The Story of Elliott Smith's "Alameda" (w Playalong!)
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- čas přidán 13. 07. 2024
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I made this book myself with love and care. It’s got complete tabs, chords, lyrics for all 12 tracks.
Music in this vid:
annatto (fantastic hip-hop instrumentals!)
annatto.bandcamp.com/album/dr...
Vids in this vid:
• Alameda
• Learning an Elliott Sm...
• Speed Trials is the Pe...
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0:00 Intro
0:34 Alameda Story
5:20 Guitar
8:57 Playalong - Hudba
![Why "Alphabet Town" is Elliott Smith's BEST SONG - Elliott Smith Project [Self-Titled]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/0_jFwkb_k50/mqdefault.jpg)
I think Alameda is one of the strongest Elliott Smith songs which is saying a lot. Chord progression is just so good. I think it was the song that got me hooked.
big elliott smith fan here with almost 0 'classical' music theory knowledge. its been so impactful for me to see his process more transparently through this series you've been doing!! i make music in a very similar way to his 'fuck around and find out' method of songwriting, in terms of finding chord arrangements by feel/ear rather than by understanding of the composition of the chords themselves. rather than feeling embarassed about that, i now feel really encouraged seeing some of my favorites songs ever created in a similar way. thank you for all the effort you put into these videos!! it's being appreciated over here!!
What a great way to start the new semester!
You’re crazy for the upgraded tabs it’s so gooood
I started listening to Elliott’s music in the 90s. At the time there were only record stores and they didn’t always have all his albums available. I have to think back about which album I heard first and then what came next. I’m pretty sure it was either/or and then I eventually found the previous ones in stores and got them. I remember digging up Heatmiser albums in stores as well and listening to them and feeling a bit shocked…they were so different from his solo stuff. But I loved those too. When I think back to the 90s Elliott was very present in my life. I’m just rambling. I loved his less produced stuff and as the more produced stuff came out I liked that too. I always gravitate to certain songs and then it takes a little while to discover the beauty, genius of the other songs on the albums. It’s so interesting to hear how younger people are discovering and loving his music. I’m so glad that he remains very relevant and adored.
Thank you for your thoughtful dissection of his music and the interesting questions you come up with. And as a guitar player, thanks so much for all your help!!! 🎸
0:06 Not only did the man have to be in Fargo (in winter I'm pretty sure) but to have his drinks spill too. At least he gave those Nodaks a great show
I definitely felt that distance. I started listening in 2002 when some songs I recorded as a teenager got compared to him. He immediately became my favorite songwriter, but like you, the first two records were the biggest deal for me, even though the first song I heard came from XO (Oh Well, Okay). I did what you did, played them in chronological order after I heard that song.
Either/Or was one of two I didn’t play much, the other being XO.
Recently though, I’ve been playing the hell out of Either/Or, and I’m specifically hooked on this song. I’ve been playing along on drums because it’s easy enough. Decided to learn on guitar today and that’s how I found your video. I’m going to watch everything you’ve made for sure.
I didn’t hear Figure 8 until after he passed, and I got a leak of Basement almost immediately.
Heck, I didn’t even know he passed until months after the fact.
I have listened to no artist as much as Elliott Smith (maybe the Beatles).
Thank you for these videos.
memories of being in college and finally figuring out how to play Alameda correctly. I love the way the open B and fretted G string ring out ominously together
The first Elliott tune I heard was somebody that I used to know. I then started diving in. I didn't hear Roman candle til a few years later. Great job on breaking down the song
I started chronologically too and while I liked all of his albums my fav. are still the earlier ones, mostly his first, but that's just me, I can still (and do) appreciate his big band albums and I love his videos solo and with the big band, there is a place for every facet of Elliott's music I think and that's what makes him my fav. musician ever.
Also thank you so much for all the hard work you put into this as a guitar player this is invaluable.
edit: this is my fav. song to play I don't fingerpick the intro because I suck at it but strumming works decentlyish too imho, also the melodic notes thru it are so goooooooood.
Favorite channel on CZcams right now. I love this so much
Great stuff! Hope you'll also create a songbook for Either/Or. Personally, I mostly listen to the live recordings and don't think in terms of the actual albums, he wrote so many incredible songs that never ended on an album and eventually were released on FABOTH and New Moon (and also Grand Mal). From a production perspective, I consider "Last Call" the greatest lo-fi recording of all time.
Last call is INCREDIBLE. I agree, it’s also cool to hear the way he explored and expanded on the production side specifically, which correlates pretty closely with each successive album. But even the massive songs like Son of Sam can hit just as hard acoustic/solo.
Probably my favorite Elliott Smith song, that last line hit me like a truck in college
🚛🚛🚛 that's awesome, definitely has a *David Voss* sound !
This video series is SO GOOD i can already tell ill be watching every single one, cannot WAIT for ballad of big nothing
Didn't think any of the existing tabs or tutorials for this song were very accurate so I wasn't going to learn it, but your versions are always so faithful to the original so now I will. Thanks!
Love your work! This is so helpful.
Your channel is everything I ever needed, already bought your songbook without a second thought! Thank you for your work ❤
Had exactly the same chronological listening arc and also has exactly the same reaction to the fuller songs on Either/Or
Best video ive ever seen
I love this series of videos and I look forward to ballad of big nothing!!!! Thank you for the great work.
