5 days to learn a tune I just heard: The Luckiest by Ben Folds

[bob_mc]

If you know that tune, you have rightly guessed that it's for a wedding. Best man just asked me to back him up. I have listened to the tune a few times (actually preferring some of the Youtubers to Mr. Folds) not too difficult I guess.

Any suggestions? We are doing it in A.

[greg_tsam]

Will you be playing the piano part or tremolo the chords in the background. Some cross picking would work too.

[bob_mc]

I imagined that cross picking would allow a bit more freedom with the tempo and allow for the inevitable bars or 5/4 mated with 3/4 I expect!

[bob_mc]

Done. We rehearsed for 20 minutes, and pulled it off. We both learned the song separately and discussed form; that being adding a mando intro vaguely/not really based on piano part, which would repeat in abbreviated form between the B and C sections. Singer/guitarist skipped this second bit which was disappointing but not noticeable. I doubled the vocal line going into the "chorus" which sounded better behind the mando then on tape. Played as many open string chords as possible to extenuate the two instruments and I think that worked well.

To the guitar players barred C#m I played this:

--0--
--4--
--6--
--x--

and to his cowboy chord D this cheater D9

--0--
--0--
--0--
--2--

And much to my amazement, I got asked (again) what the mandolin is. Seriously?? I don't play mandolin often, but I am gobsmacked at the frequency I hear this question. (or maybe my playing is so bad I am confusing people who know the instrument!)

I'll try and link the video.

[terzinator]

And much to my amazement, I got asked (again) what the mandolin is. Seriously?? I don't play mandolin often, but I am gobsmacked at the frequency I hear this question. (or maybe my playing is so bad I am confusing people who know the instrument!)

I get the "Is that a ukulele" thing, occasionally. I was just at a brass ensemble deal, and I really wanted to ask one of the guys if he was playing a cornet or a trumpet. Just for the sake of gobsmacking him.