Hello guys, how are you? As some of you may know because I mentioned it before, I play in the subway, that's where I make my money. I play songs from the 70s and 80s. But in general, it's more profitable for me to play "Stairway to Heaven" on the guitar alone, in arpeggio. Even if I sing it, it doesn't have the same impact. And I also play "Wish You Were Here" (I do sing this one). But "Stairway to Heaven" is like an anthem and most people passing by like it. I play in a closed space, in the hall, not on the train itself, during a time when people are coming back from work. There's a connection between that "soothing" atmosphere and the people who perceive the sound. I've even tried using backing tracks, but it doesn't work. It works when I play the guitar and sing, it feels more intimate between the audience and what I do. I'm explaining this so you can understand me. So, it's very difficult for me to find songs that have the same effect. I've tried songs by Sting like "Shape of My Heart" or Eric Clapton's "Tears in Heaven," but they haven't worked. I can't find anything similar to "Stairway to Heaven," that captivating arpeggio that everyone knows, or "Wish You Were Here." Now I thought about playing "Nothing Else Matters," but the most prominent guitar riff is only at the beginning. Anyway, I wanted to ask if you could recommend similar songs that I can play with guitar arpeggios like "Stairway to Heaven" or "Wish You Were Here." I mean classic classics that everyone knows. Thanks in advance.

 

I used to play Quenesryche's Silent Lucidity on Acoustic - nice to play and sing.

 

Thank you, I didn't know it. It's a very beautiful song, I wasn't familiar with it. I'm going to try to figure it out. As a guitar riff, it sounds quite basic, but what catches attention is something more elaborate (in my opinion) in the audience. I'll have to see how to adapt some notes; they're too high for my voice. But I'll try with a section, and if people recognize it, then I'll figure out the rest. Thanks again

 

Interesting question. I'd say the more iconic song that can be played with a guitar is Hotel California. Plus you can create different arpeggiated arrangements from it.

I like playing Time in a Bottle by Jim Croce and people kind of enjoy it as well (until I start singing : /).
You can try also Concierto de Aranjuez, maybe.
Still loving you is pretty recognizable as well, but I wouldn't dare to sing that hahaha.

 

Exactly! understood me perfectly. Hotel California is a great reference, until the chorus comes in, but I could arrange it with harmonies emulating the voice and the choir. I hadn't thought of that song. This song, Jim Croce - Time in a Bottle, I didn't know it, the guitar sounds really good, and it has a touch of Stairway to Heaven, let's say that "classic" melody because if you look at Stairway to Heaven, the arpeggio is both classical and rock at the same time. I think that's also why it captivates all audiences. Still Loving You, I had thought about it, but the arpeggio feels a bit monotonous, I mean, to only play it with arpeggios and then in the chorus, I didn't know what to do, and singing it, no way, hahaha. Another detail I forgot to mention is that people pass by very quickly, I have a maximum of 1 minute to capture their attention, or maybe even less. I perform at the exit during peak hours when a lot of people pass by very quickly, so well-known songs are what attract them. In fact, when I see a lot of people coming, sometimes I skip ahead to the most recognizable part, hahaha. Thanks for the recommendations!

 

Nights In White Satin (a favorite that everyone knows), Tears in Heaven, House of the Rising Sun (campfire favorite singalongs) another good song is Ain't no Love In the Heart of the City.

 

Last edited: Jul 9, 2023

Nothing Else Matters, Romance Anonimo..

 

don't fear the reaper

 

I can't suggest any rock anthems, because it's completely not my cup of tea, but personally, I would try something more energetic and flashy. I don't know what is your skill and style, but if I were in your position, I would probably play Rodrigo y Gabriela's songs all day long:

They even have their own version of Stairway to Heaven:

Full disclosure: I have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about, because I never did what you do, but I assume that the average Joe doesn't have a good taste, and would much rather listen to something happy and cheesy that improves his mood, especially early in the morning or during summer. This is just my cynical outlook on these things, but I think we, musicians hear music differently and we often overestimate people's ability to identify what is undeniably a "good music".

And even more cynical proposal: pay attention to the age of people that pay you the most and check what songs were super hits during their youth

 

Learned these clichee riffs when I started only to forget them haha.
I assume anyone will probably know smells like teen spirit, back in black, smoke on the water, and sweet child o mine

 

Eric Clapton - Wonderful Tonight

 

Gary Moore - Still Got The Blues / Parisienne Walkways

 

Angie, You can't always get what you want,Wild horses: Rolling stones

 

Try Dire Straits - Walk of Life, not what you asked for but people will respond to it and it's fun to play. Nice guitar part.

 

"Taurus" by Spirit.....

 

Boston - More Than A Feeling - similar thing to Stairway. Of course there is always Taurus by Spirit. :D (ClaudeBAlls - you making me look stupid here!! lol )

 

Escalator to Hell

 

Thank you for the recommendations!

