Dan Fogelbergs, "The Reach" guitar lesson

[@brucetaylor9275]

I wanted to add , I saw Fogelberg 6 times and never got tired of his music or this song! He was a great musician. Been to hundreds of concerts and his performance of this song and Netherlands always gave me chills! They rank as best I have ever seen and heard! Thanks for keeping his music alive!

[@christineexum]

WOW!I HAVE LOVED THIS SONG FOR YEARS AND I PLAY!YEA!

[@jlabuyu6072]

I followed Fogelberg beginning in 1974. I saw him live 3 times. In St Paul he did a solo acoustic show in 1982. He played "The Reach". It was always one of my favorites. I love the guitar intro. The guy could play. I was very sad when he passed, coincidentally 10 years to the day after another favorite of mine Nicolette Larsen. I saw her do a solo acoustic show in 1989 in the Columbia Gorge. Both were tremendously talented and are missed.

[@dawood121derful]

thanks Ray, after years of self taught Fogelberg, "The Reach" is finally unveiled for me! I saw him perform several times and he always liked to interact with people. what a great guy he was, at least we have his music. God bless you.

[@markgoldberg2223]

Sitting in an oceanfront hotel in Wells, ME and learning The Reach. Positively surreal! Thanks Ray

[@raykokopath]

Right on! Can there be a better place? Thanks for your comments

[@garymccord2598]

Thank you Ray. You are Fantastic !! Thank you for keeping Dan ALIVE through teaching us !!

[@MinReyLin]

Ray, You're a great teacher! Thank you for this one! I never get tired of hearing it. And what a beautiful voice you have! Wow!

[@axstevens]

Ray, thanks so much for posting this. I've been trying to learn this song for 20 years! This is the first time I've ventured into open tuning and you made it completely painless. Very much appreciated!

[@mikehahn4402]

I believe that Dan Fogelberg was one of the greatest artists of all time he is truly missed. I got to talk to him after a concert one time on Father's Day it was the best Father's Day I've ever had my daughter is taking me to the concert. Leader of the Band was our father and daughter song we told Dan Fogelberg that he went and signed other autographs that came back and talk to me my daughter for about 10 more minutes. He was a genuine person and a kind soul thank you Dan I will always remember that.

[@mikehahn4402]

God bless you Dad in heaven for the joys that you gave your audiences thank you

[@raykokopath]

Yes, a great artist. My whole musical direction changed when my roommate brought Captured Angel and Souvenirs to our apartment in 1976. I was a huge fan ever since.

[@bjornrietz7046]

Ray, every fall since 1981, this song has been my special autumn anthem. Particularly on a crisp October's morning overlooking the grey seas from my beachhouse on the island of Sandhamn in the Baltic a few hours from Stockholm. Two great things happened recently: I stumbled across the guitar of my dreams - an old beat up 1960 Martin D-18 with a stunning sound and excelletn action. Secondly, I found your tremendous instruction of The Reach here and finally learned to play it. So grateful. Thank you!

[@raykoukal91]

Bjorn, I don't know if I ever saw this comment from 4 years ago, but it just popped up. I am blessed, number one, that you found an old D-18! because I'm in the market for a D-18, D-35 or D-40 (wishful thinking there) just like what you found- congrats on that! Number two, that you are playing this song, one of Dans most beautiful and prolific. You almost get sea sick singing those lyrics, right. Thanks so much for sharing with me.

[@raykoukal91]

...and please see my Dan Fogelberg tribute band, Morning Sky, on facebook. Go to "Morning Sky, the band" and you can see some videos there.

[@chipsimpson57]

Thanks so much for sharing. I've been playing this song for years, but never in open D tuning. It sounds so much fuller. You're a great teacher!

[@jonmartin4770]

Ray, thanks for posting this, well done. I'd been playing this song for years not realizing that the Open D tuning means EVERYTHING. Best to you on today this anniversary of Dan's passing. Thank you for helping us keep his music alive.

[@TAkayack]

Thank you for this. I love this song. I can feel the ocean under me when I listen and I've always wanted to learn it. You play it beautifully.

[@raykoukal91]

I know what you're saying. I always felt like I could see, feel and smell the waves as I listen to this song

[@blackpowderpiper5711]

This is a fantastic lesson. Clear and concise. Well done all around!

