[wannalearn01]

Hey all,

I have been trying to learn classical gas now for a while...I gave up on it for a little bit but I am back in the swing of learning how to play it and I had a question...mainly an opinion question and since I hate polls, I thought I would just ask:

Would you consider Classical Gas a beginner, intermediate, or hard song to learn.

I have heard some people say it was more than Clapton's ability and others telling me it was easy...just wondered what everyone thought.

Thanks

T^roy

P.S. Also who here can play it through and through?

[airdog4125]

Untermediate. It's not too bad, just learn it in pieces.

[pimp_vince]

it's advanced-intermediate. kinda in-between. it's like a springboard for getting you into more advanced fingerpicking.

but that all depends on what you can already play. dadfad would find this easy, while some newb will find it impossible. it's all relative to how long you've been playing. but generally most people end up learning it within two or three years.

[evileye]

For me, pretty hard, but i'm brutal with my fingers, and obviously it can't be flat picked.

[Jon_Mac]

It's kinda funny how you posted that because im sorta learning it myself. I'm just learning it a bit at a time so I dont just get fed up with it and give up. so far its goin pretty good. I've only been playing for 8 months I think you've been playing longer then me but then again I play a lot of finger picking (god damn travis picking is my only trouble). but I'd say you probably wouldn't have any troubles learning Classical Gas. Also I'd suggest getting Powertabs and slowing it down then speed it up and up more and more until you get it to the right speed thats what I've done so far.

Good Luck

[epearson]

Anything is easy if you just focus on one part at a time. It took me a long time to learn Never Going Back Again, in the key of D at that instead of C as many play it. I just recommend learning the intro, getting that down over a period of time, and then moving on etc. That sounds pretty obvious but that's the best thing to do, oh, and I recommend playing it on a nylon, steel won't have the right tone.

[wannalearn01]

Yea,

I have been playing since the first of the year...so experience is my only lacking point up till now.

I was thinking it was over my head..which it is, but it is good to hear that it isn't a easy song that I am just dumb founded by. I love finger picking, just wish I had more things i could try with it. One of the first songs I learned to finger pick was Dust in the Wind and I still play that a lot...I should really learn how to do the song all the way through so I could try singing over it.

Remembering the order that these go in has been my problem as of late.

One things i was wondering about...when you play and there is a lick based around say a Am chord...do you just go right into the chord, or do you only use what you need? I think I would be able to transition better if I did it by the chord shapes instead of by the notes I would be playing...well on some of them. Any suggestions?

Thanks again,

T^roy

[pimp_vince]

double post...

This post has been edited by pimp_vince: 16 July 2004 - 03:39 PM

[pimp_vince]

Yea,

I have been playing since the first of the year...so experience is my only lacking point up till now.

I was thinking it was over my head..which it is, but it is good to hear that it isn't a easy song that I am just dumb founded by. I love finger picking, just wish I had more things i could try with it. One of the first songs I learned to finger pick was Dust in the Wind and I still play that a lot...I should really learn how to do the song all the way through so I could try singing over it.

Remembering the order that these go in has been my problem as of late.

One things i was wondering about...when you play and there is a lick based around say a Am chord...do you just go right into the chord, or do you only use what you need? I think I would be able to transition better if I did it by the chord shapes instead of by the notes I would be playing...well on some of them. Any suggestions?

Thanks again,

T^roy

one thing you really wanna get down is the quick changes on the bass string and the B string. (the fast part that leads into the "theme" or "chorus")

everything else is based on Am or C. look through the tab and determine the chords. and just follow through the tab noting the chords while listening. and visualize playing it right (this helps a lot). then it's just a matter of putting 2 and 2 together!

[peterml]

it`s not too difficult. Like some other bloke said, learn it in pieces.

Peter

[wannalearn01]

double post...  

Hehe

I have no clue what you're talking about...

one thing you really wanna get down is the quick changes on the bass string and the B string. (the fast part that leads into the "theme" or "chorus")

everything else is based on Am or C. look through the tab and determine the chords. and just follow through the tab noting the chords while listening. and visualize playing it right (this helps a lot). then it's just a matter of putting 2 and 2 together!

Yea I noticed that the bassline(e string) section sort of slow me down depending on which one it was. I need to work on smoothing out my transitions between chords.

But you would suggest instead of just holding say the 1-2 combo(G/B strings) with two fingers, to go ahead and do the whole Am chord, just so it would be easier to transition(b.c i am used to going into the chord)?

Thanks guys...

T^roy

This post has been edited by wannalearn01: 17 July 2004 - 12:54 PM

[pimp_vince]

double post...  

Hehe

I have no clue what you're talking about...

i clicked "Add Reply" twice accidentally... thus making TWO posts that were identical... so i edited that one so i wouldn't look like a dolt

[wannalearn01]

Oh

I thought you meant b.c i posted this topic...or a similar one a while back.

T^roy

[epearson]

Since you haven't been playing all that long I'd recommend learning some Paul Simon before you try and mess with Classical Gas. I tend to think that a good understanding of fingerpicking and classical method are neccessary to play that song. Start with more rudimentary stuff, like early Paul SImon and Jim Croce then work your way up to Lindsey Buckingham and Mark Knopfler then you should be ready for Leo Kottke and Mason WIlliams' Classical Gas.

