My experience has been that learning songs cannot be done from tablature or sheet music alone, particularly if you don't have alot of formal musical training. An understanding of phrasing, rhythm and theme requires several listenings to the actual piece, and the only sensible way to deseminate music for study must include a cassette distributed via USPS.
If you are interested in hearing some intermediate level Americana and original compositions on acoustic guitar please contact me via e-mail . I have put together a sample cassette with several pieces on it, including tablature for many of the pieces, and would be willing to send these out if I'm advanced a blank swap cassette. E-mail me and we can work out the rest of the details.
I would much prefer however to swap original compositions and arrangements to get some real communication going with other guitarists. I'll provide an expanded Musica cassette to guitarists who will share their own projects.
All my work is copyrighted and compositions and performances of Weller Musica are not released to the Public Domain. My intent is to be very liberal with the release of this music to encourage an amatuer guitarists' swap organization to get going, however this work is not published for sale. If you wish to pursue a commercial venture of some kind please contact me.
All work received from other guitarists will be treated with the strict confidence and under no conditions will be copied or released to the public or media without written permission from the creator for the specific venue of release.
An obvious extension of this fantasy is to create a collection tape for desemination among swap group members. Please e-mail me your comments or suggestions on this.
This following list is of tunes on APG Study Tape No. 1. I've posted tablature for most of these to the guitar newsgroups as they've developed and I'm maintaining tab at this site for your reference.
Your comments and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Upon the Cacapon (Weller) - I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free (Taylor-Dallas, arr. Fahey) - Sail Away Ladies (Traditional, arr. Fahey)
Great Dreams of Heaven (Traditional, arr. Cooder) - Sidh Beag, Sidh Mohr (O'Carolan, arr. Pettaway) - Blue Heron Waltz (Weller) - Arabian Dance (Tchiakovsky) - Star Spangled Banner
Teddy Bear's Picnic - Mr. Softee Rag (arr. Weller) - America the Beautiful - When Johnny Comes Marching Home - My Country Tis of Thee - Grandfather's Clock (inspired by Fahey/
Waltzing Matilda in Open C - Battle Hymn of the Republic in dropped D - Christmas Farewell (Weller) in dropped D - Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (Bach)
Amazing Grace, Home on the Range, and Sally Gardens in dropped D - Sweet Betsy From Pike and Dixie in Open C Tuning
NOTE: This recording is the author's own work and represents his personal interpretation of the songs. This tape may only be used for private study, scholarship, or research. Unless noted otherwise all arrangements by Les Weller for American Primitive Guitar.
Listing of APG Guitar Tablature
1/31/97