The Fretboard Guitar Songbook - phase 1

soma1975 Frets: 7357
26 May, 2024

UPDATED - 30/05
Speaking to the chaps at the recent SE meetup, we thought it might be worth coming up with a list of like 10 songs that can be the Fretboard Standards so there’s always something someone can play on and always something people at meetups can come together and play when they run out of ideas.
As such I've started a list and hopefully you lot will chime in and we will have a ton of suggestions that we will then whittle down. 
I think it’s really good to have a working rule when starting is was not the most obvious song that I, and I assume others are utterly sick of hearing so, no Teen Spirit, Seven Nation Army, Hard to Handle or Hey Joe. 
There’s plenty of great songs out there without going to those boring ones. Cool, interesting but maybe not too difficult things. The one I chose all have easy bits people can do, and lots also have cool solos and other bits for people who are into that as well.
Let’s add to them with other ideas and I will organise some sort of world cup of songs with voting to whittle it down to 10-15
Maybe need something for the acoustic people too?
UPDATED PRELIMINARY SONG LIST AS OF 30/05 - LOADS AT THE MOMENT. WILL LEAVE IT OPEN FOR THE REST OF THIS WEEK AND THEN THERE WILL BE A PLAYOFF BEFORE THE WORLD CUP COMMENCES TO GET IT DOWN TO 100 FOR THE FIRST WC GROUP STAGE. 
AC/DC – Back in Black
AC/DC - Highway to Hell
AC/DC - It's a Long Way to the Top
Aerosmith - Sweet Emotion
Alice in Chains – Them Bones
The Allman Brothers Band – Stormy Monday
Arctic Monkeys - RU Mine
The Beatles – Come Together
The Beatles - Get Back
The Beatles – Helter Skelter
The Black Crowes – Remedy
The Black Crowes – Struttin Blues
The Black Crowes - Sometimes Salvation
The Black Keys - Gold On The Ceiling
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Spread Your Love
Black Sabbath/FNM – War Pigs
Bluesbreakers – Stepping Out
Blur – Song 2
Bon Jovi – Wanted Dead or Alive
Bryan Adams – Summer of ‘69
Bryan Adams – Run to You
The Cars - Just What I Needed
The Clash – Should I Stay or Should I Go
Creedance Clearwater Revival – Fortunate Son
Cream – Badge
Cream – Sunshine of your Love
Cream – White Room
The Cult – L’il Devil
The Cult – She Sells Sanctuary
The Cure – Just Like Heaven
David Bowie – Let’s Dance
David Bowie – Queen Bitch
Deep Purple – Highway Star
Faith No More - Epic
Fleetwood Mac - The Chain
Fleetwood Mac - Oh Well pt1
Freddie King – Have You Ever Loved a Woman 
Freddie King – Hideaway
Freddie King – The Stumble
Free - Alright Now
Free – Wishing Well
The Foo Fighters - Everlong
The Foo Fighters - Times Like These
Fountains of Wayne – Survival Car
Funkadelic – Maggot Brain
The Georgia Satellites – Keep Your Hands To Yourself
Golden Earring - Radar Love
Guns N Roses = Don’t Cry
Iggy Pop – Lust for Life
Iron Maiden - The Trooper Jethro Tull - Aqualung
Jimi Hendrix – All Along the Watchtower
Jimi Hendrix – Purple Haze
Jimi Hendrix – Who Knows
Kenny Burrell – Chitlins Con Carne
The Killers - Glamorous Indie Rock & Roll
Kings of Leon – Molly’s Chamber
Led Zeppelin - Communication Breakdown
Led Zeppelin – Custard Pie
Led Zeppelin – Immigrant Song
Led Zeppelin – Heartbreaker
Lenny Kravitz – Always on the Run
Living Colour – Love Rears Up Its Ugly Head
Lynyrd Skynyrd – Sweet Home Alabama
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Gimme Three Steps
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Call Me The Breeze
The Meters – Cissy Strut
Metallica - Enter Sandman
Metallica - Lux Aeterna
Neil Young – Rocking in the Free World
Neil Young – Cinnamon Girl
New Order – Blue Monday
Nirvana – In Bloom
Nirvana – Heart Shaped Box
Oasis – Cigarettes and Alcohol
Ocean Colour Scene – The Riverboat Song
Paul Weller – Changing Man
Poison - Talk Dirty To Me
Pearl Jam – Alive
Pearl Jam - Black
Pink Floyd – Shine on You Crazy Diamond
Primal Scream – Moving on Up
Primal Scream - Jailbird
Prince – Purple Rain
Queen – Tie Your Mother Down
Queen – Keep Yourself Alive
Queens of the Stone Age – Make it Wit Chu
Queens of the Stone Age – Little Sister
Queens of the Stone Age – No One Knows
Ram Jam - Black Betty
The Red Hot Chilli Peppers – Can't Stop
The Red Hot Chilli Peppers – Dani California
REM - What's The Frequency Kenneth
Rolling Stones – Jumping Jack Flash
Rolling Stones – Start Me Up
Rush - Spirit of Radio
Samantha Fish - Lay It Down
The Sex Pistols – Pretty Vacant
Smashing Pumpkins – Today
Smashing Pumpkins – Cherub Rock
Stone Roses – Love Spreads
Stone Temple Pilots – Plush
The Strokes – Last Nite
The Strokes - Someday
Soundgarden – Loud Love
Soundgarden – Black Hole Sun
Therapy - Die Laughing
Thin Lizzy – Jailbreak
U2 - New Years Day
The Undertones - Teenage Kicks
The Velvet Underground - Waiting For My Man
Weezer – Buddy Holly
The White Stipes – Fell in Love with a Girl
The Who - Baba O’Riley
The Who - Substitute 
Yes - Roundabout
Comments
I've just remembered this thread:
https://thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/285/one-chord-progression-songs-suitable-for-jams-or-encores/p1
soma1975 Frets: 7357
26 May, 2024
Is that a roundabout way of nominating Katy Perry -Roar for the songbook? 
Neilybob Frets: 1004
26 May, 2024
Thanks for setting up this thread @soma1975 
mrkb Frets: 7697
26 May, 2024
As a regular jam drummer this would help me out with supporting the jams, as every one seems to choose new tracks! 

