Cool - also one of my favorites 😉 Just keep trying over and over, and see if you can relax more at the same time. Once your fingers know where to go and what to do when, it will become "easier" and feel much more natural to play. And use the high strings ( g, b & e ) as your guide ( sliding along them ) in the intro. And when it gets too difficult, try seeing if you can just play the essense of it in a simpler way, and then expand it from there later on, once the basics are in place. Another good trick is to eventually play the bass string notes ( on the e, a & d strings.) slightly ahead of the melody notes. This gives a much better and more Ralphy feel to this piece. It creates some tension about which notes are to follow, if you set your picking thumb free like that, and makes it sound much more interesting and less stacato or mechanical, if you see what I mean? 😉 And do try being a bit "aggressive" with that middle section ( "taking water from the brook") - it really comes out that way. Best of luck with your long lasting project - it's very much worth the effort, once you finally nail it 😎
Ralph speaks of "Muscle Memory", so true. Have tried to think songs through I played 20 years ago, No Chance! Then Tune your Brain Out and let your hands free and your hands will play!!
I have been playing over 40 years and I'm still crap but still enjoy trying , who knows I might know six chords before I kick the bucket. people like Ralph , James Taylor , Jim Croce ,Gordon Lightfoot ,John Martyn and more recently John Smith all make it look so easy .
His greatest hit? You mean his only hit. Well....I suppose if you can make a career out of one song all right. He has many albums to his name, but I don't know if they were successful.
He has written loads of other great songs with lovely tunes and very beautiful poetry - but the radio stations just don't play stuff like his these days. You have missed out big time, so start surfing around for him on UA-cam ;-)
Ralph had a hit in Ireland with an excellent song about emigration From Clare To Here.. And has had huge sales with his albums. Still touring and putting on a fine show..🎸
Saw Ralph for the first time in 1975 in Perth Western Australia. I only had 1 album at that time, You Well Meaning Brought Me Here (produced by Gus Dudgeon) I was a big Jon Kongos fan and Ralph was featured on the album. Ralph come on stage alone and started playing and I wondered why there were no backing musicians. My wife and I were in the front row about six seats to his left and we had a perfect view of his guitar playing. His playing sounded like there were three musicians on stage. Of course Rolling Stones magazine deemed he wasn't good enough to be in their best guitarists list. Had the pleasure of seeing him for a second time in 2002. I now have 9 albums and 2 compilation CD's. I also regard Ralph as the best songwriter I have heard (better than Bob, even though Ralph would disagree)
A legend and very humble, likeable man. Thanks for uploading.
When I hear this it takes me back to my childhood.😎
What an amazing entertainer !! Phenomenal GUITAR PLAYER AND INGER !!!
I've admired Ralph's style since the late 60s. Great voice, lovely melodies and great picking style. I'm still trying to play Nettle Wine.
Cool - also one of my favorites 😉
Just keep trying over and over, and see if you can relax more at the same time. Once your fingers know where to go and what to do when, it will become "easier" and feel much more natural to play.
And use the high strings ( g, b & e ) as your guide ( sliding along them ) in the intro.
And when it gets too difficult, try seeing if you can just play the essense of it in a simpler way, and then expand it from there later on, once the basics are in place.
Another good trick is to eventually play the bass string notes ( on the e, a & d strings.) slightly ahead of the melody notes.
This gives a much better and more Ralphy feel to this piece.
It creates some tension about which notes are to follow, if you set your picking thumb free like that, and makes it sound much more interesting and less stacato or mechanical, if you see what I mean? 😉
And do try being a bit "aggressive" with that middle section ( "taking water from the brook") - it really comes out that way.
Best of luck with your long lasting project - it's very much worth the effort, once you finally nail it 😎
The Grande Affair . . it's a classic Ralph !!!!
Ralph speaks of "Muscle Memory", so true. Have tried to think songs through I played 20 years ago, No Chance! Then Tune your Brain Out and let your hands free and your hands will play!!
Good point 😉
c'mon Ralph . . . . The Grand Affaire is an outstanding song my friend. Amazing !
Seen Ralph in Australia half a dozen times....just magic on stage, magic live.
He is coming to Australia in the "spring" of 2019, so do not miss him, please 😉
Thanks- have already booked!
I hope he still has his old Gibson J-50.
Love Ralph
I have been playing over 40 years and I'm still crap but still enjoy trying , who knows I might know six chords before I kick the bucket. people like Ralph , James Taylor , Jim Croce ,Gordon Lightfoot ,John Martyn and more recently John Smith all make it look so easy .
Nick Drake
He wouldn't make a song about London now. It would be to graphic.
Oh a totally different place. I avoid it like the plague these days.
His greatest hit? You mean his only hit. Well....I suppose if you can make a career out of one song all right. He has many albums to his name, but I don't know if they were successful.
He has written loads of other great songs with lovely tunes and very beautiful poetry - but the radio stations just don't play stuff like his these days.
You have missed out big time, so start surfing around for him on UA-cam ;-)
Ralph had a hit in Ireland with an excellent song about emigration From Clare To Here..
And has had huge sales with his albums. Still touring and putting on a fine show..🎸
@@firstnamelastname-bu1xm Yes not bad, I like simple vocal and guitar songs.
You've forgotten 'Clown' which was al;so pretty big in the 60's
Saw Ralph for the first time in 1975 in Perth Western Australia. I only had 1 album at that time, You Well Meaning Brought Me Here (produced by Gus Dudgeon)
I was a big Jon Kongos fan and Ralph was featured on the album. Ralph come on stage alone and started playing and I wondered why there were no backing musicians.
My wife and I were in the front row about six seats to his left and we had a perfect view of his guitar playing. His playing sounded like there were three musicians on stage.
Of course Rolling Stones magazine deemed he wasn't good enough to be in their best guitarists list. Had the pleasure of seeing him for a second time in 2002.
I now have 9 albums and 2 compilation CD's. I also regard Ralph as the best songwriter I have heard (better than Bob, even though Ralph would disagree)