Rhymes and Reasons 12 String Instructional Video (John Denver)

[musicmanhug]

George great guitar playing but im stuck with the intro I can do 4231 with my index finger and thumb but the other variations trip me up maybe its my technique.I succefully learned Paul Stookeys Wedding Song but this intro picking on this song is where Im falling apart "CAN YOU HELP ME PLEASE?

[pickerman4]

@musicmanhug. If you send me your email address in a PM, I can send you my modified tab that should help you out. BTW, cool that you learned The Wedding Song. I need to master that one myself.

~George~

[DrummerBoy922]

I play the same Takamine, although an older model. Good stuff.

[pickerman4]

@DrummerBoy922. Thank you! Yeah I like this Tak 12. Takamine makes nice 6 and 12 strings that are affordable.

~George~

[pedomohd]

I want to learn this song too so I subscribe to you qucikly. Thanks for sharingyour skill to the world

[pickerman4]

You are quite welcome...my pleasure. Thanks for subbing!

~George~

[Byrds1967]

Thanks for the insight on this tune. I could never get the picking right on this. But thanks to you I have a model now. Great song!

[pickerman4]

Thanks and glad to hear I could help you out. That's what this is all about. If I can help one person play a song better, then I've succeeded. If you need the modified "tab" that I show here, just PM me with your email address.

~George~

[6tryphon6]

Hey Mr. Pickerman

You'ge got a great way to show how it's done, not to mention the pickin' patterns that sometimes can be hard to figure out. I have wanted to play this original intro for the last 25 years. Thanx!!!

[pickerman4]

Hi there. I have been a John Denver fan since 1972 when Rocky Mountain High first came out and have played the guitar since 1977. I've always loved R&R, but only sat down about two years ago and finally took the time to learn this song. Even though it sounded like John was doing that little pull-off on the 1st string in the first position of the intro, I realized in some other recordings of R&R, he was not doing that. I will soon record a video showing that correction.

~George~

[6tryphon6]

@pickerman4

weel...since you are mentioning the pull of of the string I must admit that it was the only tune I didn't quite recognize, But you've certainly hit bullseye more or less. This song proves that the hardest thing ain't exactly the actual playing but to be able to separate the whole song note by note. That is the most important thing if you want to be a great guitarplayer. ;-)

[rezfern]

George, very well demonstrated. my two thumbs up for your instruction to this song. I saved that to my favorites and go over it from time to time to learn this song. Yours is perfect. The sound of your Tak is so crisp. ( If I can't learn this song, can you play the guitar portion while I sing the song?..ha-ha..) doesn't that sound a good proposition?...I just love the way you play it just like John..I could sing a little bit just like him so maybe we can do it....ha- ha...

Take care.

[pickerman4]

Thanks Rez. I appreciate it so much! Yeah, that would be cool. I love playing this song, but it's a bit hard for me to sing. You sing it much better my friend.

~George~

[Odaijin]

George, this becomes the best instruction video. So helpful.　What I wanted to say was already described in bighornbasin. I also grew up with Denver's song and started playing guitar. I love this song and playing this song has been almost purpose of life .  Thank you from Tokyo.

[pickerman4]

Hi over there in Tokyo!. Thank you so much! I'm so glad to hear that my video is helpful. I love John's music so much and am thrilled to be able to share and teach it. Thanks for stopping by my channel. I also see that you made this song one of your favorites. Wow! THANKS! Take care. If you have any questions on this song, just let me know.

~George~

~Geroge~

[JonandColby]

thank you so much for this video. i am happier more than you know that someone can teach me this song.

you are absolutely great

i havent found anyone else besiddes you that actually plays it dead on

i am having a problem with my twelve string, when i tune back up to standard tuning by g note the octive higher almost always breaks

huhh

anyway awesome video

thank you!!!

[kearnsboo]

WOW ~~~~~~~~~~

[pickerman4]

Hi there. Thaks for stopping by to give a listen.

~George~

[262990592k]

George, I was so glad to come across this video of my (and my wife's) favorite song of all time! I have been playing this on my Martin acoustic for 30 years, I guess, but I never mastered the intro like you did. Thank you so much. Don

[pickerman4]

Hi Don! I am so glad I could help you out with my video.That thrills me to no end!! This is a wonderful song, one of favorites as well. I can't remember where, but I heard John say one time that Rhymes and Reasons contains the best lyrics he ever wrote. So you have a Martin...very nice! If you have any questions about this video or the song, please let me know by sending me a message.

~George~

[bighornbasin]

George,

Finally! After 38 years I finally can see how to play these intro's. All you Denver stuff is so good--almost like John is playing it himself. Thanks for sharing your talent and showing us "4 decade rookies" the to get the sound we've been looking for........for 38 years.  Keep the Denver songs coming. All the prior to 1980 Denver stuff brings such wonderful memories. I want to learn how to play them all.

[pickerman4]

Thank you so much! I try to play John's song as he played them, or as close as I can. Since my voice is lower than John's was, there are times I have to play a song in a lower key. Waaaay back when I first started playing, I only had a turntable and LP records that I used to learn his songs from. Youtube and other technologies we have nowdays is priceless for learning this stuff. I am so happy that I could help out. If you have any questions at all, please send me a message. Have fun!

~George~

[prlfq]

After 29 yrs,Ill FINALLY play this right.(maybe).This tune has always eluded me..Now I know WHY..LOL. Your a good teach!!! Sounds KILLER! Thanks!

[pickerman4]

Thanks John! I know it sounds cliché, but If I can help one person, I've done my job and am happy! I love the music of John Denver as you might be able to tell, and to be able to pass that on is what I love!!

