Don McLean – If We Try
Learn how to play Don McLean – If We Try note-for-note on guitar.
Difficulty level: Intermediate
Barre chords: Yes
Thumb over chords: No
Playing Style: Fingerpicked (some finger strums)
Tuning: Standard
This lesson teaches Don’s acoustic part from the original album version. Where the acoustic is hard to identify in the mix, I’ve used the part he plays in a live video from 1972.
The complete file contains a lesson video, a performance play thru video, full tabs, chords and lyrics. You’ll receive a link to download the lesson which will download as a zip file of 219 Mb containing all the lesson content.
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Return to Individual Songs page
You’ll receive at least two videos per song, one lesson and one performance-standard play-through. You’ll also receive the chords/lyrics and guitar tabs as PDF files.
The videos are mp4 format and should play on PC’s, Macs and most mobile devices.
They will download as Zip files. If you don’t have a Zip program on your PC you’ll need to install one to open the file. I use Zipeg which you can get free, here.
If you want to download to an iPad or iPhone, please read here.
mike says
did a cover, i hope i did both Don & Jerry justice. lol.
https://soundcloud.com/4th-rate-acoustics/if-we-try-don-mclean-cover
Jerry says
Another excellent one Mike. You’re really on a roll here.
That guitar sounds lovely. What are you playing there?
mike says
haha. would’ve been totally impossible for me to play these songs without your tutorials, as i am totally ignorant in music theory. also, there’s something about paid tutorials that make me want to practice more. ;-)
i’m actually putting in more requests, but they haven’t appeared in the coming up section yet.
it gives me great joy to make halfway-decent (hopefully) covers of my fave songs.
guitar used is a seagull s6 with a solid cedar top. strung with D’addario silk-and-steels.
thank you
Jerry says
Love the Seagull Cedar Tops. Best guitar for the money I’ve ever played.
The request list is kind of out of control I’m afraid. It’s over 1,500 songs long now.
Mike says
Yeah, the seagull i have has laminated back and sides, and i have bought 3 all-solid ones since, (one branded, 2 customs) but i still go back to the s6, somehow.
Larry S says
It does, and thanks. I’d been using the idea of keeping the thumb ‘forward’ of the bar in general to rotate the index finger onto its side; it’s nice to hear I’m not totally off track with that. I’ll try keeping the thumb midway as you say.
I find a very classical guitar posture (headstock quite elevated) can help my bar in some cases, but it looks and feels so formal .. -)
Jerry says
It will help. That’s why the classical guys do it. And that thumb position in the middle of the back of the neck is classical technique too.
Larry S says
Jerry,
Thanks for this tune! I need some advice tho, on dealing with the extended bar (xx2225/4/2/etc) that we play in the 1st 4 measures, then repeat 2x. I’m fine with just xx2222 for any amount of time, but adding the 5 on the E string (etc) pulls my bar away to cause problems and strain. Any suggestions for working on this? I’m doing the obvious of building it up with slow daily practice, and often that’s the solution, but I wondered if you have any ideas to add?
I don’t mean to ask for a free lesson. -) Thanks for any advice and for your great tune lessons! It’s always a pleasure learning from your videos.
Larry
Jerry says
Hi Larry. It’s about having a good left hand position. As you hold down the bar at the 2nd fret, the left thumb should be behind the neck at about the 3rd fret, and no higher than midway between the top and bottom of the neck. From that position, practice separating the fingers so that they don’t try and retain an intimate connection with the bar finger. You need all three remaining fingers to be able to act independently.
Hope that helps a little.