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Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Maybe the old "NO Stairway" joke is to deep in my brain. I was just noodlein' around and suddenly found myself in the middle that forbidden classic. It had been a long time.
Beautiful melody. Beautiful chord progression. And fun to change up a bit as to not be a slave to the original.
So... how long has it been for you??? |
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January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | Little known fact: that acoustic guitar intro was actually written on a ukulele. I play the intro every single day on uke. It's just one of those things I noodle around with out of habit. Dave |
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Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Dave... I'd like to hear that at the next tour. |
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Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | eek. |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | I am also ashamed to say I played it over the weekend.....but in my defense, I played it through the Roland VG88 so that it sounded like a choir of men and women singing the notes. |
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August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | At my high school talent show, some geek played stairway on the uke and his buck-toothed sister played the recorder. Then they harmonized. Ay caramba. I'm sure they were good, but they got the same level of respect as the clarinet/trombone duo that did Winchester Cathedral. |
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Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Dave;
I'm up for it if you are . . .
Ashamedly, I must confess that I too played it not too long ago (about two weeks ago).
At gigs, we'll ofetn play the opening chords and when the first verse comes in, I'll sing the first verse from "Gilligan's Island" (it fits).
It's GREAT t'f@ck with people's heads every so often . . .
So, . . Bobbo . . . y'didn't tell us . . .
. . did you play the clarinet or the trombone?? |
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November 2005
Posts: 1126
Location: Omaha, NE | How depressing.
Back in high school (late '70's) being able to play that song defined you as a True Guitar Player. Now its just a cliche. |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Still can't play it.
But I do a mean Wish You Were Here. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12758
Location: Boise, Idaho | Last week. Actually borrowed a good tab and worked on it a couple of nights. The guy I borrowed the tab from called it classic rock, then started laughing when he realized it was written when I was a senior in high school. First song I learned all the way through, except the solo. Drove my roomates in college nuts. |
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November 2006
Posts: 3969
| I still play it regularly - as a warm-up for practicing. It was the first 'real' song I learned how to play as a kid in the 70s. As overplayed and as cliched as it is I still find the chord progression hauntingly beautiful. Wish You Were Here is another favorite warm-up. |
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July 2006
Posts: 171
Location: Oregon | The intro of the intro was the first thing I learned to play. Havn't played it since. I've forgotten it. And I refuse to listen to that song. |
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August 2005
Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | It's a great song and if it's played PROPERLY - and all the way through - its not at all cringeworthy. How many of you do actaually play it all the way through?
The reason it was banned is that it is such a great song that everyone thought they could play it.
Unfortunately... |
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July 2005
Posts: 3410
Location: GA USA | I've never ever played it, or even tried. |
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April 2006
Posts: 1138
Location: CT | Originally posted by Tupperware:
Little known fact: that acoustic guitar intro was actually written on a ukulele.... Please! The original intro was written on banjo, with a ukulele as harmony, along with a washtub bass and washboard. cringe! I used to play it all the way thru, except for the solo. Haven't played it in a couple of years. |
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June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | Originally posted by Captain_Lovehandles:
I've never ever played it, or even tried. Ditto... |
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Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | How long has it been???
Not long enough. |
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Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | ". . Does anybody remember lahfter?? . . " |
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Posts: 2850
Location: Midland, MI | Believe it or not, I have never played Stairway to Heaven.
Of course, if you'd heard me play at all, you wouldn't have a problem believing that. ;) |
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November 2005
Posts: 4827
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | I have forgotten how. And until today, I didn't even know that!
Haven't even played that record in I can't remember how long. (I replace the records with cds as they wear out)
Still, I agree. The melody and performance are a lovely memory. Much like the good parts of a marriage that ends in divorce. |
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May 2005
Posts: 486
Location: North Carolina | Ain't never played it. When that song hit, I was already a player. I just KNEW this thing was gonna be around forever and everyone was going tou use it to show he had a sensitive side, knew more than cowboy chords, whatever. I resloved never to play it, and I never have.