[@54lespaul77]

Ray I love your channel. I first watched “the reach” lesson at least a year ago and keep coming back to it. A great job. Please do more of ....anything...... I think you’re a fine talent. I very much enjoy your content..

[@raykoukal91]

Wow, thank you for the sweet comments! Friend me on facebook, I plan on doing a livestream on Friday, Dec 11, 7pm PST. I've been busy working in a Crosby Stills Nash and Young tribute band, and a new project - A tribute to Bread (We're actually playing a combination Fogelberg/Bread tribute here in Southern California on Jan 2. I don't know where you live, but if you're in the vicinity, contact me via facebook and I'll give you the details). Thanks again for your kind comments, you made my day!

[@JoyceLuck]

Thanks for this. "The Reach" is a beautiful song I've loved since I was in college a hundred years ago LOL. First song I've learned in an alternate tuning, and you made it easy.

[@raykokopath]

Awesome! I hope you enjoy performing it as much as I do

[@machbuffett]

Sincere thanks Ray for breaking down this beautiful song. Having played guitar for 41 years, this is my first attempt at a song in Open D and I just love it ! Cheers from Downunder. Mach Buffett

[@raykokopath]

You are so welcome! One of my favorite songs by DF and this open tuning makes it playable!

[@guitar819]

I absolutely love this and I love your voice....great falsetto...beautiful!!

[@utubeit2010]

Ray, thank you, thank you, thank you. You have no idea how long I've been trying to figure out the proper tuning and fingering for this song. I've been a Fogelberg fanatic since the late 70s and the Reach is among my top 5 songs. He is the reason I play guitar and you have unlocked one of the great mysteries for me. Great, great lesson. Again, thanks very much for sharing your knowledge and appreciation of Dan's music.

[@philsharratt9298]

Thanks so much for showing us how to play this beautiful song. Just love this song. One of Dan's best in my opinion.

[@jojolouis]

Thank for that Ray, much appreciated, loved that song from the start.....brings images of a USA which is hopefully not disappearing .........brings also a little bit of sadness, reminiscing about Dan Fogelberg and his music and his early departure

[@tinagonzales2314]

Also, I love your singing. It’s so beautiful mixed in with the music.

[@brianhayes78]

Nice work, Ray. Thanks for unpacking it so skillfully. Great playing, lovely voice!

[@raykoukal91]

Thanks a lot Brian, I appreciate the kind words

[@lmgpharm]

Thank you Ray....beautiful song and very well instructed!

[@barrylonergan4541]

Thanks Ray,lovely singer too!

[@rpgrigsby]

Ray- simply a great lesson!! I never thought to play this song in Open D tuning. You've opened the door to one of my all time favorite songs. Now I've got some work to do to learn this beauty. Thanks you so much for your lesson!! God bless you too!

[@chrisb9740]

My favorite DF song and one I play all the time. Your video contains a couple bits I missed, thank you!

[@donreilly2256]

Great tutorial Ray. Dan would be proud !

[@neverfoundthetime]

Well I've been working on that intro and all the hammer-ons and pull-offs for the past 2 days and I'm really happy to say: I got it! Never had so much fun and felt so pleased to nailed a piece quite like this before so it really is a big thanks from me Ray!

[@tedwhittington225]

Been playing this a long time myself........outstanding lesson....thanks....

[@robinthornton-stewart973]

Have always loved this song. Gonna have to learn this now. Very good lesson!!

[@bobbeals2893]

Outstanding! You obviously are a big Fogelberg fan! Thank you!

[@TheAtticradio]

Big fan of Fogelberg I can hear him when you play the lovely guitar and melody - just beautiful I use dadgad a lot but this has a variation. So beautiful !!

[@tusiegirl]

Thanks for this. Never thought I could play this fave. Great voice too btw. 😊

[@Lindbergkristine]

Great quality tuitorial lesson! Keep on posting! Regards from Fogelberg fan in Sweden.

[@jimbrown4652]

Wow, fascinating! 💙

[@creatorsong21]

thank yeeeew!!! i can not wait to sit down with this and learn it! You show and explain it so clearly. I always thought this song was so beautiful and never thought I'd ever play it but I have a feeling this won't take long. Than you , Thank you, Thank you!

[@blueser100]

I just love this lesson, thank you so much for doing it. I returned to it today. Your voice is just gorgeous. 😍🌸👏

[@raykoukal91]

That is sweet, thank you so much! I hope you enjoy playing the song as much as I do!