Going into the chorus I like to play the C/G (cowboy chord shape in open position), then slide that up to the chromatic mediant Eb using the same shape. Then, I also like to lay the G minor as (starting with the bass string) 3 x 0 3 3 3. That shape is so similar to the regular Gmaj that it feels really natural to play. Elliott’s such a virtuoso that he seems to just tackle his progressions while performing however he feels like hitting them that day, and with how many layers this record has, particularly contrasting it with the previous album, it’s tough to tell what the eff is going on at times haha. Anyway. Looove these vids my friend! Have been on a similar journey with Elliott’s catalog for about 3 years now and it’s been a boon to have another perspective and ear on it :) keep up the awesome work!
I listened to either or first and maybe that’s why it’s always been my favorite. Great video
great video
yo thank you so much i had missed so many of the details here and now i sound much more like the real thing, thank you so much for the hard work you put into these
When I started listening I started with the self titled and fell in love with it. It was the only album of his I listened to for a while but then I started checking out his other stuff and couldn’t quite catch on with it at first. Similar to your experience there was something about the quietness of the first two albums I was just entranced by. But after some more time I fell in love with all his later stuff too.
ありがとう！わかりやすいです
I found out about Elliott Smith after hearing Queens of the Stoneage' cover of Christian Brothers. I wish i'd found out about his Music sooner, ha.
Another great Video, i'll also be giving this one a go (i've got speed trials under my belt after your last Video) so thank you, you clearly put a lot of effort into this. I don't expect this to happen anytime soon, but will you ever look at some of Elliott Smith's unreleased tracks/B-sides? 'No more' and 'A living Will' are both really good Songs and I can't find decent Video lessons or Tabs for them anywhere.
this is the only song of his i've been able to learn by ear. Its such a fun song. I play it every time i pick up my guitar. its fun to see a few of the parts i heard differently. I definitely didn't hear the climb, and i'm gonna work on adding it. Thanks again.
Your production quality is leaps and bounds from the beginning of the last album 😮
This was the song that got me into Elliott Smith!! Either/Or was always the go-to rec that I listened to, and Speed Trials’ lyricism and songwriting was a little too obtuse on the first few listens, but Alameda’s lyricism floored me and I’ve never looked back. Fantastic vid as always!!
Your series is what CZcams was built for - i am totally in awe of these lessons. Im not able to donate, but I just wanted to say thank you!!!
that means alot! thanks for watching
Awesome as always! That walking bass makes that part so smooth adding that in
such a slick detail
3 new vids in less than a month?! Christmas came again.
First Elliott song I heard was In The Lost And Found, but Either Or quickly became my favourite album. Honestly though, I can’t pick a favourite album anymore.
Thanks ❤ Arf I didn't listen chronologicaly.
There is a live video of Elliot playing alphabet town aswell
Please do some from a basement on a hill
Everyone make sure to check out Becks cover.
That's interesting (your perspective/initial reaction to the album). Either/Or was my first ES album as a teen and I obsessed over it a long time until I branched out to the rest of his discography. I stole a burned copy from my older brother's CD wallet, with just the writing "Elliott Smith," so I didn't even know which album it was till later on. He had just passed a few years before, so his name was in the news. But Either/Or was the one, none of his others quite hit the same mark for me.
Now in my 30s my opinion is that it's one of his weaker, least consistent albums when put alongside his other work.
The self titled was THE album of his for my late 20's, but XO has become my early 30s fav all over again. It's cyclical.
can you do the mic city sons version of half right?
Haircut!
I have always felt a similar distance in either/or, I didnt listen to his music chronologicaly but either/or always didnt have the same feeling of raw emotion or captivating melodies that albums like self titled or roman candle did. Anyways I really enjoy your uploads as your videos are easily the most interesting and comprehensive way of learning his songs. I would also be curious to know what your favorite album of his is any why?
That's so interesting that you had a similar feeling even though you didn't start with the quieter albums - which did you hear first? It's a total toss-up for me, but just because it's always so underrated and definitely a top 3 for me, today I'll say Roman Candle!
I actually heard either/or first, I think I was just drawn to the emotional intensity of the quiet albums but still to me figure 8 and xo though much more instrumental, maintain that intensity, there's just something missing for me with either/or. I too believe roman candle is very underrated album, self titled has got to be my favorite.
Yeah i felt pretty distant to X/O. A few people i met said it was by far his best. It took me a while to hear it and it wasnt honeslty my favorite. Now i would say it pales in contrast to self titled of either/or.
I did listen chronologically and didn't like either/or for the longest time. I couldn't understand why people considered it his best. I only listened to self titled and Roman candle for he longest time
Me me me me me me me me
Which guitar are you using??
Any chance you can brreak down the music theory of this song ?
queria legendas em português para os seus vídeos 😭
Desculpe! vou tentar adicioná-los
I never had that problem with either or, though I did have it with XO and Figure 8, probably because I was unable to stomach their much heavier layering at first. I love them now though
Also awesome video
Thank you so much for this amazing work ! On your video at 5:50, i think you should add the bass with the thumb at the melody (cf czcams.com/video/SDHXMAxVe5Q/video.html) Cheers from France
Promo SM 🤦