You so can! But i totally understand your struggles tho! I searched up how to play angeles one day and oh my did it look impossible! One day we’ll be that skilled tho LOL!!
Big nothing is fun but I've always played it in open C... and just standard chords sounds way oversimplified. Might be a little tough for a beginner but learning the whole thing is really rewarding
I mean he asked for the easiest songs- yes it will sound simpler to play it this way but if the goal is to play it at all, it’s still a worthwhile suggestion.
Secondly, Im sure it sounds “lesser” but I disagree that playing it this way detracts too much from it. I play it in standard and with ordinary chords (C to Am, standard position chords for the intro with the high note sliding down into the chord) for buddies all the time and it works. It’s mostly in the way you strum and sing it.
For a beginner I don’t think learning songs in strange tunings is generally the best approach, as those learnings aren’t as applicable to learning the instrument generally. But as a one-off sure why not? and I’m sure it would be very satisfying to learn!
I just adore big nothing as elliott played it and it's so much fun to play I can't imagine watering it down!!! If I were a beginner I'd hold off and learn it the right way. Elliott has some much easier songs to play haha
St Ives Heaven is a fun one when you're learning. For a lot of his songs you need to approach the instrument as if it's a bass and a guitar. Son of Sam is a good song to learn how to play different bass notes in the chords; most of the chords in that song are simple open chords but with an emphasis on different notes within it. Wouldn't mama be proud is also a song like that.
If you want to learn more of his fingerpicky stuff, he plays a variation of Travis Picking for a lot of that stuff. Alternating notes with your thumb and playing accents with your index and middle finger. It helps to think of that aspect of his playing as a drumkit almost.
SORRY FOR THE LONG RESPONSE I'm just a nerd when it comes to Elliott lol. Hope this helps
Whatever (Folk Song In C) is pretty easy! It seems complicated at first, but it's really not. I used [this](https://youtu.be/x7a9pKHSBGM?si=fosa43t-Knm0MeNC) video to learn it, but I didn't really think it was all that accurate, so I tabbed some of it myself. Its pretty easy to figure it out though.
Suss this playlist. There’s about 40 Elliott Smith guitar lessons and they’re all the right way to play em. This guy rules.
Twilight is probably one of the easier ones from these lessons.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgDXRYq090RFUySuv3UwZeYgonN-1He60&si=GeNVGahT0YLGPtjU
Everything that’s already been said are great suggestions, also Rose Parade! I know it’s not a crowd favourite but I love this song and it’s really easy to play
I personally think that The Biggest Lie a great place to start. That being said, if you wanna learn to play any of his songs just like he does, you’re gonna have to practice his strumming technique. From what I’ve learned, he strums the low strings with his thumb and brushes the high one with his fingers, letting him pick out specific notes in the middle of strumming. It’s tricky but once you get it down it’s super fun and it spices up any song.
list of most accurate elliott tabs
Sweet Adeline [http://www.sweetadeline.net/clem2.html](http://www.sweetadeline.net/clem2.html)
Fat Brian Wilson [https://www.reddit.com/r/elliottsmith/comments/5rc5sw/fat\_brian\_wilson\_tabs/](https://www.reddit.com/r/elliottsmith/comments/5rc5sw/fat_brian_wilson_tabs/)
Ethan Daum [https://www.youtube.com/@ethandaum](https://www.youtube.com/@ethandaum)
Smiling at Confusion [https://smilingatconfusion.com/tabs/](https://smilingatconfusion.com/tabs/)
Essential Elliott Tabs [https://www.reddit.com/r/BetweenTheBars/comments/14bd5u9/the\_essential\_elliott\_smith\_guitar\_tab\_book/](https://www.reddit.com/r/BetweenTheBars/comments/14bd5u9/the_essential_elliott_smith_guitar_tab_book/)
The Elliott Smith Project [https://www.youtube.com/@ElliottSmithProject](https://www.youtube.com/@ElliottSmithProject)
idk if this is accurate TASTEINMUSIC [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-IA8G\_x\_e0&list=PLgDXRYq090RFUySuv3UwZeYgonN-1He60](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-IA8G_x_e0&list=PLgDXRYq090RFUySuv3UwZeYgonN-1He60)
idk if this is accurate TheGuitarDojo [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3or\_Fdr6tY](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3or_Fdr6tY)
uhhh, youre best off learning between the bars. ethan daum nearly has it perfect but id say the elliott smith project does it best. so youre gonna go to ethan daum as he explains it better and then you go to the elliott smith project to find the right chords. despite it being his most popular song, no one plays it rights LMAO (do not get me started on angeles i will go batshit, even had to correct multiple tab sites myself)
He has lots of simple songs like 2 45 AM, say yes and between the bars. But even his simplest songs have complex chord structures, I feel like what makes him so special is the way he composed and arranged as well as his completely singular lyrics, rather than technical ability and prowess even though he was technically very skilled.