[@jameshinchman5889]

I LOVE this song. And The Innocent Age is an amazing stylistic journey from beginning to end. Thanks for sharing this. I will be all over it.

[@TheWaterdragon52]

Ray, thank you for a great lesson.You are an incredible teacher. You thoughtful and patient methods made some thing that might seem impossible to learn easy. Good stuff!!!

[@ibricktampel5309]

Clear and concise. Thank you so much.

[@raykoukal91]

You are so welcome! Thank you!

[@MichaelJGayda]

Thanks, Ray, for a beautiful job. I have to learn it, too. Another Dan fan.

[@raykokopath]

From one Dan fan to another, thank you!

[@marieladomingo6068]

This made me happy. Thank you.

[@skwestgate]

This was beautiful to watch, listen & learn. You have a wonderful talent, Ray. Thank you ❤️

[@raykoukal91]

Thank you for the sweet comments Sandra! You made my day!

[@mikedawnodonnell384]

Thank you Ray. This was great!

[@jeanniebell9493]

LOVE this. Thank you Ray!

[@barryhouchin5645]

Ray, As a fellow huge DF fan, I have loved this track for many many years. My wife and I just returned from Deer Isle last night, and after I'm through unpacking, I will be learning this song note-for-note thanks to this lesson. Thank you so much.

[@rayagnew8840]

What a great lesson! So well done. Thanks.

[@raykokopath]

You are so welcome! It's a pleasure to preserve Dan Fogelberg's great music and spread it around

[@kevinmusso2397]

Thank you. I've always loved this song. Tonight I was able to play and song it, thanks to you

[@pathproductschino7036]

Way to go Kevin and you're very welcome!

[@michaelstrickand3858]

Ray - Really well done. You do have a lovely voice, as has been said. Thanks for posting this. I saw Dan 3 times. He was quite an artist - amazing lyricist, musician and singer. While none of us gets to stay, he left too early, for sure. But maybe his work was done.

[@vanessacawdrey107]

I keep coming back to this tutorial. Thank you!!!

[@CHARLIE1955able]

you make it seem easy , i love and play most of his songs, our boat will be the reach, thanks for the lesson, intro is kicking my but ,,, thanks ray

[@thomasfitzgerald2732]

loved this Ray, you make it look easy. Thanks

[@raykoukal91]

Thanks for watching Thomas! It's a classic for sure

[@MrMhyde75]

Outstanding lesson Ray

[@packet40]

Beautifully done!!! As soon as I find my capo, I'm tearing into this one!!! One of my all time favs, thanks for posting this great lesson!

[@pathproductschino7036]

Thanks Tony! I still get a thrill playing this tune, one of Dan's best

[@packet40]

Path Products Chino Couldn't find the capo, so I'm the proud owner of a new Shubb - got the tune down, it's just a fun one to play!! Thanks again Ray!!!

[@brucetaylor9275]

Thanks Ray! Great job!

[@Alanpm176]

Thanks Ray, I am going to give this a shot. I love anything Dan did and this also is one of my favorites. Boy I sure do miss the man. You do this song justice.

[@willbande]

you make this look so easy - true sign of a pro - subbed!

[@paulhuddleston727]

Thank You very much Ray. what an amazing song by such a gifted artist. Excellent teaching. Much appreciated thank you for posting this.

[@GeorgeMaddaloni52463]

Excellent tutorial. Thanks

[@chambielin]

Great lesson ! Thank You. Love your voice

[@pathproductschino7036]

Thanks Lindsay!

[@joepetrosky3411]

Absolutely brilliant

[@raykoukal91]

Thanks so much Joe!

[@beautifulblueskies1]

Love this, beautiful! Thank you!

[@colebennett6424]

What a great video, Ray!! Thanks so much.

[@RCROSSH]

very wellexplained ! you make it very easy ....thanks !

[@jimhsix2]

Great tutorial - thanks so much, I can't wait to try it!!

[@trh6887]

You knocked this out of the park, Ray. I've watched the DF videos and realized he used an alternate tuning. But I had tried open G, not open D. Your lesson is spot on, and you do a great job of explaining and demonstrating the various chords and riffs. Some of Fogelberg's lesser known songs like "Stars" and "Be On Your Way" deserve more acclaim. Your rendition of "The Reach" is a nice tribute to "the leader of the band." He died too young, but he left us a lasting gift we never can repay.

