Soundcloud:
https://soundcloud.com/phil-leith/ok-campfire-strummerVideo:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g82_PKtKEfkOriginal Demo (a few hours after I wrote it):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RF-tjUB2_usAfter finishing my album last fall I've been pursuing other things and have been away from songwriting and recording/producing... I did one sometime in the last year ... a little spoof on "Most Wonderful Time of the Year" only about our annual camp/float trips.
At any rate, the other night I was talking to a couple brothers and a visiting cousin and my older brother brought up the fact that I play guitar... and I gave the answer I usually give ... "Well, sort of. I'm not terribly good, I'm just an OK 'Campfire Strummer'" ... which seems to be a common term for the level right above "beginner".
He said "that ought to be a song". And I said, "You're right." Couple days later I sat down and wrote this ... in about an hour.
If it sounds like a lot of other songs ("Family Tradition", "Nashville Cats", "Gimme Three Steps", etc) that's because it's a traditional Country/Blues song form ...
First song I've produced in my new "Little Corner Studio", which has been moved from our master bedroom into a guest bedroom we've converted to my office/studio/guest bedroom since COVID.
Anyway, here it is...
****** Song Summary *************
Title: Campfire Strummer
File:Campfire Strummer.SGU
Key=A , Tempo 130, Length (m:s)=3:08
No intro. 98 bar chorus, from bar 1 to bar 98. Repeat x1 chorus
No Melody
No Soloist track.
Song is saved with Volume, Pan, Reverb, Chorus, Bank0,
Song is saved with bar changes for Volume Changes,
Style is _CSWNGMD.STY (Country Swing Medium-Fast)
RealTracks in style: ~539:Bass, Electric, Pop Sw 120
RealTracks in style: ~372:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Hank Sw 120
RealTracks in style: ~974:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm CountrySwingCleanA-B Sw 140
RealTracks in style: ~977:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm CountrySwingGrittyA-B Sw 140
RealTracks in song: 1872:Fiddle, Soloist WesternSwingAndy Sw 165 (Bluesy)
RealDrums [in style:NashvilleSwing8^3-a:Snare, OpenHat , b:Snare, Ride
And then me on a little finger-picking and a busted string ... and some acoustic strumming which is very subdued in the background later in the song ... because ... I'm only an "OK" campfire strummer. My BIAB peeps do a much better job. Pulled it all into Reaper to finish it all up with mixing and recording the additional tracks.
OK Campfire Strummer
Phil Leith 8/21/21
Well I've come so far just learnin' guitar
And I'm better than I thought I'd be
I got a late start I'll never tear it apart
But I can't let it frustrate me
I'm only so-so never be a virtuoso
And sometimes I think that's a bummer
But I can get by without bein' too shy
As an OK campfire strummer
I'm a little bit sloppy, and I can get off-beat
But I'll just have to plow on through
What I lack in flash I make up for in passion
And a sustained chord or two
I can still win if you can rein me in
With a bass man and a drummer
Ain't no Pollyanna never be Santana
Just an OK campfire strummer
Messin' around, makin' that sound
Playin' calypso or swing
I'm havin' a blast, just makin' it last
But I hope I don't bust a string
My friends seem to love it when I play Jimmy Buffett
Or a John Denver song or three
And I can be gentle with a quiet instrumental
Finger-picking amateur-al-ly
But they can't sing along if I play my own songs
Though I might try to slip in a number
I might sing too loud, but I ain't too proud
I'm just an OK campfire strummer
[And I'm alright with that
Pick on my friend!
No, don't stop now, you're doin' just fine!
What's that key change?
Ah, never mind, I'll just fake it 'til I make it]
I might sing too loud, but I ain't too proud
I'm just an OK campfire strummer
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