Songs Worth Learning - 21
There are certain songs that I think every guitar player should try to learn. Either they have cool guitar parts, or they will expand your playing skills, or they will introduce you to a style of music you may not have played before. I am going to recommend songs in several styles of music and explain why I think they should be added to your “play list.” Obviously, these are my choices, and no doubt, some will disagree with my choices. But each song has something good to offer so I think they are worth learning.
This will eventually be a huge list so I am going to post them one song at a time in no particular order. Take your time and enjoy each one.
The Boys Are Back In Town - Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy was an anomaly. An Irish hard rock band (often verging on metal) with two lead guitarists and a black singer/bass player who wrote engaging poetic lyrics about various characters and every day life. They were huge in the U.K. but only had a couple of hits in the U.S in the 70s. Their biggest hit over here was The Boys Are Back In Town. It is worth learning for several reasons.
First, it a lot of fun to play. Second, to really play it correctly you need two guitar players working together playing harmony parts. If you’ve never done this, it will be an eye opening experience. It takes some practice to play lead lines in sync but it is great fun once you get it down. And it sounds amazing. Also, the chords should be played with one guitar playing power chords and the other playing barre chords. The barre chords include several Minor 7th chords, unusual in an overdriven rock song, that give it a unique sonic texture.
Of course it’s the twin harmony guitar of Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson during the end of chorus riff, interlude, and outro solo that make it such a great guitar song. So find a guitar playing friend and get busy. There’s nothing quite like the experience of playing this song with another guitar player. Big fun.