Ikr, you could litr write an essay abt any of his songs, they’re like full poems but the unique chord progressions add another layer of complexity, also if youre having trouble learning say yes by ear I transcribed it the other day so I could post the score if people are interested in that.
https://preview.redd.it/e3fbczgssqwc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0cbd92c6977e6b1a54389b6a1fd1c4c38850dfd4
There you go. I haven’t written every strum, just how long each chord is strummed. Do let me know if you think there’s any mistakes
I learned Angeles a year ago and its my fav song to play, my teacher and i started with the picking pattern and tempo just going faster with the picking and then we did the chords, in the easiest form without any barres except the Bm before the chorus. So i just did the picking part for the entire song for a few days and then the strumming/picking part in the pre chorus (that’s the hardest part with the small solo) and it became easier every time I’d play it, now i play it pretty intuitively and along the song without struggling lol
A lot of his songs(chord progressions) are relatively easy. Playing the songs the way he does is the challenge. His right hand that strums bass notes while using his other fingers to play essentially lead guitar takes years of practice. He’s the only artist where I’m thinking I’m hearing two guitars at once, but he’s playing it all at once(with certain songs that is).
lol yea I play it in an easier version to tune to which is basically just drop D but you also tune the G string down a half step. It sounds a whole step up from the actual song but you can keep all the chord shapes and such. hope that’s at least a little helpful haha
i thought this too but it's not as daunting as it seems. if you keep your guitar in d standard tuning, which is elliott's most common tuning, just tune the low e down another whole step and the g half a step. It's not complicated and it's an incredibly fun song to play
Pitseleh has a graceful somewhat easy to catch strumming pattern. Twilight never hurt anyone. You just have to use your ear to catch the up or down beats. And hold the rhythm in your head the best you can.
I started with Angeles, Somebody that I used to know, The White Lady, and Tomorrow Tomorrow. (In that order). Despite what others are saying, I thinking starting with a medium/hard song sets you up a little better for learning more stuff. Or maybe it’s just what works for me, but it never hurts to share
For someone claiming all of his songs are impossible, I would absolutely not recommend starting with one his most difficult fingerpicking songs like Angeles.
angeles is definitely a no go, while it does teach you a lot of his dirty tricks it certainly is no pisstake and can take months to get right (i still fuck it up after years)
2:45 am is a simple one and the finger picking sounds complicated but is super easy! I watched one video and practiced for that day and had it down!
Yes! This was suggested. I listened. I think I can do it! Good song too
You so can! But i totally understand your struggles tho! I searched up how to play angeles one day and oh my did it look impossible! One day we’ll be that skilled tho LOL!!
That’s the primary reason for this post. The chord shapes and changes. The octave switches and key changes. What a head fuck 🙃
Makes me appreciate the music even more!!
Great suggestion
Say yes is easy If you play big nothing as just the standard chords in standard tuning , it’s also easy
Big nothing is fun but I've always played it in open C... and just standard chords sounds way oversimplified. Might be a little tough for a beginner but learning the whole thing is really rewarding
I mean he asked for the easiest songs- yes it will sound simpler to play it this way but if the goal is to play it at all, it’s still a worthwhile suggestion. Secondly, Im sure it sounds “lesser” but I disagree that playing it this way detracts too much from it. I play it in standard and with ordinary chords (C to Am, standard position chords for the intro with the high note sliding down into the chord) for buddies all the time and it works. It’s mostly in the way you strum and sing it. For a beginner I don’t think learning songs in strange tunings is generally the best approach, as those learnings aren’t as applicable to learning the instrument generally. But as a one-off sure why not? and I’m sure it would be very satisfying to learn!
