How To Make An Acoustic Version Of A Song Sound Better Than The Original
by Simon Candy
When trying to play or do something on guitar we have a choice, we can go it alone with the trial and error approach which is time consuming, frustrating, and often unrewarding, or we can look to others for help and guidance.
For example, observing and analysing how artists take an electric guitar song and create an unplugged version of it on the acoustic is a great way to expand your creativity on the instrument.
Arranging unplugged versions of songs has been common practice for many years now. There are numerous examples of this out there waiting for you to pick apart and learn from so that you can create your own.
Today, we are going to do exactly that by taking a look at various parts of existing acoustic songs that have been created by certain artists as versions of the originals, that were often played on electric guitar. These original versions generally have the whole band playing, however the acoustic versions may have a more stripped back line up and feel, or in some cases no band at all, just the acoustic guitar and a vocal.
By carefully listening, observing, and analysing how musicians have created acoustic versions of these songs, we can learn how to do the same and in process improve our overall guitar playing skills.
Analysis Of Unplugged Acoustic Songs
The following is a collection of songs that have been arranged for the acoustic guitar. Be sure to listen to both versions, the original and the unplugged arrangement via the links below so you can fully comprehend and understand my analysis of each song.
1. Everlong
Artist: Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters)
Dave Grohl's acoustic take on the band's song Everlong is a classic. Stripped right back to its bare bones, it is simply a vocal line and a single acoustic guitar. Gone is the intensity of the original version, replaced with a more mellow rendition.
What's Changed?
Slower tempo:
Changing the tempo for the acoustic version of a song is a great way to change the feel of the original. It can leave more room for the vocal and guitar parts to breathe as is the case with this rendition of Everlong. It is considerably slower than the original version.
Altered arrangement:
Sometimes certain parts of a song are re-arranged to suit the acoustic version better. This is the case in the bridge of Everlong. From 3.10 into the acoustic version, until the end, the arrangement of the song changes compared to the original.
In the original, the pre chorus, which has been played twice to this point in the song, is played once more building to the final chorus.
The difference is that the cycle at this point in the acoustic version is repeated 5 times as compared to 3 in the original.
The unplugged version also resolves to the I chord (D) whereas the original leaves the ending unresolved finishing on the IV chord (G).
Leaving parts out:
It’s inevitable that if you are only going to use a single acoustic guitar in your version that you will need to leave parts out. This is fine as your aim is not to copy the song onto your acoustic but to create your own take on it. In Everlong the intro riff that appears at certain points throughout the song has gone, however, at no point do you feel like anything is missing in the acoustic version as it is its own song.
2. Hey Ya
Artist: Obadiah Parker (original by Outkast)
This unique take of Hey Ya by Obadiah Parker shows you just how creative you can get when arranging a song for the acoustic guitar. It's often the songs that you least expect to hear an acoustic version of, that work out the best.
What's Changed?
Feel and tempo:
The feel of this acoustic version of Hey Ya compared to the original could not be more different. It's basically a whole new song. This is a great example of how effective changing this one element (ie. feel/tempo) can be in creating a great acoustic version.
Having said that this version still certainly sounds like the original “Hey Ya”.
You don’t want to be changing a song to the point where it is no longer recognisable.
Change of key:
The key of this acoustic version of Hey Ya has been changed from G to E. The guitar is also capo'd at the 4th fret, allowing you to effectively use the chords of C major. Having different open chord shapes to use compared to the original will provide subtle nuances that really contribute towards the sound of the acoustic version.
Further to this, the last chord of the progression has been changed from a major to a minor chord. This adds to the more mellow feel of the acoustic version.
To learn creative ways to use a capo on guitar, check out the video below.
In it, I show you 3 approaches to using a capo that will enhance your creativity on the instrument:
3. Message In A Bottle
Artist: John Mayer (original by The Police)
This is another great acoustic take of a famous song by The Police. Once again we have a single acoustic guitar and vocal line. The sign of a great song is when you strip it right back to its roots, and it still works. This is exactly what John Mayer has done here. As is the case with many acoustic versions, the tempo is slower and we have a much more laid back feel throughout.
What's Changed?
Fingerpicking:
In his version of Message In A Bottle, John Mayer uses a fingerstyle approach. This allows him to play the chords in a way that wouldn't be possible with a pick. Using your fingers also provides a different tone compared to that of a plectrum.
Percussive elements:
Mayer is also slapping the strings on beats 2 and 4 throughout the tune. This percussive element is extremely effective and is a great technique for a single acoustic guitar approach.
All this amounts to a very cool, mellow and laid back version of the more upbeat original by The Police.
To discover more ways to play your acoustic guitar percussively, check out the video below.
In it, you learn the basics of percussive guitar including how to create beats and grooves on the body of the guitar and integrate these into the chord progressions you play:
4. Imagine
Artist: Jack Johnson (original John Lennon)
This classic has been covered by various artists numerous times. Jack Johnson's acoustic version here certainly holds its own. This is an example of taking a song that is played on another instrument, in this case, a piano, and arranging it for the acoustic guitar.
What's Changed?
Arranging from other instruments:
Once again the capo comes into play in this acoustic version. It is on the 6th fret allowing the chords of C major to be used. Throughout, Johnson is using a fingerstyle approach, arpeggiating all chords.
Notice that he is not trying to copy the piano part in the original. This is never the goal, rather he is creating his own unique take on a classic.
Taking a song that is played on another instrument, and creating a version of it on the acoustic guitar, is a great way to immediately have something that sounds unique to the original. Take this into account when choosing a song to create an acoustic version from.
To learn how to take a piano part and play it on your guitar check out the video below.
In it, I walk you through some piano excerpts of music and then break down how you could approach playing these excerpts on your guitar so you can do the same:
5. Girls Just Want To Have Fun
Artist: Greg Laswell (original Cindy Lauper)
Ok, so this is not an acoustic version, but rather a piano version of a famous song from the 80s. Listening and analysing versions of songs that other instruments have arranged will provide you with a wealth of ideas that you can use in your own creations on the acoustic. Many of these ideas you may never come across otherwise. Compared to the original, this is basically a completely different song.
What's Changed?
Chord embellishing and substitution:
Apart from the fact that this version of Girls Just Want To Have Fun is played on a piano, at a much slower tempo, creating a very different feel, it's in the chord choices, and how they are being played compared to the original, that you will perhaps learn the most.
The key has changed from F# to B in this version. Playing at slower tempos allows you to include things like chord arpeggiation and embellishments which is certainly true here.
There are also chords that have been included that do not appear in the original. These have been substituted. See if you can hear the slash chord being used in the intro and verses.
A great thing for you to do here would be to transcribe the chords from the original song, then transcribe the chords from this version, put them in the same key and compare. You will learn so much doing this.
Check out the video below to learn how to embellish the chords you play on the guitar.
In it, you learn various ways to embellish open chords, from simple to more advanced, before putting these into progressions:
Ready to take your skills further? Learn how to create your own amazing acoustic instrumental versions of songs with this free ebook/audio download.