Vision Music

Mark · Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 8:54 am Post subject: "Had A Bad Day" (Daniel Powter)

Fellow Guitarists,

Thought you might get a kick out of my recorded arrangement of the hit song "Had A Bad Day" by vocalist/pianist Daniel Powter. What made this project somewhat special is the fact that I transcribed, then arranged this tune directly from his recorded version, adapting his piano moves to acoustic guitar while adding my own bass fills and double-stops. Hope you enjoy it, and stay tuned for more...

- Mark
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"Anyone can make the simple complicated. Creativity is making the complicated simple" - Mingus

thaydon · Joined: 31 Mar 2007 Posts: 80 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio

This sounds great ...
_________________
sincerely yours,

Todd

Larry_DC · Joined: 31 Mar 2007 Posts: 207

VERY nice.

kbgtr001 · Joined: 04 May 2007 Posts: 122

Mark,

Very Nice arrangement.

-Kb

Mark · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 6:01 pm Post subject: Re: "Bad Day"

Todd, Larry, Kb,

Thanks for the collective kind words, all *seven* of them! Laughing

Seriously, while I always appreciate compliments, my intention in sharing these solo guitar arrangements/recordings is to hopefully spawn some discussion regarding approaches to various standards covering a wide spectrum of song possibilities and genres. And ideally from forum members, players and students who are actively arranging, because as nice as it is to share YouTube clips on the subject I'd rather be in a position to actually converse with the arranger, or to hear what one of you has done by perhaps observing the renditions of others in a way that has contributed to what you are in the process of arranging. Not unlike transcribing a jazz solo, then discussing application of the language gleaned in a personal manner.

In either case, what made this "Bad Day" project a bit different for me was that it was a recent pop hit arranged in time, and the source was piano and vocal, transcribed and translated to guitar. Anyone out there got any pop arrangements of any kind underway? You know, like Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel, Stevie Wonder from the 60's, 70's, etc? Or something more current? Or any classic movie themes? And if so, what are they and how are you going about it? Working from a lead sheet? By ear from a recording on a CD? Transposing to another key? Rubato or in time? Fingerstyle or flatpick? Electric guitar, steel-string, or nylon-string? Scoring your efforts? And if so, how? By hand? Notation program? Standard notation? Tab? Chord grids?

Lots of questions, buy hey... someone's got to ask them, eh? Wink

I'll keep posting recordings but hopefully, as with improv approaches, we can use the forum to exchange ideas so that everyone can benefit from shared experiences. All for now...

- Mark
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"Anyone can make the simple complicated. Creativity is making the complicated simple" - Mingus

thaydon · Joined: 31 Mar 2007 Posts: 80 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio

Well,
I am presently arranging the song "time after time" by cindi lauper. it is one of my favorite pop tunes. at the moment i have the song arranged with melody and chords but my arrangement sounds much like the original using arpeggios etc. so i am considering using block chords or using counterpoint ala bach's bouree in eminor....
_________________
sincerely yours,

Todd

Mark · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 6:44 pm Post subject: Re: Time After Time

thaydon · Joined: 31 Mar 2007 Posts: 80 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio

yes, key of C starting off with the F6 chord, D on the 2nd string...

Smile

_________________
sincerely yours,

Todd

Mark · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 8:02 pm Post subject: Re: Time After Time