I never thought that somebody could sing a John Martyn song so good with all it needs. The voice, the feel, the details and even the expressive fret buzz. Fantastic!
That is a great cover. I was strumming at a party at the weekend and a friend asked me to play Solid Air, which I know well, but could not play. You have inspired me to learn it properly. John Martyn was a genius.
I never heard of John Martyn before you did your version of Solid Air. Wow what a song!!!. Thanks for the info on the tuning. Hopefully I can pick this up from your playing. You and your guitar playing work so well together. So cool, so soulful, so you!!!! Thanks, Tom from New York
Great job Ian. This is Great for jamming on my B flat trumpet . Nice key for wind instruments. I read in an online biography that John Martyn was influenced by Pharaoh Sanders.
Really nice rendition. The tones come across great. The tuning is Cm11 here- exactly what JM used many times-sometimes even Bmin11 or Bbmin11. This is like he did it in mid 70s, imo- I like your vocals here with the guitar-( when I try to do it 'JM 70s' style like this- bits comes out as a gasp -too old see..). I think this is one of his hardest-not to play- but to play *&* sing together-its easily corrupted. So bloody good job here-Top notch squire! - Ian
Back here and listening to your amazing version of solid air. Must be magic if I’m back to hear you again. there so much rubbish to trawl through on line. Heard Sarah Jane Morris doing a version and while some of her versions JM songs aren’t bad would love hear YOU do other JM Songs.
Thanks for your kind words. I have a JM playlist on my channel, not sure how to share that with you but see if you can find it. I'll definitely take a listen to Sarah Jane Morris, thanks for that.
Superb job....has inspired me learn it (I have a couple of others in my songbook so this would be a superb edition). Thank you so much for posting this. Here in Ireland I'll spread the word about this interpretation. Great voice, tempo and picking. Bravo Sir ☺
Picked it up pretty quick once I got the tuning. Thanks for the help. Loving martyn these days, not many people I know have even heard of him, oh well more for us
Love this & love your style, really brought back memories of Nick and John when I saw him live in Edinburgh. Thanks, you do it do well, & I've been jamming along with you too, hope you don't mind!!
Excellent and inspiring - you caught the spirit of the song. I assume you know he wrote this for Nick Drake, shortly before Nick died - so it was all about that troubled young musical genius.
You're right to save your money, unfortunately the only songbook I know of in print I really don't think is very good. Most of the transcriptions don't work for me and don't bare much relationship to the way John played them. Fan transcriptions from tab sites are better. For 'Solid air' Ian's open tuning here is key, once you've got that beautiful open chord the other shapes are mostly a straight barre chord. It's very clear in Ian's clip what the fret positions are. Best of luck.
Nice One! Really enjoyed that!...We all know John (Martyn) was a master of his craft, but I'm sure he's looking down and enjoying his songs being kept alive!.
Absolutely nailed it, except the tuning isn't quite the same as JM's (C G Eb F Bb D - low to high, an open Cmin 11).However this is absolutely the BEST cover I've heard of this wonderful tune!
Cudos... Hope you get to play this one to appreciative audiences. So many have never heard JM, or heard OF him. Spreading the word matters. I may cover this one myself. Takes me back to the '70's, and College coffee house gigs of yesterday. Miss playing those types of gigs. Taverns ain't the same...
can the original tab for this be found any where ? yes i know i should purchase the book but we are in a recession.I might try to emulate what you've done here Ian. Great performance man
Don't know why some people refer to John Martyn as Ian. I know it was his original name, but he changed his name and he wanted to be known as JOHN MARTYN!! It's the same as (ALAN)Robert Palmer. He was in The Alan Bown and changed his name, so as NOT to be confused with Alan Bown and he WANTED to be called Robert and how many people call STING, Gordon?
I never thought that somebody could sing a John Martyn song so good with all it needs. The voice, the feel, the details and even the expressive fret buzz. Fantastic!
Wow thanks! Super kind words :)
Takes a brave man to attempt any Martyn song.
Wow! Excellent!!
Brilliant mate....John would give that a nod and a smile, I'm sure of it!