If you want to hear "Feelings" though, I'm your guy. |
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January 2004
Posts: 123
Location: Massachusetts | I played it yesterday.
Funny, in the 80's you heard that and Freebird on the radio every freekin day. Hence the no Stairway reference in Wayne's World I imagine.
But when is the last time you hear it on the radio today? Maybe 2x a year.
Freebird, well that is still once a month easily.
So I don't feel guilty.
When is the last time you went into a guitar store and NOT heard someone play Little Wing?
Man..Wayne's World 3 or 4 or whatever should have no Little Wing.
Wierd coincidence..at GC over the weekend someone played Blackbird, Dust in the Wind and some other song I also play for fun. I guess everyone plays them. |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | I was thinking that Blackbird was also on the forbidden list because of it's overuse in music stores. Has this changed or was I dreamin the whole thing? |
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April 2006
Posts: 1017
Location: Budd Lake, NJ | I never listened to any of them, let alone learn how to play them. At that point in my life I was still a classical clarinet player; after that, I was too busy trying to be the utility player in our band: rhythmn guitarist, extra keyboards and bass. Now my most of my spare time goes to hugging, chasing, and playing with the two little cuties who are my granddaughters. So much for my great lead-playing days. Oh well....... :D
--Karen |
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July 2002
Posts: 327
Location: Houston, TX | Haven't played Stairway in years and years, but I really like playing the Rain Song. Learned it about 3-4 years ago, left it laying around until last week and started playing it again.
DGCGCD tuning. Nice piece. Cool side effect: playing in open C (I think that's what that tuning is, but i'm not really sure) spawned some dinking around. Uncovered some other cool chord voicings and started 2 new original pieces.
For me, playing in alternate tunings is kind of like putting your pants on backwards - walk in a different way down different paths. Rarely boring. |
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July 2004
Posts: 812
Location: Hicksville, NY | Gosh, even though I wouldn't admit it, I would play Stairway to Heaven every now and then. While it's been a while since I played it, the last time was during the gig that featured our own Mitchrx at the VA Hospital last summer. I played it along with Mitch and his gigging partner that day. I forgot his name, but he's one heck of a guitarist!
The song was not even on the set list. It was just played randomly, and we all got into it! |
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February 2004
Posts: 2487
| We actually have had a request for it! As soon as we play That's the Way or Going to California, which are now our "go to" songs for the opening of our second 50 minutes set, Once we play these we seem to get a lot of response! Then later; I have to say of all the classic rock we play the Zeppelin we still have is always the most popular of all the bands. Zeppelin really had something that was more timeless (than anyone we cover) we have yet to find. They had a "Majic" more so than even the Floyd and that's saying something. After everyone here's our sets, toward the end, we have had requests for Stairway and so far we have not turned it down. The people are'nt kidding about wanting to hear it! Amazing actually, This song was played more than any song ever I think!
I missed seeing these guy's in 77 and 79. What a mistake.
Randy |
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Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | ". . 50 minutes set . ."
pussies. |
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Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Not to talk bad about Led Zep... But people ask me why I listen to so much NPR at work, instead of one of the rock stations... "New music mostly sux, and there is only so many times I can listen to Stairway to Heaven" (forgive me)
But y'all are right, it seems that they don't play it that much anymore. That's a loss.
If given a choice between Zep and Floyd, or Nirvana and Red-Hot Chili Peppers... I will definitely stick with "Goin' to California" and "Shine On You Crazy Diamond". |
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February 2004
Posts: 2487
| Yeah Cliff, three 50 minute sets. The Outdoor Party Gig's are very open ended we give the party three or four hours of music, perhaps more, and we charge heavy. Bar gig's around here are fun only rarly. Believe me when it is a dead night and the small crowd is silent, it is tough getting through a night, we just play like it is practice for us and do exactly the 50 minutes and get the F out. The good nights when we can get the place hoppin; 50 minutes does not mean so much. We charge $300 but have standing gig's for $250 at the bars that we can almost show up and play when we want. I can remember back in 79-81 you could make $300-$400 cash as a solo act almost anywhere and the bars were searching for guy's to fill the off nights! You play two night a week and could live like a king back then.