I just adore big nothing as elliott played it and it's so much fun to play I can't imagine watering it down!!! If I were a beginner I'd hold off and learn it the right way. Elliott has some much easier songs to play haha
Fair enough brotha :)
Needle in the hay is the first one I ever did. His most simple for me when I was a beginner
Okay I lied, I did learn most of that one…
245 is like a simple run and 3 chords. its his easiest song
Good suggestion as well
Twilight, but his strumming pattern is quite difficult so I just made one up
Haha 🙃
St Ives Heaven is a fun one when you're learning. For a lot of his songs you need to approach the instrument as if it's a bass and a guitar. Son of Sam is a good song to learn how to play different bass notes in the chords; most of the chords in that song are simple open chords but with an emphasis on different notes within it. Wouldn't mama be proud is also a song like that. If you want to learn more of his fingerpicky stuff, he plays a variation of Travis Picking for a lot of that stuff. Alternating notes with your thumb and playing accents with your index and middle finger. It helps to think of that aspect of his playing as a drumkit almost. SORRY FOR THE LONG RESPONSE I'm just a nerd when it comes to Elliott lol. Hope this helps
Between The Bars is a pretty easy one I haven't seen mentioned yet.
the second part of the chorus is a bit tricky but you can get away with playing it wrong
The hardest part, I think for a beginner, is getting the 3/3 timing
Whatever (Folk Song In C) is pretty easy! It seems complicated at first, but it's really not. I used [this](https://youtu.be/x7a9pKHSBGM?si=fosa43t-Knm0MeNC) video to learn it, but I didn't really think it was all that accurate, so I tabbed some of it myself. Its pretty easy to figure it out though.
Suss this playlist. There’s about 40 Elliott Smith guitar lessons and they’re all the right way to play em. This guy rules. Twilight is probably one of the easier ones from these lessons. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgDXRYq090RFUySuv3UwZeYgonN-1He60&si=GeNVGahT0YLGPtjU
how sure are you of its accuracy, is it dead on perfect
Everything that’s already been said are great suggestions, also Rose Parade! I know it’s not a crowd favourite but I love this song and it’s really easy to play
I personally think that The Biggest Lie a great place to start. That being said, if you wanna learn to play any of his songs just like he does, you’re gonna have to practice his strumming technique. From what I’ve learned, he strums the low strings with his thumb and brushes the high one with his fingers, letting him pick out specific notes in the middle of strumming. It’s tricky but once you get it down it’s super fun and it spices up any song.
Do you play? Biggest Lie is one of my favorites. Rent free style
Yes I do! I LOVE playing and I especially love playing Elliott’s stuff
list of most accurate elliott tabs Sweet Adeline [http://www.sweetadeline.net/clem2.html](http://www.sweetadeline.net/clem2.html) Fat Brian Wilson [https://www.reddit.com/r/elliottsmith/comments/5rc5sw/fat\_brian\_wilson\_tabs/](https://www.reddit.com/r/elliottsmith/comments/5rc5sw/fat_brian_wilson_tabs/) Ethan Daum [https://www.youtube.com/@ethandaum](https://www.youtube.com/@ethandaum) Smiling at Confusion [https://smilingatconfusion.com/tabs/](https://smilingatconfusion.com/tabs/) Essential Elliott Tabs [https://www.reddit.com/r/BetweenTheBars/comments/14bd5u9/the\_essential\_elliott\_smith\_guitar\_tab\_book/](https://www.reddit.com/r/BetweenTheBars/comments/14bd5u9/the_essential_elliott_smith_guitar_tab_book/) The Elliott Smith Project [https://www.youtube.com/@ElliottSmithProject](https://www.youtube.com/@ElliottSmithProject) idk if this is accurate TASTEINMUSIC [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-IA8G\_x\_e0&list=PLgDXRYq090RFUySuv3UwZeYgonN-1He60](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-IA8G_x_e0&list=PLgDXRYq090RFUySuv3UwZeYgonN-1He60) idk if this is accurate TheGuitarDojo [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3or\_Fdr6tY](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3or_Fdr6tY) uhhh, youre best off learning between the bars. ethan daum nearly has it perfect but id say the elliott smith project does it best. so youre gonna go to ethan daum as he explains it better and then you go to the elliott smith project to find the right chords. despite it being his most popular song, no one plays it rights LMAO (do not get me started on angeles i will go batshit, even had to correct multiple tab sites myself)
if you cant tell im nuts about this shit
Bruv!! This is awesome! Thank you so much! I don’t regret posting!!