If you get a regular list of set staples, I’m happy to learn them and can also make drum backing tracks so they could be used if I can’t attend.
soma1975 Frets: 7357
26 May, 2024
Brilliant.

My plan was to eventually get backing tracks for every song with all variations so no drums, no bass, no vocals etc and to have them all in a central depository for us all to grab so there is always something people can do.

As an aside yesterday I was looking for just some 5min+ song beats in different styles that Fretboarders could use as a basis for having an impromptu jam if that's something you could possibly think about being involved in?


prowla Frets: 5187
26 May, 2024
soma1975 said:
Is that a roundabout way of nominating Katy Perry -Roar for the songbook? 
Roundabout is a good one!

prowla Frets: 5187
26 May, 2024
soma1975 said:

Speaking to the chaps at the recent SE meetup, we thought it might be worth coming up with a list of like 10 songs that can be the Fretboard Standards so there’s always something someone can play on and always something people at meetups can come together and play when they run out of ideas.

As such I've started a list and hopefully you lot will chime in and we will have a ton of suggestions that we will then whittle down. 

I think it’s really good to have a working rule when starting is was not the most obvious song that I, and I assume others are utterly sick of hearing so, no Teen Spirit, Seven Nation Army, Hard to Handle or Hey Joe. 

There’s plenty of great songs out there without going to those boring ones. Cool, interesting but maybe not too difficult things. The one I chose all have easy bits people can do, and lots also have cool solos and other bits for people who are into that as well.

 The following list are some thoughts off the top of my head. Some I have never ever tried t play. Some titles might be better suited in different categories but will do that once all suggestions are in. Let’s add to them with other ideas and I will organise some sort of world cup of songs with voting to whittle it down to 10.

Maybe need something for the acoustic people too?

 

So please make suggestions and state a category for them. If I missed a category you think we need let me know. Will update this until we set a cutoff date and then set up a world cup group stage.

 


Modern Songs

I couldn’t begin to tell you what a modern song was, although I’d pay money to see a Fretboarder try to sing Greta Van Fleet…

 

Hopefully someone knows some that would be good to play?