Yes, I've actually been thinking about "Nothing Else Matters" and I'm learning it. I wasn't familiar with "Romance Anonimo," but it sounds classical and has that "Stairway to Heaven" vibe. It doesn't seem difficult, so I'm going to give it a try. Thanks!

I wasn't familiar with this song either. I like that catchy repeating riff, and the vocal tone feels very comfortable for me too. Thank you, Clone!

That's true, not everything has to be sad or slow. It's definitely possible to go for something more upbeat. In fact, I used to play "Wonderwall" and "Losing My Religion," but now I'm focusing on the electric guitar, and some songs just don't sound the same. These two songs you mentioned sound really good. The first one might not work well on the electric guitar and would probably need a backing track. It's well-crafted, and I believe a song like that is better suited for someone who will take the time to listen. The same goes for the version of "Stairway to Heaven" you shared. It's a beautiful adaptation. In fact, I've made adaptations of other songs I play, but the problem with playing in the subway is that people pass by quickly, and very, very few actually stop to listen because they're in a hurry (I live in the capital city). So I had to go back to playing the songs as close to the original as possible, so that people recognize them right away. Thank you for sharing these versions.

and I fully agree with what you said: ", but I think we, musicians hear music differently and we often overestimate people's ability to identify what is undeniably a 'good music'

You know, I also think there's something deeper to it. In fact, I play other classics, but they don't have the same impact. Yesterday, two people stopped to listen to 'Stairway to Heaven' and 'Wish You Were Here.' Both of them had experienced a loss (a father and a son). For one person, it reminded them of their father who used to listen to 'Stairway to Heaven,' and for another person who had lost their daughter, it was like 'they wished she were here' (Wish You Were Here). It's not always sad either. Last week, a guy told me that I made his day brighter because he was having a terrible day, and it was with 'Stairway to Heaven.' I don't know, I really like those songs, but it doesn't happen that way with every song. Maybe it's because they are too popular and transcend generations. Also, you see teenagers who are drawn to them.

Well, I used to play 'Wonderful Tonight' in a Spanish version by Jaff, an artist who was once very popular, but it didn't catch much attention. Maybe I should try Eric's version.

I used to play and sing 'Still Got the Blues,' but on Monday I can hit the notes, and by Wednesday, I can't reach them anymore. It's too high for me, even though I sing 3 to 4 hours a day. But it wasn't something that grabbed much attention either.

I had considered 'Walk of Life' at one point. It's a very joyful and energetic song. I'm going to give it a try.

I mastered 'Sultans of Swing' with all the guitar solos and everything, and I think I'm pretty close. However, this song goes unnoticed. It's a lottery to know which song will appeal to people. As another colleague mentioned earlier, I believe musicians have a different ear than the general audience. I was convinced that 'Sultans of Swing' would catch attention, especially with its arrangements and solos, but it didn't.

Yesterday was a great day, and I repeated 'Stairway to Heaven,' 'Wish You Were Here,' and 'Blackbird' a thousand times. I was in some kind of loop, hahaha. So when I got home, I started searching on Spotify to see if there was a song that could captivate people as much as these songs, so I said to myself, the best way is with the guys from AS, and here I am.

Thank you for your recommendations dude. I'm going to try 'Walk of Life'.

I can't open the first video, it says 'Video not available,' and I don't know what song it is to search for it.

Very beautiful songs, I had forgotten about Angie, it has a very nice arpeggio guitar. This will be an interesting option to try, thank you for your recommendation!

Hahahaha, but this is 'Stairway to Heaven'! Lol, isn't this the song that is said to have been inspired or copied? I heard something like that once, and honestly, I feel it's very similar.

I had forgotten about this song, 'More Than a Feeling.' The guitar in the intro is quite appealing. I would need to figure out how to adapt it to my voice because I can't reach that range even in my dreams. Thank you for the recommendation!


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Thank you all for taking the time to suggest similar songs. I really appreciate that you took the time to think of similar songs and share the links. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. The truth is, it's difficult to know what will be well-received. Sometimes, you play a classic like "Sultans of Swing" or "Tears in Heaven," and it doesn't turn out as expected. I also played "Shape of My Heart" by Sting, and although people like it, it doesn't have the same impact. I've been playing there for ten years, and believe it or not, when I have to learn a new song, I face a great challenge. You think, for example, "I'll play 'Imagine' by Lennon, surely everyone knows it," and then you start playing the song, and people just pass by without paying attention. But then you start playing "Stairway to Heaven," and people start leaving you money and some even film, hahaha, it's crazy. It's like a wild card. I'm going to try the recommended songs; they have captured the idea very well - the classic arpeggio + a well-known song, etc. Thank you, guys!

 

Dylan's When I Paint My Masterpiece although his own versions of the song suck in comparison to The Grateful Dead's or The Band.