Musicians - what was the first song you learned to play?

'Scratch · Post by **'Scratch** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 10:32 am

Just curious. For me it was Zip City and I still love to play it. Such a great chord progression.

Joshua · Post by **Joshua** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 11:01 am

Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd

I messed around just learning different riffs in the beginning, e.g., Iron Man, Paranoid, Back In Black, Highway to Hell. But "Wish You Were Here" was the first song I sat down and learned from beginning to end. Still love playing that song today.

Zip City · Post by **Zip City** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 11:18 am

I'm pretty sure it was Every Rose Has Its Thorn or some other such G/C/D based song

ChicoHarris · Post by **ChicoHarris** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 12:30 pm

"Kansas City," I think.

Although I know too many good professional musicians to answer to "musician."

'Scratch · Post by **'Scratch** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 12:33 pm

By "musician" I meant any hack who likes to strum, tickle or pound. That should include most everybody when you think about it.

PeterJ · Post by **PeterJ** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 12:48 pm

'Scratch wrote:By "musician" I meant any hack who likes to strum, tickle or pound. That should include most everybody when you think about it.

Well in that case, put me down for Wagon Wheel by Old Crow Medicine Show.

Clams · Post by **Clams** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 1:16 pm

The first full song Jr and I learned when we started guitar lessons was Help by the Beatles. I have a pic of us playing at the recital, maybe I'll scan it. Soon after that, I taught myself Zip City. I remember being amazed at how easy and simple it was (well, the chords anyway). I still go back to strumming that Em-G-D-A more than any other song.

beantownbubba · Post by **beantownbubba** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 1:19 pm

Well, based on that definition, I once learned how to play Dylan's "It Aint Me, Babe" on the guitar.

acoxofrd · Post by **acoxofrd** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 1:27 pm

Since it includes anyone who happens to play once in awhile mine was:

Driver 8

Duke Silver · Post by **Duke Silver** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 1:50 pm

i've been playing guitar since i was 14 or so, and i honestly can't remember what the first song i learned was. i took lessons at the beginning, so it was probably something like "twinkle, twinkle, little star," or "greensleeves." the first "impress your friends/show off for the girls" song i learned was probably "alive" by pearl jam, "december" by collective soul, or "disarm" by smashing pumpkins. i remember playing those a lot...

Clams wrote:Soon after that, I taught myself Zip City. I remember being amazed at how easy and simple it was (well, the chords anyway). I still go back to strumming that Em-G-D-A more than any other song.

that's probably my favorite chord progression ever. so simple, yet so distinct. when i was playing in a band a few years ago, if we were opening up for a big touring band and only got a few minutes to sound check, that was my go-to soundcheck riff. good way to identify the dbt fans in the crowd, too.

Smitty · Post by **Smitty** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 2:44 pm

the one chord "happy birthday". the only "song" i can play all the way through lol...
i still plan on figuring something out someday, tho - got two nephews who can rip it up -

John A Arkansawyer · Post by **John A Arkansawyer** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 6:45 pm

It was either Sunshine of Your Love or The Subhuman.

Post by **Tequila Cowboy** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 9:44 pm

For Your Love by the Yardbirds.

Actually I probably learned some other shit when I had some lessons at age 12 but I've forgotten.

'Scratch · Post by **'Scratch** » Fri Jan 21, 2011 9:35 am

Clams wrote: I still go back to strumming that Em-G-D-A more than any other song.

Yeah, me too. Instant teleport to my happy place. And yes, I'm one of those annoying drunken guys yelling ZIP CITY!! at the end of the show.

I think the second song I learned was Goddamn Lonely Love. Or maybe the Living Bubba. Often as not, the first thing I start strumming is Love Like This or maybe Space City, or Women Without Whiskey. Love those Cooley songs and WWW's Am Em F C G progression has strumpf! Decoration Day, TVA, Ghost to Most, all faves.

Lots of good Whiskeytown songs too, especially on an acoustic. Somebody Remembers the Rose, Factory Girl, Dancing With the Women at the Bar, Lo-Fi Tennessee Mountain Angel, Sweet Carolina...

mike28212 · Post by **mike28212** » Fri Jan 21, 2011 4:27 pm

Since I would fit Scratch's loose definition, I'll chime in here. The first song I learned on piano many years ago was the Star Wars theme. After I got that down, I quit taking lessons.
The first entire song I can remember learning on the guitar was I think She Talks to Angels. It's been so long that I can't be sure.

Iowan · Post by **Iowan** » Fri Jan 21, 2011 5:50 pm

Taught myself how to play guitar when I was 15. Never took an actual lesson in my damn life, and it shows.

"Free Fallin'" is the answer to the question. It was my favorite song as a little guy, so I figured it was as good a place as any to start.

Post by **BigTom** » Fri Jan 21, 2011 11:58 pm

Even though I have a guitar now, I can't play it. My fingers are too fat and I get discouraged. When I was in High school and my fingers were skinny, I could play a few songs, the first one that I learned was Down On The Corner by CCR.

rlipps · Post by **rlipps** » Sat Jan 22, 2011 12:26 am

Probably "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" (GnR version) or American Girl by Petty.

'Scratch · Post by **'Scratch** » Sat Jan 22, 2011 12:11 pm

One of my good buddies likes to say "all you need is three chords and a haircut". I never got the haircut part but a hack like me can fake a lot with G, C and D....and be a basement virtuoso when you throw in an Am and an Em.

Someday I'd like to find someone to play with, but mostly I just play to keep the mental wolves at bay. Hell, I just made a rhyme. Maybe there's a song there. Or not.