Acoustic Songs


Hopefully someone knows some that would be good to play?


Britpop and Indie

 

Oasis – Cigarettes and Alcohol <= There's a lot better Oasis songs

Ocean Colour Scene – The Riverboat Song <= Good

Blur – Song 2

Paul Weller – Changing Man

Stone Roses – Love Spreads

 Primal Scream - Movin on Up <= That could be fun!

 

Alt Rock

 

Smashing Pumpkins – Today

Smashing Pumpkins – Cherub Rock

Pearl Jam – Alive

Pearl Jam - Black

Nirvana – In Bloom

Nirvana – Heart Shaped Box

Alice in Chains – Them Bones

 

90s & 00s Rock

 

Lenny Kravitz – Always on the Run

Black Crowes – Remedy

The Strokes – Last Nite

White Stipes – Fell in Love with a Girl

Living Colour – Love Rears Up Its Ugly Head

 

80s

Prince – Purple Rain

Bon Jovi – Wanted Dead or Alive <= or Living on a Prayer?

Guns N Roses = Don’t Cry <= any of the singers in the room at weybridge are better than Axl.

The Cure – Just Like Heaven

Byan Adams – Summer of ‘69 <= Good

The Clash – Should I Stay or Should I Go

U2 - New Years Day


Metal

 

Metallica - Enter Sandman

Black Sabbath/FNM – War Pigs <= That's got a lot of drums work!

Iron Maiden - The Trooper (or Aces High, or anything else)

Dio - Holy Diver

 

Classic Rock

 

Iggy Pop – Lust for Life

Queen – Tie Your Mother Down <= Or maybe one of the older ones?

Rolling Stones – Jumping Jack Flash <= Good

Rolling Stones - Start Me Up

Led Zeppelin – Immigrant Song <= Anybody up for singing that? Maybe Heartbreaker?

Jimi Hendrix – All Along the Watchtower <= How about Purple Haze?

The Cult – She Sells Sanctuary

AC/DC - Highway to Hell <= Good (or Back In Black?)

Cream – White Room <= Good

Cream – Sunshine of your Love <= or Badge?

Thin Lizzy – Jailbreak <= Good

Lynyrd Skynyrd – Sweet Home Alabama

Neil Young – Rocking in the Free World

Something by the Beatles (not the song "Something")

Alice Cooper - Halo of Flies

 

Jam Tracks for eveyone to have a wigged out solo for 20mins

 

Funkadelic – Maggot Brain

Pink Floyd – Shine on You Crazy Diamond <= That's a good song, but Money is better

Jimi Hendrix – Who Knows

Bluesbreakers – Stepping Out


Prog

Rush - Spirit of Radio (that got some interest when I played the riff at Weybridge)

Yes - Roundabout (dunno if it'll work with no keyboards though?)

Jethro Tull - Aqualung (the main riff changes key every bar!)

 


My thoughts in bold...











soma1975 Frets: 7357
26 May, 2024
Nice one I'll add them to the list and the people can decide. 

Personally if I hear hear Purple Haze again it will be a decade too soon. And that's from a Hendrix fan with an octave pedal! 

Agree there's a lot better Oasis songs - I'm not really a big fan, but it's pretty much something even a  beginner can play after a few months so could take part in. 

If peeps can list some songs I will add them at some point. I imagine there will be quite a large Initial Group Stage of the WC. Maybe 2 group stages. 
Funkfingers Frets: 15568
26 May, 2024
Blue Monday (inna Metal stylee)
marooned Frets: 107
26 May, 2024
How about adding something by the Who, maybe Baba O’Riley or Substitute 

As for Metallica maybe a newer track  like Lux Aeterna….Sandman has been played to death.
TTony Frets: 28786
26 May, 2024
@stratman3142 - as the owner of many a tFB meet-up session songs spreadsheet - could probably add a few that have worked well in practice, from those past meet-ups.

It's the in practice bit that's probably most important.