Great job.
I've been a fan of JM since I first saw him live in the late 70's, and you nailed this. Great job.
Great cover
That is a great cover. I was strumming at a party at the weekend and a friend asked me to play Solid Air, which I know well, but could not play. You have inspired me to learn it properly. John Martyn was a genius.
Excellent, you do Johnny too bad and your technique justice Ian, all the best and keep on keeping on...nice setup too :O)))
Feeling a bit blue today and you lifted me up with this. JM would be pleased with this cover. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Excellent rendition-tone and delivery very sweet! Well done 👍
Superb rendition! Great voice too...
seriously impressive bro..i am envious of your skill
unreal fair play
I never heard of John Martyn before you did your version of Solid Air. Wow what a song!!!. Thanks for the info on the tuning. Hopefully I can pick this up from your playing. You and your guitar playing work so well together. So cool, so soulful, so you!!!!
Thanks,
Tom from New York
Excellent work Ian. Inspirational stuff!!
Great version
Excellent cover, hats off to you sir!
Who knew the guy from die hard could absolutely crush John martyn!! Great cover!
Great job Ian. This is Great for jamming on my B flat trumpet . Nice key for wind instruments. I read in an online biography that John Martyn was influenced by Pharaoh Sanders.
Brilliant vocal. Brilliant feel. Magic guitar sound and magic chords. Thank you. Thank you
Very nicely done.
Awesome!! Great voice!
Lovely playing and singing. Thank you.
Thank you, much appreciated.
Great rendition, you did great justice to this amazing song.
A great version of a difficult song. Well done.
omg, you are fantasic, i really really enjoyed this, being a big John Martyn fan, thanks so much, give me more!!!
much respect great version.
Seriously this has just blown my mind, voice and guitar perfect!
This is the best cover i have every heard. Mesmerizing from beginning to end.
Great voice for this. Nice one.
Great job, mate. I've just learned the song from another video and then jammed along with you for the last 20 min, and had wonderfull time. Thanks!
Really nice rendition. The tones come across great. The tuning is Cm11 here- exactly what JM used many times-sometimes even Bmin11 or Bbmin11. This is like he did it in mid 70s, imo- I like your vocals here with the guitar-( when I try to do it 'JM 70s' style like this- bits comes out as a gasp -too old see..). I think this is one of his hardest-not to play- but to play *&* sing together-its easily corrupted. So bloody good job here-Top notch squire! - Ian
excellent analysis
unbelievably awesome. thanks man!
I imagine it takes so much talent, skill and musical understanding to do that. A true artist. Thank you for this.
Absolutely love this song, amazing job!
i love your passion
absolutely gorgeous must be the best cover ever ! love the feel
TheAtticradio Thank you very much for watching.
Epic vocal dude. One of my favourite songs ever, done masterfully :)
Back here and listening to your amazing version of solid air. Must be magic if I’m back to hear you again. there so much rubbish to trawl through on line. Heard Sarah Jane Morris doing a version and while some of her versions JM songs aren’t bad would love hear YOU do other JM Songs.
Thanks for your kind words. I have a JM playlist on my channel, not sure how to share that with you but see if you can find it. I'll definitely take a listen to Sarah Jane Morris, thanks for that.
That was great! Cheers for the inspiration :D
Very nice cover.
Absolutely amazing!! Incredible voice and playing. I just love that occasional slap :)
Superb job....has inspired me learn it (I have a couple of others in my songbook so this would be a superb edition). Thank you so much for posting this. Here in Ireland I'll spread the word about this interpretation.
Great voice, tempo and picking. Bravo Sir ☺
Thanks for the kind words, much appreciated! :)
Outstanding!
this is so good! well done that man.
Listening to this was the best 5mns I've spent today...great stuff. Loved your vocal.
mate, this is brilliant, I usually just watch covers to steal their tabs... not so here
Excellent cover - beautifully played and great voice too !
so groovy. great voice
Just discovered this vid: What a great version! Thanks for sharing.