RevMatt · Post by **RevMatt** » Sat Jan 22, 2011 12:34 pm

I had a few years of piano lessons and learned everything in the first four volumes of the Fletcher piano book.

But the first rock song I learned was Chicago's "25 or 6 to 4". I played it for my fourth grade piano recital. The teacher tolerated it but told me the next year that I had to get serious about classical music. I got a new piano teacher instead. He didn't teach me rock stuff but a bunch of pop standards. It was just as good as learning rock songs because I learned a bunch of theory and how to put chord changes to a melody line. By the time I was twelve or thirteen I had learned all he could teach me when it came to pop music. He told me I would have to make the jump to classical or talk to his son who was into a whole lot of improvisational and experimental music. But by this time I had bought my first electric piano and was ready to play with rock bands.

This was 1977 or 78. A year or so after the Skynyrd plane crash. Southern rock was the rage even in NJ. Every band wanted to play "Freebird". I learned that song and a bunch of other southern rock standards and I was invited to every basement jam within three towns. I met a whole lot of great people who I wouldn't have otherwise run into. Many people wouldn't guess that NJ was/is a hotbed for Southern rock. But people will still pack the bars on a Saturday night to dance to Skynyrd, Allman Brothers and Outlaws.

The biggest early influence on my playing was Billy Preston. I bought The Rolling Stones Love You Live when it first came out and learned to play his part, especially the blues numbers on side three.

By 1980 I was into The Clash and The Ramones. As Patterson put it, "I came of age rebelling against the music in my high school parking lot." By 1981 I was playing in original bands. We played CBGB's, The Dirt Club and Maxwells before we graduated from high school.

lajakesdad · Post by **lajakesdad** » Sat Jan 22, 2011 3:00 pm

I took guitar lessons from a lady when I was around 9 or 10. A group of kids would sit in her family room and play together. The first tune we played was Michael Row Your Boat Ashore. I wanted to rock and all we were playing was folk songs like If I Had a Hammer etc. This was the late 70's. Once I tried an electric guitar with distortion and learned barre chords, that was all I needed to know. I quit the lessens and began my life as a mediocre musician.

The first song I learned myself was Bloodstains by Agent Orange. Also I Just Wanna Have Something To Do by The Ramones. My friend and I would trade guitar and drums and take turns singing.

Kudzu Guillotine · Post by **Kudzu Guillotine** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 3:16 am

21 posts in and no one has mentioned "Smoke on the Water"? Someone is fuckin' lying.

Post by **Tequila Cowboy** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 8:34 am

Kudzu Guillotine wrote:21 posts in and no one has mentioned "Smoke on the Water"? Someone is fuckin' lying.

Played that the first time I picked up a bass, so no lying here, but that doesn't really count.

Kudzu Guillotine · Post by **Kudzu Guillotine** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 2:18 pm

I smell a conspiracy as no one has mentioned "Stairway" either...

Zip City · Post by **Zip City** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 2:37 pm

Kudzu Guillotine wrote:I smell a conspiracy as no one has mentioned "Stairway" either...

Stairway is pretty hard for a first song

RevMatt · Post by **RevMatt** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 2:42 pm

Kudzu Guillotine wrote:21 posts in and no one has mentioned "Smoke on the Water"? Someone is fuckin' lying.

Most people know the riff. But unless you can play the changes on the verses and chorus, you don't know "Smoke On The Water."

Many people can play the slow part to "Stairway" but are totally lost on the jam part.

Clams · Post by **Clams** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 2:57 pm

RevMatt wrote:
Kudzu Guillotine wrote:21 posts in and no one has mentioned "Smoke on the Water"? Someone is fuckin' lying.

Most people know the riff. But unless you can play the changes on the verses and chorus, you don't know "Smoke On The Water."

Many people can play the slow part to "Stairway" but are totally lost on the jam part.

Wait. You mean there's more to learning songs than riffs?

Kudzu Guillotine · Post by **Kudzu Guillotine** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 3:18 pm

RevMatt wrote:Many people can play the slow part to "Stairway" but are totally lost on the jam part.

It's so difficult that even Page completely avoids the jam section on this incredibly rare clip from Page & Plant on Japanese television circa 1994:

Musicians - what was the first song you learned to play?

Musicians - what was the first song you learned to play?

Re: Musicians - what was the first song you learned to play?

Re: Musicians - what was the first song you learned to play?

Re: Musicians - what was the first song you learned to play?

Re: Musicians - what was the first song you learned to play?

Re: Musicians - what was the first song you learned to play?

Re: Musicians - what was the first song you learned to play?

Re: Musicians - what was the first song you learned to play?

Re: Musicians - what was the first song you learned to play?

Re: Musicians - what was the first song you learned to play?

Re: Musicians - what was the first song you learned to play?

Re: Musicians - what was the first song you learned to play?

Re: Musicians - what was the first song you learned to play?

Re: Musicians - what was the first song you learned to play?

Re: Musicians - what was the first song you learned to play?

Re: Musicians - what was the first song you learned to play?

Re: Musicians - what was the first song you learned to play?

Re: Musicians - what was the first song you learned to play?

Re: Musicians - what was the first song you learned to play?

Re: Musicians - what was the first song you learned to play?

Re: Musicians - what was the first song you learned to play?

Re: Musicians - what was the first song you learned to play?

Re: Musicians - what was the first song you learned to play?

Re: Musicians - what was the first song you learned to play?

Re: Musicians - what was the first song you learned to play?

Re: Musicians - what was the first song you learned to play?

Re: Musicians - what was the first song you learned to play?

Re: Musicians - what was the first song you learned to play?