Heroes – Saturday Night VOM performance

[Loraine]

Excellent strumming – You’re like a human robot @DavidScoggins

[DavidScoggins]

Thanks @Loraine. I’ll take the second part of your comment as a compliment, shall I? 🤣 😂 LOL

[Loraine]

Definitely a compliment @DavidScoggins .

[JoeW]

That’s an impressive performance, sir. Your playing was spot on. Well played.

[Daniel_Morin]

Effective strumming David👍

[DavidScoggins]

Thank you @Loraine, @JoeW and @Daniel_Morin. 🙂

[Bill_Brown]

Hello @DavidScoggins , I loved your rendition 👏👏👏 of one of my favorite songs🤩 So I have a video of David Bowie playing this piece “unplugged” that I thought you might like to see – it’s from a 1996 performance for the “Bridge School” which Peggie and Neil Young are large supporters and put this benefit concert together. https://www.facebook.com/pegiyoung/videos/1128420060516557/?ref=tahoe Hope you enjoy👍

[DavidScoggins]

Thanks @Bill_Brown, glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for the link, I’ll check it out.

[staustin]

Great playing David! Now how are you doing this? Are you listening to the song in your headphones while strumming along?

[DavidScoggins]

Cheers @staustin. I’m not listening to it, just playing from memory with the occasional glance at the chord progression written in my notebook. Most songs I’ve played at VOMs I’ve learned to the point where I need to look at the TAB or my notes, but this was a song I only decided to play a couple of minutes before going live. When I learn songs I certainly play along to the recording, but after that I just play independently, which is a good test of one’s timing.

[staustin]

Well I have been wondering about submitting a song where I am not singing just strumming along, but thinking I would have to at least have the song playing in the background. But listening to you, it really isn’t necessary for the listener – I can hear Bowie singing it in my head, and yet I can focus on your guitar playing. I still think I would listen to the song in headphones while playing, I will have to give this a try.

[DavidScoggins]

That should say “where I DON’T need to look at the TAB”.

[Marty73]

Your strumming has come a long ways @DavidScoggins BRAVO! 😊👍😊😊👍😎

[Alisa]

That was great! I wondered, “can I just play chords without singing?” and your video completely resolved my doubts. Thank you for that! It looks like a fun song to learn for beginners, too, to practice strumming; not an F cord in sight! 😀 This video is a great tutorial for it; thank you for filming your fretting hand so clearly

[DavidScoggins]

I’m flattered @Alisa! Thank you so much. Yes, Heroes is a great song to really focus on smooth chord changes, and they’re all open chords as well. Glad you enjoyed the performance and it was of help to you. 🙂

[Niels]

Awesome strumming, @DavidScoggins 😎
One of my favorite songs.

[Dirk_R]

I hope you drag your guitar to the streets and sit down and play or the parks, or wherever, people would really enjoy listening to that strumming, very pleasant to listen too, and your choice of songs is right on.

[DavidScoggins]

Thanks @Niels and @Dirk_R . While it’s simple, it’s still a fun song to play and acts as very good practice for consistent rhythm and smooth chord changes. An alternative is to play only with down strums, which gives it a strong, driving rhythm. That’s pretty tiring for your strumming arm though!

Dirk, once in a blue moon I do take my guitar to my local park, although I think the average guy on the street doesn’t appreciate it the same way as other guitarists. 😉