Bruce Cockburn Cover: Incandescent Blue

Second last song from Dancing in the Dragon's Jaws. Standard tuning. Someone requested this one, thinking that I might be able to demonstrate a simpler way to play the guitar part than appears in the book of tabs. Unfortunately, this is how the song is played. I suppose it would be technically possible to simplify it using an open tuning-- tuning the B string up to D maybe?
I find this one (and Creation Dream) pretty high for my vocal range (especially this falsetto note in the verses) so I've tuned the guitar down a semi tone.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• BRuce
• Cockburn;
• Dancing
• in
• the
• Dragon's
• Jaws;
• Incandescent
• Blue;

[imusbcraz]

Great stuff. If you don't mind me asking.....how many hours a day did you practice to get this good? I've played guitar forever and I couldn't do that if my life depended on it.

[TorontoLarrivee]

@imusbcraz Thanks. There was a time when I practiced maybe 5-8 hours a week. At a certain point you master the right hand technique and from there it becomes second nature and you work on improving the feel. By that point it no longer feels like practicing. You could do it too, I'm sure. Cockburn's stuff sounds more complicated than it is, in some respects, because the right hand thumb, which holds it all together, is metronomic.

[imusbcraz]

@TorontoLarrivee 5 to 8 hrs a WEEK? That's it? Well, that just proves my point...you either "get it" or you don't. You "got it" obviously. :)

[TorontoLarrivee]

@imusbcraz Nice of you to say. I may be mis-remembering how much I practiced back in my teen years and early twenties. Anyway it was the furthest thing from my intention to suggest that you or anyone else can't master this stuff. I would really encourage you to learn try for example Foxglove as an entry to the style of playing. I assure you-- I've known people who are naturally gifted with music, and I'm not one of them. Cheers.

[gmtnosa00]

Are you leaving the d string open on that a/c# chord?

[TorontoLarrivee]

If you mean the second chord in the riff for the verses, the answer is no: the D string is fretted at the second fret. Think of it as sliding the initial chord form up two frets.

[lukeharp2011]

I'm wondering if you could upload a video demonstration for this song as it is one of my favorite and I would love to be able to play it. It sounds great! Thanks!

[pyros411]

Wow, very nice! I love this song. :)

[gmtnosa00]

cool thanks

[gmtnosa00]

Yep standard for sure. You nailed it