Audre Myers, my resident Bigfoot expert, has informed me that it’s time to tone down the Bigfoot posts before I irreparably damage my online reputation. Before I do, though, I wanted to share this little piece I wrote for acoustic guitar, and transcribed for piano (I’ve also arranged it for a small rock ensemble setting): “Song of the Bigfoot.”
“Song of the Bigfoot” is designed to be a simple étude (a “study”) for acoustic guitar to help students learn the notes on the B and E strings. It also teaches note durations, with quarter, half, dotted half, and whole notes. I like the slightly mysterious sound of this simple piece, and I added in some ornamentation for the piano version:
The guitar version is much simpler, but a better guitarist could do a lot more with it:
I had fun with the transcript, which is the front side of the last sheet in my latest music journal. I’m going to try this out with my Middle School Music Ensemble and see how it sounds with all the basses and alternate piano parts tossed in. I had particular fun with the grey Bigfoot doodle and the foot beneath him:
Feel free to record your own covers (and share them here!); but, remember, “Song of the Bigfoot” is copyright Tyler James Music, 2023—ha!
Happy Listening!
—TPP
Other Editions of Open Mic Adventures:
- “Open Mic Adventures I: Oingo Boingo’s ‘Just Another Day’“
- “Open Mic Adventures II: Billy Joel’s ‘Piano Man’“
- “Open Mic Adventures III: Joanie Sommers’s ‘Johnny Get Angry’“
- “Open Mic Adventures IV: KISS’s ‘I Still Love You’“
- “Open Mic Adventures V: ‘There’s a Light (Over at the Frankenstein Place)’“
- “Open Mic Adventures VI: Journey’s ‘Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’“
- “Open Mic Adventures VII: ‘Suite: Judy Blue Eyes’“
- “Open Mic Adventures VIII: Simon & Garfunkel’s ‘The Sound of Silence’“
- “Open Mic Adventures IX: Journey’s ‘Faithfully’“
- “Open Mic Adventures X: ‘Time Warp’“
- “Open Mic Adventures XI: Spooktacular Supergroup Covers ‘Monster Mash’“
- “Open Mic Adventures XII: ‘Ghostly’“
- “Open Mic Adventures XIII: The Penguins’ ‘Earth Angel’“
- “Open Mic Adventures XIV: ‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing’“
- “Open Mic Adventures XV: ‘O Holy Night’“
- “Open Mic Adventures XVI: ‘Please Come Home for Christmas’“
- “Open Mic Adventures XVII: ‘L’il Divertimento in C major’“
- “Open Mic Adventures XVIII: ‘Satiean Motion’“
- “Open Mic Adventures XIX: ‘Two-Day Minuet for Left Hand’“
- “Open Mic Adventures XX: ‘Sleepy Student’s Serenade’“
- “Open Mic Adventures XXI: Styx’s ‘Come Sail Away’“
- “Open Mic Adventures XXII: ‘Blessed Assurance’“
- “Open Mic Adventures XXIII: ‘Gabbi’s Gavotte’“
- “Open Mic Adventures XXIV: ‘Softly and Tenderly’“
- “Open Mic Adventures XXV: ‘Venite, exultemus Domino’“
- “Open Mic Adventures XXVI: ‘Sonatina’“
- “Open Mic Adventures XXVII: ‘Heavenly Sunlight’“
The Portly Politico 
Great stuff Tyler. 👍
Tina thinks there was something Elizabethan about that tune. I, however, think the acoustic version would play better with a bend on the E string.
You might have to wait until next year for my compositions. I don’t really have time for the guitar this year but I may dust it off for the Summer.
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Thanks, Ponty! I’ll try the bend; I think that will sound great!
Whenever you back to guitar, please send videos. Your compositions always have a home here!
How’s writing going? Don’t let me distract you from it too much.
My best to you and Tina!
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As I said on the article I posted on TCW yesterday, I’m rewriting early chapters (rendering the skeleton text) while I think about changes I need to make to the structure and dig up old memories. The fiction element is also giving me something to think about.
As it is, we’ve hit a patch of good weather here (Arctic for Audre) and I should use it to trim down the jungle that is the back garden. We’ll be celebrating our 15 years anniversary on Friday so I don’t know how much I’ll get done this week.
I’ve been popping back here every so often. Yours and Audre’s contributions are great as always and it was fun to read about Stacey Johnson and Breadcrumbs. I should pop over at some point.
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Excellent all around! Hopefully reworking those early chapters will get the juices flowing again, too.
We’ve been blessed with some glorious weather here, too (the topic of this Thursday’s post, actually!). Congratulations on fifteen years!
_Breadcrumbs_ is definitely worth your time. Here’s the direct link to Stacey Johnson’s website: https://stacey-c-johnson.com/
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Love this post! I agree with Tina – it sounded Elizabethan to me, as well. I’m not being critical but to my ear, that piano (sounds very ‘tin-y’) doesn’t do the piece any favors. The guitar rendition is much better – in my (eye roll) humble opinion.
Port … check your email. Lol!
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I agree, too, re: the Elizabethan sound. I had not thought of it until Ponty’s comment from Tina.
I know what you mean about the piano version. That Baldwin Acrosonic has a great, bright tone, which is perfect for rock ‘n’ roll, blues, jazz, etc., but it might be too bright for this piece. I’ll try making a recording on the baby grand and it might capture the spirit of the song a bit better. I might also need to drop the piano part one octave.