I've always been amazed at how well some of the chosen songs turn out on the day, bearing in mind that the people playing them have never played together before.  Compare that to all the rehearsal sessions that we might have been to where songs are all over the place because the guitarist forgets that there are 2 verses before the second chorus, or the bass player forgets about the break after the third verse, or the drummer misses the bridge, or (etc, etc!).


soma1975 Frets: 7357
26 May, 2024
marooned said:
How about adding something by the Who, maybe Baba O’Riley or Substitute 

As for Metallica maybe a newer track  like Lux Aeterna….Sandman has been played to death.

Will add them to the list. The people can decide. Used Sandman as an example of something not too difficult for people of varying abilities to play. 
soma1975 Frets: 7357
26 May, 2024
TTony said:
@stratman3142 - as the owner of many a tFB meet-up session songs spreadsheet - could probably add a few that have worked well in practice, from those past meet-ups.

It's the in practice bit that's probably most important.

I've always been amazed at how well some of the chosen songs turn out on the day, bearing in mind that the people playing them have never played together before.  Compare that to all the rehearsal sessions that we might have been to where songs are all over the place because the guitarist forgets that there are 2 verses before the second chorus, or the bass player forgets about the break after the third verse, or the drummer misses the bridge, or (etc, etc!).


Anyone feel free to name some songs and I will add them to the list ahead of us whittling them down. 


TTony said:
@stratman3142 - as the owner of many a tFB meet-up session songs spreadsheet - could probably add a few that have worked well in practice, from those past meet-ups.

It's the in practice bit that's probably most important.

I'll give some thought to which songs that seemed to work well in practice and come up with a list.


In the mean time, this is probably a case of too much information :) but here's a full list of songs we've done at the past few Western Jams and who played in the various roles.

https://i.imgur.com/EeZoo1m.jpg


robgilmo Frets: 3760
26 May, 2024
Gimme Three Steps is an easy song to learn and great fun to play?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MGvV2QVr6g
soma1975 Frets: 7357
26 May, 2024
Thanks all just looking for song names nominated to add to the list for now. 

Worth saving the discussion about their relative merits when it comes time to whittling them down, which is hopefully where the fun begins

I think I'll put a cap on it like 100 songs before starting to put them in groups. 

Will update each morning until we have 100 to start it from. 
soma1975 Frets: 7357
26 May, 2024
And just to reiterate I haven't listed any songs that would be my first choice to do. I have listed songs to start us off that I feel most people would be able to contribute to but that aren't boring as shit (to me at least). 
TTony said:
@stratman3142 - as the owner of many a tFB meet-up session songs spreadsheet - could probably add a few that have worked well in practice, from those past meet-ups.

It's the in practice bit that's probably most important.


I think some of the songs that worked well might fall into the category of obvious songs, probably because many are familar with them. So I'll just mention them anyway and you can chuck them out

Songs that follow a 12 bar format are easy to blag on the day, even if people haven't played them before. But maybe they're too obvious as well.

Based on past experience, you have to watch out for songs that are recorded with the guitars in Eb standard, and also songs where it's necessary to change the key for the singer. 

I'm afraid I can't categorise them, as I'm too old to know what's new and I've no idea what's what. So I've just listed them in alphabetical order

These are songs that I think worked well, but it would be good to get a second opinion from @mrkb ;; who drummed on most of them. Also, @Brocco ;;and @Neilybob ;; as they've been involved in organising these things.

Alright Now (Free) - yes I know that's probably too obvious

Call Me The Breeze (Lynyrd Skynyrd) - It's just a 12 bar in A

Come Together (The Beatles)

Die Laughing (Therapy)

Fortunate Son (CCR) - We did it in A, a tone higher than the original

Gold On The Ceiling (The Black Keys)

Hard To Handle (Black Crowes) - Yes I know this has been mentioned as an obvious one

Jailbreak (Thin Lizzy) - we did it a semitone higher than the original, so we didn't have to tune down

Just What I Needed (The Cars) - but you need someone brave enough to tackle that tricky guitar solo

Keep Your Hands To Yourself (The Georgia Satellites) - It's just a 12 bar in A

Lil' Devil (The Cult) - might need to drop the key a semitone, depending on who's singing it

Molly's Chambers (Kings Of Leon)

Pretty Vacant (The Sex Pistols)

Queen Bitch (David Bowie) - But a tricky bass line. I know because I ended up playing it.

