Season 597- PHOTOSYNTHESIS

[joo]

Too Many Birds, a Bill Callahan song from his album Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle.
Thanks for hosting, Dave. Love the theme.


(I had a bad day and when I sat down to record this I realised how tensed I was that my fingers didn't really wanna move when I wanted them to at some point. You can see my funny expressions. I used the "plectrum" tuning, F C E G. I was trying to remember the right chord shapes. Thankfully I got through the first take. Love Bill Callahan. Any other Bill Callahan fans here?

Going to catch up on some Questions/Answers songs later.....)

 

[LimousinLil]

Too Many Birds, a Bill Callahan song from his album Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle.
Thanks for hosting, Dave. Love the theme.


(I had a bad day and when I sat down to record this I realised how tensed I was that my fingers didn't really wanna move when I wanted them to at some point. You can see my funny expressions. I used the "plectrum" tuning, F C E G. I was trying to remember the right chord shapes. Thankfully I got through the first take. Love Bill Callahan. Any other Bill Callahan fans here?

Going to catch up on some Questions/Answers songs later.....)

Excuse my complete ignorance, Joo ... but what IS "plectrum" tuning??? (I am a complete ignoramus when it comes to tuning other than GCEA or DGBE!)

 

[Wiggy]

Eddie Grace's buick
Got four bullet holes in the side
Charley Delisle is sittin' at the top
Of an avocado tree
Mrs Storm will stab you with a steak knife
If you step on her lawn
I got a half a pack of lucky strikes man
So come along with me
Let's fill our pockets
With macadamia nuts
And go over to Bobby Goodmanson's
And jump off the roof
Hilda plays strip poker
When her mama's across the street
Joey Navinsky says she put
Her tongue in his mouth
Dicky Faulkner's got a switchblade
And some gooseneck risers
That eucalyptus is a hunchback
There's a wind down from the south
So let me tie you up with kite string
I'll show you the scabs on my knee
Watch out for the broken glass
Put your shoes and socks on
And come along with me
Let's follow that fire truck
I think your house is burning down
Then go down to the hobo jungle
And kill some rattlesnakes with a trowel
And we'll break all the windows
In the old Anderson place
We'll steal a bunch of boysenberrys
And smear 'em on your face
I'll get a dollar from my mama's purse
Buy that skull and crossbones ring
And you can wear it round your neck
On an old piece of string
Then we'll spit on Ronnie Arnold
And flip him the bird
Slash the tires on the school bus
Now don't say a word
I'll take a rusty nail
Scratch your initials in my arm
I'll show you how to sneak up on the roof
Of the drugstore
I'll take the spokes from your wheelchair
And a magpie's wings
And I'll tie 'em to your shoulders
And your feet
I'll steal a hacksaw from my dad
Cut the braces off your legs
And we'll bury them tonight
Out in the cornfield
Just put a church key in your pocket
We'll hop that freight train in the hall
We'll slide all the way down the drain
To New Orleans in the fall

Ah, yes. The Blue Valentine album. As always, wee, thanks for digging into deep lyrics.

On a lighter note, "Let me tell ya 'bout the birds and the bees and the flowers and the trees..."

 

[joo]

Excuse my complete ignorance, Joo ... but what IS "plectrum" tuning??? (I am a complete ignoramus when it comes to tuning other than GCEA or DGBE!)

I never heard of this tuning too until I saw it in the book that Edwin gave me for one of the weeks he hosted (Literary theme I think it was?).
The book is Alternative Tunings For Ukulele by Phil Doleman.

Plectrum Tuning (FCEG) is, as written in the book, " the traditional tuning for plectrum banjo ( a long-necked 4-string banjo played with a plectrum or pick). Of course we are higher in pitch, though on the baritone this tuning is exactly the same as the plectrum banjo" .

I restrung my tenor with some low G Worth Browns yesterday and had trouble getting the A string strung. Slotted headstock is a bastard to me.
When I finally did, I found the tension higher than the rest of the strings, so I decided to tune the A string a full step down from A to G.
This is the first time I put low G on my tenor. The low G string is so deep and warm and obvious to my ears, that I consciously picked it very very lightly in this recording. On listening back I think I could just play normally.
I am interested to try this tuning also because I wanna try some clawhammer stuff with this tuning...

 

[LimousinLil]

Rebonjour, Cher Dave! I bring you a very useful herb ... rosemary! Unfortunately, I was unable to record in the garden today ... firstly, because it keeps raining; secondly, because my pot of rosemary - which might have figured largely - decided to keel over this Spring, and, thirdly, because the uke that I'm playing was given to me by a very dear friend and I don't like taking it outside ... especially in the rain! Anyway ...

 

[Canada Jim]

I never heard of this tuning too until I saw it in the book that Edwin gave me for one of the weeks he hosted (Literary theme I think it was?).
The book is Alternative Tunings For Ukulele by Phil Doleman.

Plectrum Tuning (FCEG) is, as written in the book, " the traditional tuning for plectrum banjo ( a long-necked 4-string banjo played with a plectrum or pick). Of course we are higher in pitch, though on the baritone this tuning is exactly the same as the plectrum banjo" .

