Compositions (from simple to hard)

[Andy5]

Hi everyone!
I'm looking for a list of compositions (or songs) for electric guitar, from very simple to hard, with the increasing difficulty. The intention is to build the technique and be able to play complete songs all the time.

My problem is that when I try to learn some song, I usually get it almost done, but very often there are some bars which I can't play with original speed/timing/attitude/etc. Rather disappointing... I think it's because I'm trying to jump over my head

So I'm asking everyone experienced, please, can you say which songs to play, so that each next song is playable if you mastered the previous one? I'd prefer rock or classic, but other styles are also fine as long as they build technique gradually.

Thank you very much!

P.S. I already practice excercises from PG's "Intense rock 1 & 2", and what I'm looking for is complete musical compositions.

[UKRuss]

That's not a bad idea you know. But it isn't something I've actually done so I can't provide a list.

You could also do something like, songs that use the same chords/principals:

Poisons-Every Rose
G 'N' R - Paradise City
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Sweet Home Alabama

[superlocrian]

Let me play devils advocate here by saying that learning full compositions is a great idea and that you can learn tons from it, but that it is extremely time consuming. Even learning a tune with the simplest lead break takes time because not only do you technically have to master the piece, but you have to remember everything note for note. I had to learn Sweet Home Alabama once and even though it was a relatively easy song to play it took me a while to memorise both solos exact. In my exprience, unless I am performing the song in its entirety rather:

1. Take licks out of the song that you like and put them in a kind of lick library that you can reference in future.

2. Analyze the solos and chord progressions and find out what scales are used. This way you can try similar ideas on stage.

3. Learn full songs only that you will know you will play and use otherwise you simply forget them after a couple of weeks.

Dont get me wrong, learning full songs is cool and will benefit your playing, but make it count. Songs on my list would be:

Johnny B Goode - Chuck Berry (basics in rock n' Roll playing 60's)
Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd (country type rock 70's)
Still Got The Blues - Gary Moore (bit more blues rock and nice chord progs 80's)
Panama - Van Halen - (Modern Rock 80's)
Jeremy - Pearl Jam - (90's Rock 90's)
Linkin Park - (Nu-metal 2000)

The idea with my suggested list is that you start with the basic rock n' roll and learn how the genre steadily evolved into what we have today. You could do this with other genre's as well.

[forgottenking2]

I agree with Russ but I can't really provide with a list of tunes. It would be a good idea to start a list to use with students. You could start with some basic Nirvana/Green Day and the such tunes (they apply power chords and will get students playing right away). Then maybe some basic hard rock tunes (easy KISS tunes etc) then Classic Rock and Blues and then you could tackle some more technically challenging tunes deppending on the student interest. The problem though is that not everyone is the same (not everyone likes KISS lol) so it would be hard to compile a specific graded list. A compilation of many different tunes in many different styles and from many different bands in the same difficulty level would not be a bad idea though. It would just be time consuming. Anyone has time for a summer project? I got a gazzillion chapters to read for my English class (I decided to take both my required English classes in the summer along with history II and psychology... I hope I measured my free time right)

-Jorge

[Andy5]

Thanks everyone for the answers!
I'll try to learn some of recommended songs... though the genre evolution is interesting, but I'm more concerned about technique rather than style. You know, I love many musical styles

Please share the compositions you can play, and how difficult they are technically. BTW, I don't have any problems with memorizing the melodies, because I graduated from musical school on piano, and have some common musical experience.

[UKRuss]

Hmmm yeah. You are a stark reminder that in reality I probably know very few songs completely off pat.

What I tend to do is keep the chords right and then mimic the solo by say stealing the main theme so people know you're playing the solo from the song but then go off into your on improv on it, returning to licks from the solo or themes so that you staty close to the original.

i find tryint too muich to play the solo note for note will always result in you being compared, usually less favourably, to the original artist. It's therefoper nice to put your own stamp on an ol' favourite.

The other reason I do this is that I am intrinsically lazy and as such spend a few hours leanring the first half of the solo before getting bored and improvising the rest...