Run To You (Bryan Adams) - we did it in Em instead of F#m, which is kinder to the vocals and avoids having to use a bloody capo on the 2nd fret

Spread Your Love (Black Rebel Motorcycle Club)

Survival Car (Fountains Of Wayne)

Talk Dirty To Me (Poison) - we did it effectively in F# by using guitars tuned to Eb standard and playing it as if it were in G

Teenage Kicks (The Undertones)

Waiting For My Man (Velvet Underground)

Wishing Well (Free)
soma1975 Frets: 7357
26 May, 2024
Many thanks. Will add. Except Hard to Handle

There's 100 Black Crowes songs I'd rather than that so am using my one veto!
Brocco Frets: 95
26 May, 2024
One track I would add to those mentioned by @stratman3142 is Let's Dance (Bowie) which worked well and on which the stratman himself worked his magic
Was going to mention this one for our jam this weekend, but seeing as i was only part time i didn't bother. Pretty straightforward and 2 decent/doable solos to boot!

https://youtu.be/yshMEKEl1sA?si=HRbAoiOyEjaSjY78

soma1975 Frets: 7357
26 May, 2024
Let's Dance is a nice choice and works for cool people and SRV nuts
soma1975 Frets: 7357
26 May, 2024
Was going to mention this one for our jam this weekend, but seeing as i was only part time i didn't bother. Pretty straightforward and 2 decent/doable solos to boot!

https://youtu.be/yshMEKEl1sA?si=HRbAoiOyEjaSjY78

Will add it. My 2 faves are Sometimes Salvation and No Speak No Slave but at that point maybe we should just have a Black Crowes meetup! 
Also some Stones would be good. How about Bitch. Nice and easy and in standard tuning (I think).

Radar Love - Golden Earing
Sweet Emotion - Aerosmith 
Black Betty - Ram Jam
War Pigs- Black Sabbath 
RU Mine - Arctic Monkeys
Glamorous Indie Rock & Roll - Killers
What's The Frequency Kenneth - REM
Someday - The Strokes
Jailbird - Primal Sream 
It's a long way to the top - ac/dc
Get Back - The Beatles
prowla Frets: 5187
27 May, 2024
Just a thought from the perspective of the folks who aren't playing the guitar solos: if the backing is too mundane then it's not particularly fun.
It can be a laugh having a couple of AC/DC and suchlike songs in there, but 3 hours of playing E-A-D (with an occasional G-C) is dullsville.
OTOH, if the songs are too complicated then it may be hard finding the time to do adequate prep before the event.
So there has to be a balance.

If not too complicated, I think it would be good to have some songs that include other instrument sounds as an option e.g. piano, organ, mandolin etc.

That way there's a multitude of 'jobs' available (and also adds variety to the sound!). Personally, I'm a bit of a Swiss-Army knife / Jack of all trades, so if there's already lots of people on guitar, there's a way to join in somewhere else.

I noticed there was a stage piano at Power House the other day. I suppose people might also have pedals that can do the above.

The Doors / Led Zep catalogs might have some ideas :smile: 
soma1975 Frets: 7357
27 May, 2024
Hopefully all that will wash out in the voting and whittling down and I will be arguing for the songs I like along similar lines. Will put up videos of each song once we are in the 'competition' in case people aren't familiar with something. 

I'm just back from the gym and listened to a new playlist and will be adding some more suggestions along with what's already been added.

Will update the OP. 

Will just say though - this is going to end up like 10-15 songs to be a 'if in doubt we can play one of these' foundation tracks as opposed to specific requests to do particular songs at meetups and so it might be a place for the latter to want to do something with piano and mandolin!




soma1975 Frets: 7357
27 May, 2024
Right, we have 97 songs as of right now so will maybe let people add to it for a few days and do a playoff before the main world cup where we have like 5 songs by the same artist. 

OP updated


fastonebaz Frets: 4330
27 May, 2024
Deep Purple's Highway Star is fun to play.
soma1975 Frets: 7357
27 May, 2024
Nice. Will add that for tomorrow's update. 

Thinking also maybe something from the Meters and possibly something by Freddie King as there's no straight blues on the list yet. Surprised by no Allman suggestions yet too.