I restrung my tenor with some low G Worth Browns yesterday and had trouble getting the A string strung. Slotted headstock is a bastard to me.
When I finally did, I found the tension higher than the rest of the strings, so I decided to tune the A string a full step down from A to G.
This is the first time I put low G on my tenor. The low G string is so deep and warm and obvious to my ears, that I consciously picked it very very lightly in this recording. On listening back I think I could just play normally.
I am interested to try this tuning also because I wanna try some clawhammer stuff with this tuning...

Since plectrum is CGBD or DGBD, Joo's plectrum tuning is like a plectrum guitar or banjo capoed at the fifth fret.

 

[hendulele]

Thanks for hosting, Dave! Time to strap on the banjerlele and do some Neil ... or Linda ... or whoever. Still a fine I IV V song for ya!

 

[LimousinLil]

I never heard of this tuning too until I saw it in the book that Edwin gave me for one of the weeks he hosted (Literary theme I think it was?).
The book is Alternative Tunings For Ukulele by Phil Doleman.

Plectrum Tuning (FCEG) is, as written in the book, " the traditional tuning for plectrum banjo ( a long-necked 4-string banjo played with a plectrum or pick). Of course we are higher in pitch, though on the baritone this tuning is exactly the same as the plectrum banjo" .

I restrung my tenor with some low G Worth Browns yesterday and had trouble getting the A string strung. Slotted headstock is a bastard to me.
When I finally did, I found the tension higher than the rest of the strings, so I decided to tune the A string a full step down from A to G.
This is the first time I put low G on my tenor. The low G string is so deep and warm and obvious to my ears, that I consciously picked it very very lightly in this recording. On listening back I think I could just play normally.
I am interested to try this tuning also because I wanna try some clawhammer stuff with this tuning...

I think I might have to get a copy of that book; although whether the contents is sufficiently detailed to overcome my woeful ignorance remains to be seen!

 

[TCK]

I love this little intro to your succulent obsession, Dave! I know nothing about them - although I think my brother had a Venus Flytrap once - but I do have a great talent for killing plants of all descriptions. I can, however, identify with your Steinbeck passion ... I went through a very Steinbeck period as a teenager. Is there any chance, fine Sir, that it is your intent to put up a PLAYLIST???

Hahaha- Whoops!

 

[joo]

I think I might have to get a copy of that book; although whether the contents is sufficiently detailed to overcome my woeful ignorance remains to be seen!

there is nothing to er, "study" about alternate tunings really...
It is a little book with some alternative tunings, basic chords for each tuning, with just enough description to give you an idea about them. I think one needs to try out to see what one can do with them...

 

[LimousinLil]

there is nothing to er, "study" about alternate tunings really...
It is a little book with some alternative tunings, basic chords for each tuning, with just enough description to give you an idea about them. I think one needs to try out to see what one can do with them...

I've ordered a hard copy and look forward to being totally bewildered ... thanks for the help!

 

[TCK]

Bunches of tunes!!!! I am currently beating the heat with some of the coolest plants in the world, the Redwoods! They create their own climate and we have had enough of what Cloverdale is offering in those regards. I will be back this evening for a listen- Keep ‘em coming!

 

[ukulele extra cheese]

Rolling in the grass...

 

[Canada Jim]

THE ANTI-GARDEN SONG Dave Mallet’s 1975 love song of a gardener to his garden is stomped upon like a gardener’s boot on a snail.
Eric Kilburn wrote the Anti-version in 1982. I was sure that Wendy would beat me to this one. I hope someone does Dave Mallet's original.

 

[Renaissance-Man]

Dead Flowers by The Rolling Stones - a collaborative effort by me and @AZChris.

 

[mountain goat]

an original song for the season

 

[DelGriff]

Thanks for hosting, Dave!

My wonderful Grandad died 30 years ago. He was everything a grandad should be, a brillant role model in so many ways. He taught himself how to play the piano and was always full of praise and encouragement for my music. I still miss him hugely.

Shortly after he died in 1993, I wrote a poem about him. I put that poem to music here many years later for Season 351. And now for this Season I’ve completely reworked it and added some synth bass and pads, along with some vocal harmonies. Besides music, gardening was his passion - as you’ll discover if you listen to my song about him. And there’s a surprising ending when you consider that I am an atheist!

 

[ksiegel]

THE ANTI-GARDEN SONG Dave Mallet’s 1975 love song of a gardener to his garden is stomped upon like a gardener’s boot on a snail.
Eric Kilburn wrote the Anti-version in 1982. I was sure that Wendy would beat me to this one. I hope someone does Dave Mallet's original.

I thought about it, but since I've already got 3 or 4 different YouTube videos of The Garden Song already...

I've got another one up my sleeve that I've only done once on YouTube, but since I knew the writer, I can probably get away with it....

In a couple of days...

Stand By, folks...

 

[TCK]

What a great bit of entertainment to come back home to! We saw Redwoods, we saw the Coast, I have finally been to Bolinas California in spite of them not wanting me there! Got a cooler full of oysters to bbq…and then I got to listen to all these great new additions to our playlist! This may be the best day of summer so far, thank you all! Off to go cook but I hope to watch some more tonight!

 

[Wiggy]

Rolling in the grass...

That rocks. Light my fuse!