~George~

[dougfitchmusic]

Thank you George! This is my favorite song by my favorite songwriter. Thank you for this!!

Doug

[pickerman4]

Doug, you are more than welcome! I really enjoy playing and singing for my friends, and especially showing how I play the songs I sing! I wish the internet was available when I first stated playing. I could have saved a lot of frustration! Lol!

~George

[potziewebber]

Hey Gerorge, you would have the tab for the intro of "For Bobby", that's another intro I never get completely right! Thanks, Erik

[pickerman4]

Hi Erik. I unfortunately do not have the tab for "For Baby, For Bobby". That's one I never really played, but I sat down this afternoon and figured out the intro. I will tab it out and post a video in the next couple weeks or so.

~George~

[potziewebber]

Hey George I can't thank you enough for your "Rhymes and Reasons" instructionvideo. Now I can finally play that intro. I attached my video as well somewhere so you can see the result of your teaching, Thanks again, Erik

[pickerman4]

Thanks Erik. I checked your video out, and you played and sung it very well. Good job!

~George~

[Ballen145]

George, I really must tell you that you sing very well in this version so the excuse you make is not well founded:) I really like your voice when it's a bit "lower".

[pickerman4]

Hi there. Thanks for the compliment.

~George~

Oh yeah, in case you're interested, I've written an instructional video for Poems. Prayers and Promises that I'm going to try to record this weekend if all goes well.

[Ballen145]

Yes I am very interested since it's the most touching song I know, well...it's either that one or rhymes, depends a bit on my mode.

[pickerman4]

Yes, P,P&P as I like to refer to it for short is quite touching as you say, especially since his tragic death. The lyrics as just absolutely "penetrating".

[drc2955]

George,

Very nice, I love this song and your guitar sounds magical. What model Takamine is it? I really appreciate the instruction, I've loved this song since it first came out, but haven't spent the time to learn it. This video helps a lot. Thanks again, and please post us more!!! Good pickin, Dave from Seattle.

[pickerman4]

Hi there! Thank you so much for the nice words. I too have loved this song for many, many years but have only taken the time to learn it in the key in which John plays it in just the last year or so. My Takamine is model EG523SC12. It's not a Taylor, but for half the price of a Taylor, you can't beat it. I'm so glad I could help with this video. I have more requests for other instructional videos which I promise will be coming soon. Happy pickin!

~George~

[Fretmaster17]

Hey George, I signed up to youtube to give you a comment. I was going to ask you to post a more comprehensive video for 6-string, but I think you've got it all right here. By the way, how do you figure out how John does his fingering???

[pickerman4]

Hi There, That quite a compliment that you joined in order to comment...thank you! I do play it on the 6 string the same way I do the 12 string, although it doesn't sound the same. There is a way to play it on the 6 string that makes it sound more like a 12 string, but I don't like playing it that way. I've been playing for years (30+) so I'm able to hear the notes by ear, plus most of John's songs are that are fingerpicked are played in an alternating thumb pattern, with some variations.

[pickerman4]

continued: I also have a great resource here on YouTube so see some videos where I can study how John is playing his songs. Practice, practice, practice!

Any help I can give, just ask my friend!

~George~

[Fretmaster17]

Thank you so much George

Charles

[jrssjdca]

Nice job George! I play it slightly different up the neck. I watched his version from "Son's Best Friend", and it doesn't work the way I tried it. But mine sounds more than close enough...thankfully! LOL.

[pickerman4]

Thanks John. After watching and listening to several versions of John playing this song, this is what I came up with. Thanks for taking the time to watch.

~George~

[jrssjdca]

You're welcome George. Yours sounds terrific. I might pick up Pete Huttlinger's DVD series which shows Rhymes and Reasons among many others. I attended Pete's workshop in Aspen 2000 for the memorial, and it was a wonderful experience. He's a delightful teacher, funny as heck, and I learned among other things Rocky Mountain High. There were some nuances in that song that I was missing which turned it around. I know many of JD's other songs by ear, but it's great when you find out new things.

[pickerman4]

Thanks John. I have Pete's DVD for Rhymes and Reasons. I have to mention that Pete does not teach Rhymes and Reasons in the key that I am showing here, which is the original key that JD recorded it in. Pete shows it in the key of "D", played with a capo on the 5th fret. It's just like the version I posted earlier this year. See it in my videos.

~George~

[pickerman4]

Oops, I meant to say the 3rd fret.

[jrssjdca]

You're welcome George. I saw the first video of Pete's on VHS and have wanted to get the others (on DVD of course). Interesting that he played it on the 5the fret in D. I have played it in D first position, but have figured out (more or less) the way John plays it (up the neck), and like it better that way. I like what you've posted here, and will give it a try. I'll check out your video.

[pickerman4]

Cool! Actually, I made a mistake saying that Pete teaches it with the capo on the 5th fret, he actually teaches it with the capo on the 3rd fret. That way it is in the same key as John recorded it. That makes it in the key of "F", since John's 12 string is tuned down one whole step. Have fun!

~George~

[rickswildhorses]

Hey George, Thanks I am working on this now. Its beautiful. Your a great teacher. Truly one of John's best written and meaningful song, even today.

[pickerman4]

Hey Rick. Thanks! This is definitely one of John's most beautiful songs in every way. If you have any questions at all, just ask. Have fun! ~George~

[bkwapis]

Let me be the first to say this is just awesome! Thanks for calling out the picking patterns too. Your teaching style is great! Thanks so much!

[pickerman4]

Thank you and your very welcome. I tried to show as much detail as possible to make it a bit easier to learn. I did forget a section of the 2nd verse that I included in my 6 string instructional video.

~George~