Billy McLaughlin's - Coffee Break

Please see "important note" at bottom if you don't want to read this whole thing. It concerns Billy and Dystonia.

A very odd tuning for the guitar, but once you balance out the guitar it works.
I enjoy a lot of McLaughlin's stuff. Check out his "Acoustic Original: The Best Of Billy McLaughlin" CD. You will not be disappointed. Unlike some of the other heavy tappers (which this song is not one of them), his songs have excellent structure and "meaning". They go places and just don't meander around the fret board meaninglessly. The guy is on par and possiblly than some (for me at least) with Hedges. His songs in are very musical. So if you like tapping and other "modern" right and left hand work check this guy out and start with the CD a mentioned above. Coffee Break appears easy, but there is lots of open space in the tune that needs to be dealt with. Ending is my doing.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Billy McLaughlin suffers from Dystonia now (check out his website). Dystonia is a movement disorder that causes the muscles to contract and spasm involuntarily. Last I heard it was localized in his left forearm. Talk about a cruel twist of fate. Please keep him in your thoughts. He has so much beauty to give. The horror it will be for him (and many of us) if all his music gets locked up in his head.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Billy
• McLaughlin
• Coffee
• Break
• acoustic
• guitar
• Seagull

[aftnoon2]

Only a question: wich guitar are you playing, tuikun02?

[tuikun02]

Seagull guitar model Folk; which I believe is now in the "coastline" series (used to be in the "S" series). The pickup is an M1 by lr baggs which is not in use in this video. The mic on the kodak camera is doing the sound.

I recommend the guitar highly for a fingerstyle guy. Seagull in general is high on my list for fingerstyle guys and others. R.O.I. is extremely high. I don't think they can be beat at this time in their price range and spending more may be "wasteful".

[sumpm1]

Sounds excellent, could never dog somebody for playing some Billy! My big crit is the LOUD sliding of the left hand fingers at points.

[tuikun02]

Any helpful tips for me would be appreciated. Do you have any?

[jeffjamesmusic]

What an awesome job! This is my favorite Billy song. I've only dabbled with it. The beginning portion worked in DADF#AD for me - without my guitar at hand it's hard to tell- is that what you are in?

Thanks for posting, I'll check out your others. -jeff

[tuikun02]

DADEGD, and thanks for the wonderful comment. I'm a bit surprised at the response to this video for many reasons. Of the handful of songs I "threw at the wall"; to see this one stick -above the others- just surprises me on many levels.  I can't comment on my own playing, but as far as the song itself... It is the emptiness of this song that give is so much life. It is clean and uncluttered yet rich in harmonic device.

[marusictomo]

I'm sorry for him, I hope you will find a way out of the Diseases.

Love his songs and hopefully we'll hear more from him

[onixtheone]

@tuikun02 get elixir strings theyre very good for sliding and wash your hands befor you play and put some lotion or a little vaseline for rough fingers

[batterseaspark]

this style of guitar playing needs to be matched to some joni mitchel style lyrics...some of these open tuning/tapping style melodies need to be married to words....i think this style would create a great platform for a classy voice.

[sockenfrank]

Didn´t knew this one.

A fine tune.

[baileymichelle31]

That was really pretty. Loved it all :)

[pauricg]

really nice song

[Authenticiter]

I've read the *IMPORTANT NOTE*, and I'll pray for him.

Peaceful talent like that must be heard to give some hope in this world.

[neanderpaul]

Tasty and smooth.

[classicalguitarlove]

very nice

[onedaythecubs]

The definition of mellow. Thanks for great stuff.