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Beatles Cover – Dear Prudence

Home › Forums › Showcase Your Playing › Beatles Cover – Dear Prudence

  • This topic has 13 replies, 13 voices, and was last updated 1 month, 2 weeks ago by Mike D.
Viewing 13 reply threads
  • Author
    Posts
    • April 25, 2025 at 3:11 pm #391679
      Dieter
      Participant

        Yes, Beatles fever has gripped me again. Here’s my slightly abridged cover version of Dear Prudence. John Lennon wrote the song in India when he was with this strange guru. Rumor has it that the Scottish singer and guitarist Donovan taught him Travis picking for the arrangement. The whole song consists more or less of this pattern and many additional overdubs. I think that’s why it was never played live by the Beatles. In any case, I like it because it can’t really be categorized anywhere stylistically and, like many Beatles songs, is unique in its kind. I downloaded the vocals and drums from the Internet, everything else I put together myself.

        Dieter

      • April 25, 2025 at 3:27 pm #391680
        JoeD1
        Participant

          Acoustic, 2 electrics, and bass! Wow! Nicely played Dieter!

          Joe

          The sight of a touch, or the scent of a sound,
          Or the strength of an Oak with roots deep in the ground.
          --Graeme Edge

        • April 25, 2025 at 5:14 pm #391684
          Ralph P.
          Participant

            LOVE IT DIETER… I’m a huge Beatle Head, and this is in my top 3 favorite songs by anyone. I still remember hearing it for the first time when I was 11, and it just sounded so new and magical, and like you said, didn’t sound like anything else.

            You’re right about Donovan teaching Lennon that picking pattern. I read an interview with Donovan, and he showed the exact pattern he showed John. Donovan calls it “Clawhammer Stlye Picking”. Donovan said Paul and George didn’t have the patience to learn that style, but John picked right up.

            John went on to use that style on Happiness Is A Warm Gun, Julia, Octopus’s Garden, Look At Me, and probably on some other songs.

            Prudence also has one of my favorite bass lines. The drums are also unique, because Ringo had quit, and John, Paul, and George all contributed to create a composite drum track on Prudence and Back In The USSR.

            You brought back a lot of memories with this Dieter. I grabbed my guitar and dropped the E to D to see if I can still play this, and it’s still there, just needs a lot of polishing.

            I’d say you could jump right into picking up Julia. Another Lennon guitar masterpiece with some really great chord choices.

            If I could only listen to only one band forever, of course it would be The Beatles.
            Their music is so in my DNA, and they are the reason I learned to play music.

            Great job on all of the parts you played. I’d say you’ve got a bit of Beatles DNA too.

            Ralph

            Ralph P.

          • April 25, 2025 at 7:09 pm #391686
            Garry
            Participant

              Awesome Dieter. Definitely sounded like the real thing and you nailed all the guitar parts. If there is ever a Beatles Reunion you could fill in for John or George! Kudos for your multi instrumental skills. All the best! 😎🎸😎

            • April 26, 2025 at 12:01 am #391689
              Liam Innes
              Participant

                Very good.

                This actually came on the radio the other day but it was the Susie and the banshees version which I also enjoyed.

                Liam.

                “We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams. “

              • April 26, 2025 at 8:32 am #391698
                charjo
                Moderator

                  Great job getting all the parts together, Dieter.
                  I always loved the beautiful guitar parts and how the bass really kicked in during the second time through.
                  John

                • April 26, 2025 at 9:05 am #391699
                  Geoff
                  Participant

                    Fantastic production Dieter 👏 👌.

                    I loved the way you crafted all those different parts and weaved them all together like that.

                  • April 26, 2025 at 11:40 am #391704
                    AndréM
                    Participant

                      Very well done Dieter.
                      Nice playing on all instruments.

                      AndréM

                      AndréM

                    • April 26, 2025 at 12:12 pm #391705
                      James B
                      Participant

                        Wonderful job putting this together, Dieter. All the parts sound great but I love the bass line in that song. Sliding into those notes sounds so cool. Very impressive with all your instruments.

                        James

                      • April 26, 2025 at 12:23 pm #391708
                        David L
                        Participant

                          This is a very unique song, played so well by our Dieter. Perfect tone on all instruments. Nice camera work and editing. Thanks for the trivia on the Donovan connection – I was not aware. I’d like to see you do a rendition of Here Comes the Sun – I think that would be wonderful.

                        • April 27, 2025 at 12:07 am #391727
                          Dieter
                          Participant

                            Thank you very much for your kind comments. It’s good to hear that there are still many Beatles fans out there who, after so many years, are still enthusiastic about the extraordinary creativity, versatility and musicality of the fab four.

                            My tip for anyone interested in really good cover versions of Beatles songs is Mike Pachelli, who has now published over a hundred songs on youtube.
                            He describes the genesis and recording details in detail, then explains each individual guitar part meticulously and comprehensibly and then, as an absolute multi-instrumentalist, plays the complete song, including all parts, including bass, drums, vocals and choir. You can also buy the PdFs for a small fee.

                            Here is an example of his video for “And the bird can sing”.

                            Dieter

                          • May 4, 2025 at 8:52 am #391908
                            John H
                            Participant

                              Deiter
                              Fantastic production… you covered the guitar parts wonderfully, and brought it all together with energy and zeal. Thank you for resurrecting this masterpiece. Your are a true rocker!

                              Johnb

                            • May 5, 2025 at 5:19 pm #391962
                              Tremelow
                              Participant

                                Hi Dieter, brilliant playing and a masterful production. Thanks for the background information and the link to Mike Pachelli. I love learning about the history and genesis of famous songs!

                              • May 5, 2025 at 6:18 pm #391963
                                Mike D
                                Participant

                                  Wow that must have took some time to play, produce etc. Sounded great!

                                  Live on planet Earth ? You got the blues.

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