • Comment number 31.

    Hello again Bryan, Blogotariat....
    To my great shame I have never learnt how to play any musical instrument.....
    #8 (Dale) The tin whistle?

    Well, let's all fly to Brazil and enjoy the glorious sunshine there.
    suggestion: Rita LEE 'Lança perfume'


    friendly greetings to all.

  • Comment number 32.

    I'm learning to play Gerry Rafferty's Mary Skeffington on the Jew's harp

  • Comment number 33.

    'evidence of the bloggers brandishing an 'axe' would be welcome.'

    Here's me thinking we were just a peaceful music lovin' bunch

    Al.

  • Comment number 34.

    Ìý
    "On the Internet, nobody knows you're a mad axe murderer."




    With apologies to Peter Steiner.

  • Comment number 35.

    Like Christophe, I never learned to play an instrument even though I've had an accoustic guitar for about 30 years.I just never got round to it.I used to kid myself I could play Marie Elena by los Indios Tabajaras,but it was 'kiddy on' playing.

    #4 Why do taxis get to use bus lanes.To get to your house quicker? If I had a burst pipe I would want a plumber pronto not a cab.( and I used to drive a Hackney)

  • Comment number 36.

    #29

    I saw Gryphon support YES at the Apollo! I'll keep this up my sleeve for the next time the theme is "Support Acts."

  • Comment number 37.

    Ìý
    #35

    joe,

    Are you suggesting that should be permitted to drive in bus lanes?

  • Comment number 38.

    Scotch
    Ha ha some of my best friends are plumbers.Some taxi drivers used to be my best friends.

  • Comment number 39.

    Give an emergency plumber the use of a bus lane and a McLaren F1 car and they still wouldn't be able to make it out before tomorrow!

  • Comment number 40.

    #35 Joe it’s never too late to pick it up again…..

    My daughters' had weekly guitar lessons up until their more serious exams started to encroach on their free time more, I then decided to take the spot with the guitar teacher.
    I’m afraid a few years down the line and I am now a bit of a guitar geek, previously I could strum a song or two, just chords and stuff, but now with the kids grown up I spend a lot more time practicing. Still don’t have any aspirations to play the Albert Hall but now when I play people don’t jump out of the nearest window.

    As Mr Weedon suggested, the trick is to try and practice every day, works for me.
    I guess the first songs I learned were strum along versions of Wild Thing or Horse with No Name, canny really remember but don’t particularly want to listen to songs like that for two hours.

    The theme’s a bit of a challenge.

    From my Creedence Clearwater repertoire, John Fogerty’s songs are always fun to play as there’s loads of wee catchy riffs to learn, a bit at a time, if you need to.

    Up Around The Bend / CCR

    Al.

  • Comment number 41.

    #36

    I saw them on Friday 17 May 1974 supporting St* Sp**. It looks as if you saw them on Friday 18 or Saturday 19 April 1975 with the much cooler Yes. The bassoon never really caught on.

    - Heart - Casio sampler - Like Steeleye Span a guilty pleasure

    - Rolling Stones - Moothie - Never really mastered it. Brian Jones, on the other hand, could play anything.

  • Comment number 42.

    awfy quiet,maybe we should aw just

    Start A Band / Brad Paisley & Keith Urban

    Al.

  • Comment number 43.

    #40
    I might just do that Al. Better go and tune up.

    Bread-Guitar Man.

  • Comment number 44.

    From the age of 8 (she'll be 10 soon) my youngest (Georgia) has played a mean 'Sunshine Of Your Love'.... something her trendy guitar teacher taught her at school. It has been most amusing to see the reaction of some of our older friends when she has picked up a guitar she saw lying around at their homes and served up some 60's Cream...

  • Comment number 45.

    I bought "Play In A day" yesterday and spent all day learning guitar. By the end of the day I had mastered:

    Velvet Underground - Sweet Jane

    David Bowie - Queen Bitch

    Richard Ashcroft - Royal Highness

    Play either one as they are the same song.

  • Comment number 46.

    #45

    I hope you're resting today.

    Since I see no upcoming themes and an important event on the social calendar, the Paisley Beer Festival, takes place this week, I suggest Drink. Apart from the importance of the industry in its own right, it makes a major contribution to employment in the medical and law enforcement sectors and is the subject of many good songs.

  • Comment number 47.

    Phew!
    Thought for a minute you were going to suggest Paisley as a theme, which also makes a major contribution to employment in the medical and law enforcement sectors.

  • Comment number 48.

    It's a long time since I've done it but I could once do a fairly rough version of

    Hey Bulldog - the Beatles on piano and a fairly poor rendition of Light My Fire on acoustic guitar.However, since I believe Clarence Carter made the definitive version (even better than the original or Astrud Gilberto) and I don't think it's in the library, we won't be hearing that.Pity.

    regardez - vous

    henri

  • Comment number 49.

    #46

    The Greenock & Inverclyde Fortified Wine Festival is also annual.







    It lasts all year.......

  • Comment number 50.

    #46 Of course I'm resting. It's Monday.

    Paisley for drink it is!

  • Comment number 51.

    #49

    Efter youse wi' ra electric soup, Gaie.

  • Comment number 52.

    #44
    Mike for a song that is nearly 50 years old, I'm not sure "trendy" is the right word.


    "Groovy" maybe?



    Holiday here today. We celebrate St George's Day in Rio.





    Deh ask.......

