This book contains the lyrics, chord charts, and performance notes for every song Danny has released to date, from the albums: Live at the Prism Coffee House (1999), Enjoying the Fall (2001), Make Right the Time (2003), Parables & Primes (2005), Little Grey Sheep (2007), Instead The Forest Rose To Sing (2009), and Man Of Many Moons (2011). Visit Danny's site for sample pages: http://www.dannyschmidt.com
By Kenny Clayton I believe if there was a table and seated at this particular table were the greatest singer/songwriters of all time, that Danny Schmidt has a seat at that table. Danny embodies everything that is right about music. He is crazy poetic, insightful to the point of being scary, covers the range of human emotion, plays guitar like flowing water, and has a voice like a timeless sage. I love music, (and if your reading this I suspect you do too)and I have spent my life breathing it in like oxygen. My favorite experience with music has been listening to Danny's music. With this songbook, you get insight into the songs that is incredible and makes playing them so much easier than trying to pick each one out. Buy this and buy it for friends and share his music with others. I am on a mission to share this incredible music. I believe this world would be a better place if there were more Danny Schmidt fans.
"If you're a fan of Danny's music, you need this book. Even if you don't play guitar." This guy is amazing. Seeing all of his lyrics bound together in one volume makes it clear that Danny Schmidt is one of the greatest poets alive today. When my copy arrived, I read it through cover to cover without even touching my guitar. As if his songs aren't already honest and personal enough, this songbook actually invites you into his head at the time he was writing each tune. His casual writing style is so uniquely his that when I finally dared to try playing some of my favorite Danny classics using the tips at the end of each song, it felt like he was sitting right there showing me on his guitar. I've already ordered five more copies for my friends. I still can't believe that a hack guitarist like me is able to play most of these songs.
"Oh yeah, one other thought" This book is great for acoustic guitar players of most every level... there are some genuine 3 chorders in here (with finger-friendly first position chords) or, if you want, try something like McCreary's pipes, for the more experienced and adventurous. A lot of the songs here can be played in fairly straightforward fashion, and can grow more challenging as you start adding the fills and embellishments often mentioned in the song notes.
"Danny Schmidt's Songbook" I received my songbook in late December. It is beautifully written, and the guitar notes are especially helpful. I confess that I have been slow in writing a review..I've been too busy trying to learn new songs! By the way, Danny is quite correct, you CANNOT breath while trying to sing the bridge of Stained Glass!
"Yup. You Should DEFINITELY Get It." The only other songbook I've ever bought is Joni Mitchell's "Anthology", thinking it would help me learn how to play Joni songs. Which it might, if I were to ever open it. But I don't, because the chord charts are tiny and the score goes on for pages and pages (who can turn pages while playing guitar?) and it doesn't really help with the licks anyway... plus, I like learning music from people, not books. HOWEVER ->> Danny's songbook is NOTHING LIKE THAT! It's almost like it's not a book... more of an on-going, half-silly, half-brilliant conversation + light-hearted guitar lesson you get to have with your very talented friend, Danny Schmidt... whenever you feel like it! A lot of your questions are anticipated. Even things you might not have thought to ask, but are really glad to know, once you know 'em. EVEN questions like, "But why...?", which is almost never answered these days, seems like. Plus, it just works.... More > You know... like a Mac. You can tell the person who made it really DOES want you to play the songs and not just buy the book. It feels collaborative. Yup. You should definitely get it!< Less