Times have changed big time now. Aaron does his Solo act a lot we only get together when the bar wants a little more out of the set lists. (I add the Zeppelin & the Young)
He plays and teaches music for a living and always has. I barely have the time or the energy to do the gig some nights. Works out for us both this way.
I really do not know why I stopeed all together Cliff back when I did?? It is the most fun you can have when you hit a lively crowd! You know.
Randy |
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January 2004
Posts: 627
Location: Cherry Hill, NJ | Cliff,
I'm sure you probably know that there was a parody done to Stairway, using the lyrics from Gilligan's Island, released in the early 70's.. I think Page and Plant sued for rights. The best I've seen was on a SC TV skit of John Candy, and Rick Moranis, doing Stairway at a Polkafest. Hysterical version. |
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May 2005
Posts: 120
Location: Gardnerville, NV | Stairway to Gilligan |
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January 2004
Posts: 627
Location: Cherry Hill, NJ | Yes, there it is. Love it. |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | No . . I'd never HEARD that one.
I learned it from someone I used t'jam with many moons ago . . . . perhaps HE'd heard it. |
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December 2001
Posts: 10582
Location: NJ | that lasted about a week until page and plant and their big fat manager got on it. |
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July 2006
Posts: 171
Location: Oregon | Old Man Arthur, my thoughts exactly. I thought me and my Dad were the only ones who listened to NPR haha! I love the diversity of their shows. EVerything from the American Roots show to the BBC news every once in a while. |
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October 2005
Posts: 4046
Location: Utah | I will admit that I play it almost every day that I play. With my travel schedule I usually only get to practice 3 or 4 times per week. Somehow it just starts playing itself as I noodle around.
When nobody else is home I like to crank the stereo and play to old vinyl LPs from my high school days. Stairway is nearly always one of the songs. |
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August 2006
Posts: 3145
Location: Marlton, NJ | Fly - I do that as well.. I still have many vinyls that I don't have on CD - all of the Beatles albums for one. Slowly starting to catch up though. |
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October 2005
Posts: 4046
Location: Utah | Originally posted by CrimsonLake:
Fly - I do that as well.. I still have many vinyls that I don't have on CD - all of the Beatles albums for one. Slowly starting to catch up though. I've been considering transfering some of those old LPs to CD.
Back in the 70's when I was a teenager, my parents used to complain that the music was too loud. Now that I'm a parent with teenage kids, my kids are complaining that the music is too loud.
Some things never change! :D |
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February 2004
Posts: 2487
| Yeah all the You Tube stuff is gone! Is Peter Grant still around?? If so, then this explains it, if not; he'd be proud! Someone is keepin his boy's obscure and any image or sound track has monitary value. |
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July 2005
Posts: 354
Location: Flushing, MI | Haven't heard that in a while!
As a matter of fact I was playing STH just the other day - believe it or not. I used to play in a guitar/mando duo, and we'd play wacky versions of various pop tunes. We'd play bluegrass renditions of Beatle tunes, Kiss, etc. and STH was one of the ones that we mangled.
Whenever I think of STH now, I always think of it with a "boom-chick, boom-chick..." feel.
We also did a version of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight", which started out normal, then shifted to reggae, and then bluegrass on all of the choruses. So it became verse=reggae, chorus=bluegrass, but on the last out-chorus we'd shift to a swing time, and shuffle it out 'til the end. Usually people dug it, but sometimes they just didn't get it at all. It was all instrumental too. The vocal lines were all played on the mando. Maybe that's what confused 'em? :rolleyes: |
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How Long Has It Been Since You Played "Stairway"?