  • Comment number 53.

    St George is the patron saint of lost souls

  • Comment number 54.

    #45 what a coincidence!!!!

    I also bought "Play in a day" over the weekend and have just about mastered Wot's uh the deal, best performed by David Gilmour on his Live in Gdansk album




    DC

  • Comment number 55.

    Guitar's the easy bit, it's the whistlin' you need to get right.

    Over My Shoulder / Mike & The Mechanics

    Al.

  • Comment number 56.

    As a teenager, it tended to be keyboard-based stuff, however, since investing in the joy that is a for my 40th, USB interface and various software-modelled effects and amps, the world of guitar sound is my mollusc.

    Since then, I have great joy in torturing the riffs from:
    * Cream - Sunshine of your Love
    * U2 - Sunday Bloody Sunday
    * Wheatus -
    * The Who -
    * Joan Jett & the Blackhearts -

    But most, most, most of all, with all distortion turned up to 11:
    * Spinal Tap -
    Come on, Bryan, if there's one night when Ver Tap are appropriate, tonight is it.

  • Comment number 57.

    #49 gonnae come doon here an' say that in person, eh? eh? the baith e' yez. Aye an' Glen an' a'.

  • Comment number 58.

    #45

    Funnily enough, I also learned 4 chords over the weekend and can now play:

    1. Journey-Dont stop believing
    2. James Blunt-your beautiful
    3. Black Eyed Peas - Where is the Love
    4. Alphaville-Young Forever
    5. Jason Mraz - I'm Yours
    6. Train - Hey, soul sister
    7. The Calling - Where Ever You Will Go
    8. Elton john - Can you feel the love Tonight
    9. Akon - Don't matter
    10. John Denver - Take Me home
    11. Lady Gaga - Paparazzi
    12. U2- With or Without You
    13. The last goodnight- Pictures of you
    14. Maroon 5 - She will be Loved
    15. The Beatles - Let it be
    16. Bob marley - No woman no cry
    17. Marcy Playground - Sex and Candy
    18. Men at work - A land down under
    19. America's funniest home videos theme!
    20. Jack Johnson - Taylor
    21. Spice Girls - 2 become 1
    22. A-Ha - Take on Me
    23. Green day - When I Come Around
    24. Eagle Eye Cherry - Save Tonight
    25. Toto - Africa
    26. Karl Wolf - Africa
    27. Beyonce - If I Were A Boy
    28. Kelly Clarkson - Behind These Hazel Eyes
    29. Jason Derulo - In my head
    30. Hawthorne Heights - Bullet with Butterfly Wings
    31. Joan Osborne - One of Us
    32. Avril Lavigne - Complicated
    33. Offspring - Self Esteem
    34. Offspring- Your Gonna go far Kid
    35. Akon- Beautiful
    36. Timbaland- Apologize
    37. Eminem- Love the way you lie
    38. Bon Jovi- Its My Life
    39. Lady Gaga- Pokerface
    40. Aqua-barbie
    40(and a half). Red hot chili peppers - otherside
    41. Double rainbow song!
    42. MGMT- Kids
    43. Andrea Bocelli &Sara Brightman - Time to say goodbye
    44. Auld Lang Syne
    45. Five for fighting- Superman
    46. Axis of Awesome- Birldplane
    47. Missy Higgins- Scar

  • Comment number 59.

    #56

    Sorry to hear about the mollusc - have you tried ointment?

    #57

    Tom Petty dyes his hair

  • Comment number 60.

    #58 Rumbled. Ok I admit it I only got to the end of the third chord chapter. Fourth chord next week. Then I will be able to play ALL of the Boss back catalouge. Except Streets of Philladelphia as it would need your wee Casio thing....

  • Comment number 61.

    #59 that's such a petty remark

  • Comment number 62.

    Complete with Gerry Rafferty and Joe Egan on 1st and 2nd kazoos, think we could all learn that in a day.
    Great wee chordie intro too.

    Star / Stealers Wheel

    Al.

  • Comment number 63.

    So we'll all bring our musical instruments to the next blog get-together?

    What about a name for our band?

  • Comment number 64.

    Dear Joan,

    All my blog friends have musical talent or something they are excellent at and as for me... well I haven't ever found any instrument I'm good at.

    This theme has induced all these stressful emotions in me but this talent-less feeling is the worst and I have no idea what to do and to find what it is I am supposed to do.

    Can anyone help me how to figure it out?

    Thanks.

    M.M.

    Name & Address provided

  • Comment number 65.

    #64

    Dear MMfC

    That never stopped .

    Nae bother
    Wee Joanie

  • Comment number 66.

    I'm not musically talented however my darling children have acquired musical genes from somewhere. DD Emily (aged 12) played a Beatles medley "I Want To Hold Your Hand, Hey Jude and With A Little Help From My Friends" (all of which she chose herself) for her Grade 2 keyboard exam last year and DS Jack (aged 9) who's learning to play the guitar, is mastering the riff to Eric Clapton's "Wonderful Tonight". Needless to say I'm an "awfy" proud mum :0)

  • Comment number 67.

    #54 DC

    I can't play any Gilmour




    and very well too...

  • Comment number 68.

    #63

    Maybe Gaga
    The Captain and Ten Heels
    A Hundred Pipers (We'll up an' gie them a blog, a blog)
    Gaie's Gits
    Adam & The Grants
    EC/DC

Ìý

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