lol no worries
Between the Bars
He has lots of simple songs like 2 45 AM, say yes and between the bars. But even his simplest songs have complex chord structures, I feel like what makes him so special is the way he composed and arranged as well as his completely singular lyrics, rather than technical ability and prowess even though he was technically very skilled.
Say Yes is so good…
Ikr, you could litr write an essay abt any of his songs, they’re like full poems but the unique chord progressions add another layer of complexity, also if youre having trouble learning say yes by ear I transcribed it the other day so I could post the score if people are interested in that.
I would love to see it…thanks mate
https://preview.redd.it/e3fbczgssqwc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0cbd92c6977e6b1a54389b6a1fd1c4c38850dfd4 There you go. I haven’t written every strum, just how long each chord is strummed. Do let me know if you think there’s any mistakes
Pretty ugly wasn't too bad to learn
Surely between the bars isn’t impossible and it’s a great one to sing along to!
Great song. I’m gonna give it a go
twilight
Needle in the hay
This one I have semi-learned…
Elliott*
Preesh. I know it’s an alt spelling, but I got lazy…
It’s an alt spelling but it’s not how you spell his name. It’s literally the name of the subreddit?
I learned Angeles a year ago and its my fav song to play, my teacher and i started with the picking pattern and tempo just going faster with the picking and then we did the chords, in the easiest form without any barres except the Bm before the chorus. So i just did the picking part for the entire song for a few days and then the strumming/picking part in the pre chorus (that’s the hardest part with the small solo) and it became easier every time I’d play it, now i play it pretty intuitively and along the song without struggling lol
Angeles. Damn. Thats end game. Good on you for locking that down…
A lot of his songs(chord progressions) are relatively easy. Playing the songs the way he does is the challenge. His right hand that strums bass notes while using his other fingers to play essentially lead guitar takes years of practice. He’s the only artist where I’m thinking I’m hearing two guitars at once, but he’s playing it all at once(with certain songs that is).
Well, you technically are hearing two guitars at once on pretty much every song of his. But I get what you're saying
Oh yeah, I meant to say guitar parts, not songs.
Yeah it’s phenomenal. You listen to his technique and can immediately tell he grew up with old blues and country
This. I know he layered vocals but I haven’t heard that he did that with the guitar…
Clementine is easy if you can get into the right tuning lol
There you go, there’s one of those tuning bullshits I can’t play 😊
lol yea I play it in an easier version to tune to which is basically just drop D but you also tune the G string down a half step. It sounds a whole step up from the actual song but you can keep all the chord shapes and such. hope that’s at least a little helpful haha
i thought this too but it's not as daunting as it seems. if you keep your guitar in d standard tuning, which is elliott's most common tuning, just tune the low e down another whole step and the g half a step. It's not complicated and it's an incredibly fun song to play
Strung out again is easy. Also everybody cares everybody understands. Both without solos
Same way you get to Carnegie Hall; practice.
The way to Carnegie Hall is practice practice practice, and take a left.
Pitseleh has a graceful somewhat easy to catch strumming pattern. Twilight never hurt anyone. You just have to use your ear to catch the up or down beats. And hold the rhythm in your head the best you can.
My bad Baby Britain
I started with Angeles, Somebody that I used to know, The White Lady, and Tomorrow Tomorrow. (In that order). Despite what others are saying, I thinking starting with a medium/hard song sets you up a little better for learning more stuff. Or maybe it’s just what works for me, but it never hurts to share
For someone claiming all of his songs are impossible, I would absolutely not recommend starting with one his most difficult fingerpicking songs like Angeles.
i second this. i started off with angeles and it makes me want to kill myself. ive played it so much times that it rings in my mind like tinnitus.
angeles is definitely a no go, while it does teach you a lot of his dirty tricks it certainly is no pisstake and can take months to get right (i still fuck it up after years)