It was originally conceived as a guitar piece, so it makes sense that the piano version would sound better!
Hahaha, awesome! I have been struggling to come up with a post for Wednesday (tomorrow!), so that has arrived just in the nick of time. Thanks, Audre!
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Big hug, Port!
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A hearty “Yesssss!” to amplifying bigfoot notes : ) This is a delight all around.
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Hey, thanks, Stacey! I’m going to try playing through it with my Middle School Music Ensemble tomorrow. We’ll see how it goes.
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Thanks Tyler. 15 years…In most ways, it doesn’t feel that long but in others, life without Tina is like a long forgotten memory, like those of someone else’s life. One thing I’ve learned in these years is that you never truly know yourself until you’ve been in love. Every day is a learning curve.
Tina loved your composition, by the way. She preferred the guitar version to the piano but only just. She liked both.
And thanks for the link to Breadcrumbs. I won’t go over just yet. I need to stay in my own fiction for a while.
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“I need to stay in my own fiction for a while.” Are you a Democrat??? LOLOLOL! Just kidding!
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😂😂😂😂😂
My book is in my head and it changes constantly, depending on the mood of the day. I need to remain in that world. Other people’s fiction won’t help me at present. That’s why I’m reading travel books at the moment, like a certain American’s trip through Arizona. 😉
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I hope you’re enjoying the book! Where are you in the book at the moment?
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ROFL! Perhaps we’re all living in a fiction of our design.
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I’m so happy for the both of you. I’m glad you’ve found each other.
Tell Tina I said thanks! I prefer the guitar version, but I’m going to experiment with the piano version on the baby grand and see how it sounds. I think the dark tone will help it out.
I hear you, dude. Keep swimming in your writing. _Breadcrumbs_ will be there.
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In answer to your previous post, I’m in Scottsdale. Early in the book, which I’m reading in conjunction with a reread of Bill Bryson’s A Walk in the Woods, about his Appalachian adventures.
I was on tenterhooks reading the short section from the Grand Canyon. Please don’t do that again. A slip and fall there wouldn’t be the best ending! 😬
Have you attempted True and Pianissimo yet from the Silent Hill 2 soundtrack? If you look at it, Tina would love to hear you play Promise, from the soundtrack. That’s her favourite.
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Haha, sorry I had you worried about me slipping into the Grand Canyon! Fortunately, I lived to tell the tale (and write the book) about it. I was ill-prepared to walk the rim in the snow, though.
No Pianissimo yet. I haven’t forgotten, though!
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39 – I’ve just finished reading an outstanding book by TCW commenter “I’m Old Fashioned”; it’s about his visit here to travel the old Route 66. Outstanding. I keep telling him he needs to get an agent and get that book into print.
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I asked him about that when we saw him in Devon. At the time, he was trying to find a platform where he could release the story as a documentary film. Both would be a great idea – book AND film. He wrote and sang a bluesy composition for the film which Tina and I think is ace – he’s a really talented musician.
I’ve got part of the story but I didn’t want the rest of it. I don’t like to read overly long pieces on the tablet/computer. I prefer paper.
Keep badgering him. He’s a great writer and it’d be great to wile away a few hours under a tree in the sunshine, book in one hand, wine in the other! 😂
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I’m with you, Ponty, re: reading on paper. I can read a good blog post any day, but a book for me needs to be something I can physically hold.
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Very cool! Is the book available for purchase anywhere, Audre?
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No; he’s got to get a literary agent to get it placed with a publisher. He’s an older person and I suspect he will never get it published. Too bad, too, because he’s a great writer. That’s just my opinion, by the way… about the lit. agent. Self publish wouldn’t do him any good and the story deserves the legitimacy of a real publisher.
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Are you suggesting that I’m not good enough because I self-publish? Hmmmmmm? : D
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Not at all – heck, I’m self published. But his is a size better served by book format as opposed to digital format.
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I’m teasing, Audre, although my book is available in paperback and hardcover.
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The Drinker mentioned on one of his podcasts that to get published, you’d have to find a literary agent. I don’t remember him saying how you get an agent though. Does anyone here know?
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This is going to sound facetious but seriously, look in a London phone directory under agents or literary agents. Or call a publishing house and ask what agents they use.
This just occurred to me – the content creator Debunked History (Simon Webbe) is an author of many books, you could go to his YT channel and leave a comment asking for agent suggestions.
I can ask Alys to speak to her author friend who he uses. If you want me to.
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Thanks for the advice, Audre. I’ll look at doing that when I’m finished.
No need to ask Alys. I have a fair idea what I need to do now.
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Perfect! You know you’ve got all my good vibrations going your way. You’re an excellent writer – you’ll find the right agent and the right publisher.
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Great suggestions, Audre. Do phone books still exist?
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Yes, sir. Of course the internet would be a resource, also.
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I think there is a great deal of sending manuscripts to literary agents and see who is willing to take you on.
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Thanks Audre. If you get the opportunity to read it, you’ll notice the difference between my articles and the long form. For one, it won’t be something I’ve knocked up in a couple of minutes and sent without a proof read or edit. I won’t look for an agent until everything is covered and I’m happy with it. If it’s not picked up, I have another on the backburner to try.
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You’ll be successful.
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