Wildwood Flower

AgentKooper · #1 10-13-2015, 01:21 AM

One of my goals when I got back into guitar playing a few years ago was to be able to pick and sing a credible version of "Wildwood Flower." Depending on your definition of "credible," I feel like I've achieved that, and it's incredibly fun. I can sit around for a pretty long session just playing and marveling at what a cool song it is, and how cool it feels to be able to play it.

The version I learned is mostly just Carter picking around a basic C chord in the first position, or with the capo at the second fret.

Does anyone have any suggestions for similar song to add to the repertoire? I love Carter style, and being able to apply it to a simple chord or two to such great effect.

All suggestions welcome!

Packrat · #2 10-13-2015, 01:31 AM

Freight Train by Elizabeth Cotton is very similar .. Have a go at that

Penrith Pete · #3 10-13-2015, 02:08 AM

I sometimes play Carter(ish)-style versions of:

The Last Thing on My Mind
Rain and Snow
Down in the Dungeon

..simple versions but fun to play.

If I am feeling flashy I mix up the strum element with some crosspicked bits here and there!

Glad you are having fun milking the pleasure out of simple songs - much to be said for it in my book
Pete

opnwhl4 · #4 10-13-2015, 02:19 AM

Wildwood Flower is my favorite song to play. I never get tired of it and the dog doesn't seem to mind either.

Silly Moustache · #5 10-13-2015, 03:13 AM

As you enjoy/appreciate Wildwood Flower, why not get hold of a compendium list of Carter Family pieces, and maybe some Doc Watson and, say, Norman Blake and David Grier pieces.

Time to buy some CDs perhaps.

Jim Owen · #6 10-13-2015, 04:15 AM

Hi AgentKooper,
Try You Are My Sunshine.

KenL · #7 10-13-2015, 04:42 AM

I just learned "WF" not too long ago myself; great tune, and a blast to play.

I then worked up a similar version of "Long Black Veil" after discovering the Rosanne Cash version of the tune. I throw some flatpicking in between the verses. Another great old tune.

SFCRetired · #8 10-13-2015, 06:52 AM

Very similar song, WildFlowers, by Dolly Parton. It was actually on the first Trio album with Linda R and Emmylou back in the eighties. If you're into any gospel or that type of music check out Farther Along as well. They can all be played in the c shape using a capo if you are so inclined. And of course then you have Hobo's Meditation.

Then of course there's always Wildwood Weed

oxygenman · #9 10-13-2015, 08:21 AM

"Keep on the Sunny Side" and "Your Love Is Like a Flower."

BFD · #10 10-13-2015, 08:39 AM

Here's another good Carter family tune covered by Norman Blake:

Wildwood Flower is also a popular tune to get into cross-picking on, like here:

AgentKooper · #11 10-13-2015, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silly Moustache

As you enjoy/appreciate Wildwood Flower, why not get hold of a compendium list of Carter Family pieces, and maybe some Doc Watson and, say, Norman Blake and David Grier pieces.

Time to buy some CDs perhaps.

My big weakness as a guitarist (or one of them, anyway), is that I really struggle to figure songs out on my own. I was struck by how relatively easy Wildwood Flower was to learn once I found a good video. I would have thought, based on how the picking sounds, that it would have been much harder.

I've got a big music collection and could list 100 songs off the top of my head that I'd love to learn, including lots of Carter Family songs. But (speaking specifically of Carter Family style tunes), none of them has come as easily as Wildwood Flower. I'll keep plugging away, but I was looking for ideas for songs that others have found comparable, in terms of relative ease of learning.

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone!

Scootch · #12 10-13-2015, 09:42 AM

Now I have Wildwood Flower in head. But that's OK, thanks.

When I get home I'm going to play it a while.

Maybe also Jim Stafford's Wildwood Weed.

SFCRetired · #13 10-13-2015, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AgentKooper

My big weakness as a guitarist (or one of them, anyway), is that I really struggle to figure songs out on my own. I was struck by how relatively easy Wildwood Flower was to learn once I found a good video. I would have thought, based on how the picking sounds, that it would have been much harder.

I've got a big music collection and could list 100 songs off the top of my head that I'd love to learn, including lots of Carter Family songs. But (speaking specifically of Carter Family style tunes), none of them has come as easily as Wildwood Flower. I'll keep plugging away, but I was looking for ideas for songs that others have found comparable, in terms of relative ease of learning.

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone!

When you find a song you like try to get the sheet music for it, with actual notes and not tabs. Although tabs are okay I suppose. Learn the melody notes on the sheet music and on your guitar.

Pick out the melodies on your guitar, and then incorporate it into Carter style or flat picking. I've done that with many songs.

remember, the basic notes on sheet music are E, G, B, D, F, or every good boy does fine. Starting at the bottom.

The notes in between the lines are F, A, C, E. or FACE. Again, starting at the bottom. Learn those and the sky is the limit for those who have trouble doing it by ear.

Also learn how to transpose it to whatever key you want it to be in.

upsidedown · #14 10-13-2015, 11:55 AM

Winding Stream by The Carter Family is a favorite of mine. A nice - almost primitive - little solo in there. So sweet.

Scholar · #15 10-13-2015, 03:30 PM

If you want to augment your arrangement of Wildwood Flower, I've got a very nice cross-picking arrangement of it in tab. Happy to pass it on to you -- just send me a PM if you want it.