Nailed that buddy, very good indeed!
really great cover brother, thank you. learning it now
Such a lovely song. He has so many really great songs that he wrote. Good luck with it, let me know how you get on.
Picked it up pretty quick once I got the tuning. Thanks for the help. Loving martyn these days, not many people I know have even heard of him, oh well more for us
Absolutely stunning. You absolutely nailed it. Thank you for this !
A fine piece of work. Trying to do it myself but sadly it won't sound anything like that.
Very fucking good cover. Not sure what was going on with the two people who disliked it
Thanks Nathan, much appreciated.
Nice Job. Always wondered what the tuning was. Love the version on the Transatlantic sessions with Danny Thompson. Magic.
Cool! Just been a bit low lately, so you were a real 'find' Which has given me hope to carry on with my playing...
Love this & love your style, really brought back memories of Nick and John when I saw him live in Edinburgh. Thanks, you do it do well, & I've been jamming along with you too, hope you don't mind!!
Emma MacColl Thanks Emma, I appreciate your kind words very much! Jam along!
LOVE it!!!!
exquisite!
Great performance, nice
Jesus christ Marie, they're not rocks! They're minerals!
+Pretzels722 Hahaha spot on !
Needed this tonight, thanks.
Great cover! Great voice! God bless!
Just Beautiful !!!
Hi Ian! This is excellent! Love the tuning - the guitar really sounds great! and, of course, so do your vocals! Bravo! (-; Babs
Great rendition. Keep it up.
Fantastic version! Absolutely love it! AJ
Excellent and inspiring - you caught the spirit of the song. I assume you know he wrote this for Nick Drake, shortly before Nick died - so it was all about that troubled young musical genius.
Yes I did know that, thanks for the message and for the kind words.
nailed it
Fantastic
Thanks!
exquisite! you need a record label
You're right to save your money, unfortunately the only songbook I know of in print I really don't think is very good. Most of the transcriptions don't work for me and don't bare much relationship to the way John played them. Fan transcriptions from tab sites are better. For 'Solid air' Ian's open tuning here is key, once you've got that beautiful open chord the other shapes are mostly a straight barre chord. It's very clear in Ian's clip what the fret positions are. Best of luck.
Very nice! I like your voice! Its amazing!
Really enjoyed that.Guitar tuned (half the battle won I hope) and strumming along!
Nice One! Really enjoyed that!...We all know John (Martyn) was a master of his craft, but I'm sure he's looking down and enjoying his songs being kept alive!.
Absolutely nailed it, except the tuning isn't quite the same as JM's (C G Eb F Bb D - low to high, an open Cmin 11).However this is absolutely the BEST cover I've heard of this wonderful tune!
Cudos... Hope you get to play this one to appreciative audiences. So many have never heard JM, or heard OF him. Spreading the word matters. I may cover this one myself. Takes me back to the '70's, and College coffee house gigs of yesterday. Miss playing those types of gigs. Taverns ain't the same...
great job
oooooooooooo you did that very well :) Nice right hand to. Thanks
fantastic version, dont surpose you know the dealer by john martyn aswell?
only kidding - this is really good !!!!!
unbelievable
can the original tab for this be found any where ? yes i know i should purchase the book but we are in a recession.I might try to emulate what you've done here Ian. Great performance man
fine job man
Very well done this is a die hard version of a great song . Bruce Willis . ?
Fucking nailed it!
Superb....
this is sick
Very nice cover. Could you share your basic right finger pattern? This is one dong I could devote the time to get down. Thanks
Bravo. Great vocals. You write your own stuff?
Thanks Winston. Sadly no, I only copy other peoples stuff :)
Good that mate 👌
great!
Nice one dude
...respect!...
good job.
Don't know why some people refer to John Martyn as Ian. I know it was his original name, but he changed his name and he wanted to be known as JOHN MARTYN!! It's the same as (ALAN)Robert Palmer. He was in The Alan Bown and changed his name, so as NOT to be confused with Alan Bown and he WANTED to be called Robert and how many people call STING, Gordon?
Quality man
Can you tell me... Do any of his other songs have the same tuning?