[HurleySurf]

I really have to say that your post really inspired me to go and take a stab at this song. I began as of 7:30 and it is now an hour later and I have the intro and "verse" so to speak down alright (not perfect yet, but give me another hour). I have made it a goal to have it learned by next Saturday. I've been playing for about a year and a half and it really isn't too technically hard if you ask me. It is easy to follow the chords written above the tab. Like everyone has said take in pieces. That's what I'm doing. Hopefully we'll both be able to play it real soon. ~N8

EDIT: I'm editting this 30 more minutes later just to let everyone know that I am having a blast learning this song. I haven't been this motivated to learn something new and this difficult in a long while.

This post has been edited by HurleySurf: 17 July 2004 - 08:52 PM

[pimp_vince]

I really have to say that your post really inspired me to go and take a stab at this song.  I began as of 7:30 and it is now an hour later and I have the intro and "verse" so to speak down alright (not perfect yet, but give me another hour).  I have made it a goal to have it learned by next Saturday.  I've been playing for about a year and a half and it really isn't too technically hard if you ask me.  It is easy to follow the chords written above the tab.  Like everyone has said take in pieces.  That's what I'm doing.  Hopefully we'll both be able to play it real soon.  ~N8

EDIT:  I'm editting this 30 more minutes later just to let everyone know that I am having a blast learning this song.  I haven't been this motivated to learn something new and this difficult in a long while.

to tell you the truth the original name for this song was "classical gasoline" because it fuelled mason's will to play the acoustic. but they shortened it to "classical gas" to make it a little more marketable.... i'd say it was a good move as it's quite a popular one.

[lithium1285]

I really have to say that your post really inspired me to go and take a stab at this song.  I began as of 7:30 and it is now an hour later and I have the intro and "verse" so to speak down alright (not perfect yet, but give me another hour).  I have made it a goal to have it learned by next Saturday.  I've been playing for about a year and a half and it really isn't too technically hard if you ask me.  It is easy to follow the chords written above the tab.  Like everyone has said take in pieces.  That's what I'm doing.  Hopefully we'll both be able to play it real soon.  ~N8

EDIT:  I'm editting this 30 more minutes later just to let everyone know that I am having a blast learning this song.  I haven't been this motivated to learn something new and this difficult in a long while.

Yea, i picked up the intro and verse pretty quick, good luck with the chorus though, that took me significantly longer than the all the other parts combined.

[wannalearn01]

Since you haven't been playing all that long I'd recommend learning some Paul Simon before you try and mess with Classical Gas.  I tend to think that a good understanding of fingerpicking and classical method are neccessary to play that song.  Start with more rudimentary stuff, like early Paul SImon and Jim Croce then work your way up to Lindsey Buckingham and Mark Knopfler then you should be ready for Leo Kottke and Mason WIlliams' Classical Gas.

Any songs in particular that are good/cathy...I am sorry to say I am not too familar with any of his songs...but mainly b.c I had a sheltered musical past...like there was none.

I would be nice to have more than one "real" picking song under my belt!

I really have to say that your post really inspired me to go and take a stab at this song. I began as of 7:30 and it is now an hour later and I have the intro and "verse" so to speak down alright (not perfect yet, but give me another hour). I have made it a goal to have it learned by next Saturday. I've been playing for about a year and a half and it really isn't too technically hard if you ask me. It is easy to follow the chords written above the tab. Like everyone has said take in pieces. That's what I'm doing. Hopefully we'll both be able to play it real soon. ~N8

EDIT: I'm editting this 30 more minutes later just to let everyone know that I am having a blast learning this song. I haven't been this motivated to learn something new and this difficult in a long while.

I know, people get into a musical "rut" so easy...and all it takes is a good song to challenge them and it is on again...glad I could help, but I think Mason Williams is to thank

to tell you the truth the original name for this song was "classical gasoline" because it fuelled mason's will to play the acoustic. but they shortened it to "classical gas" to make it a little more marketable.... i'd say it was a good move as it's quite a popular one.

That is interesting to know...know a little history behind the music...do you work for vh1 and behind the music

Well everyone keep up the good work, I have the intro and verse one down by heart...and I am going to be working on some of the rest this week...looks like the chorus will be the hardest to play!

T^roy

[KaZu]

double post...  

Hehe

I have no clue what you're talking about...

one thing you really wanna get down is the quick changes on the bass string and the B string. (the fast part that leads into the "theme" or "chorus")

everything else is based on Am or C. look through the tab and determine the chords. and just follow through the tab noting the chords while listening. and visualize playing it right (this helps a lot). then it's just a matter of putting 2 and 2 together!

Yea I noticed that the bassline(e string) section sort of slow me down depending on which one it was. I need to work on smoothing out my transitions between chords.

But you would suggest instead of just holding say the 1-2 combo(G/B strings) with two fingers, to go ahead and do the whole Am chord, just so it would be easier to transition(b.c i am used to going into the chord)?

Thanks guys...

T^roy

he just double posted something...
I thought classical gas was pretty easy, take it in peices and you should get it in no time.

[AcousticSmash]

it depends on weather u are using acoustic/classical or electric guitar to play it. It was one of the first songs i ever learned and it was a tough time although it was the really easy version from some beginner song book and was written with the fingerpicking and all of that hard stuff that williams plays is witten as chords and i played it on a classical guitar.