[@raykokopath]

I love it when others get to experience the joy I do when playing such an awesome song. I'm glad you found the lesson, my friend, and I hope you enjoy sharing the song with others. Thanks for your comments, I do appreciate them

[@raftindave]

like others before me, I will say a heartfelt thanks for teaching a song I love to play but have done so poorly for years. The alt tuning would have been way beyond my ability to figure out and you've made it all so easy to understand. I have a new project to work on......

[@amiller5885]

Beautiful, thank you

[@jamesmathews9098]

Ray, I know you did this a while back, but I'm just learning how to play and this song has been on my radar for numerous years. I found alternate versions, but they just didn't sound right! This is awesome. Thanks so much for teaching it to me!!!!

[@lsdmadman]

thanky! both you and our Dan rule..made my difficult day

[@alonsobexmsft]

My favorite DF song.👍👍

[@raykokopath]

A great "picture" song- you can just see the boats on the waves

[@davemontague2638]

Wow beautiful lesson. You are the man!!!

[@raykokopath]

Ha ha! Thanks Dave!

[@christineexum]

YES!!!!!!I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS!❤

[@machyrudinaceus]

You have a glorious voice.

[@raykoukal91]

Thank you so much and thanks for watching. Check out my Dan Fogelberg tribute band on facebook- go to "Morning Sky, the band" and you can see a few of our live performance videos.

[@martyweasel]

I've generally avoided alternative tuning songs in my local (coffee house, farmers market, etc.) performances simply because I can't afford the luxury of an extra guitar already alternatively tuned; thus I would have to do the other tuning, play the other song, then retune to standard. But this is such a gorgeous song, and you have demonstrated that it is indeed fairly easy to master, that I may have to make an exception. Thanks for posting. God bless.

[@Julie-gv5kn]

Amazing song!

[@embwee]

good teaching; lovely voice!

[@terrywhitted2375]

Accurate and awesome. Many thanks.

[@blindstrom14]

Ray, I just came across this as I was searching for a better way to play this song. Wonderful and you make it easy! Thanks a bunch!

[@raykokopath]

from one fan to another, You're Welcome!

[@Markdernell]

Thank you Thank you! I always played this in open G and I knew it wasn't right.

[@markbeck7139]

Thank you, Ray

[@djallegar]

Well done sir. Got it saved to play at home....

[@jerrypruitt5072]

This awesome!

[@raykokopath]

I hope you enjoy performing "The Reach" as much as I do. Such a great song! But don't look for any more tutorials from me. I really don't have the time for that. I did it for "The Reach" because I worked so hard to fiqure it out, and it's such a great song, that I knew others would benefit from this lesson. Maybe sometime in the future. Till then, keep playing my friend!

[@thomaswhite3829]

Beautiful lesson I look forward to playing it as well as you.

[@raykokopath]

Glad to connect to another Dan fan and another fan of "The Reach". I share your DF sentiments wholeheartedly. Enjoy playing the song my friend. I will be envying you playing to your friend in Maine.

[@raykokopath]

@neverfoundthetime Awesome! That's blesses me! Enjoy it my friend and keep speading great songs out there!

[@56panhead]

Ray,...killer tutorial to a great DF tune!,up close and personal,..in your face,...NO excuses not to learn it. Was just watching the late great DF himself playing it on his trusty Guild 12-banger which really adds that signature sound. I think the only F'berg tune I've done on YT is Leader Of The Band,..I, as you too go back to the beginning with Part Of The Plan,..Tonedr gives a great tutorial on that one I think among hundreds of others. Will check out your other 35 vids, good stuff! Tim

[@whec65]

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

[@raykokopath]

Thanks Tim, I appreciate your comments very much. Yes, tonedr has MANY awesome tutorials. I've learned a few from him already.

[@mikeandleslieouellette]

Hi Ray. The Reach has been a favourite of mine since my wife bought the Innocent Age LP 40 years ago. I have played it all these years in standard tuning and could never get that melodic run that's such a beautiful part of the song. As soon as I tuned it to Open D on my Takamine 12 string, I got chills at the first strum because it sounds exactly like the record. Too bad it took a worldwide virus for me to find your video! Silver lining I guess! Thanks so much for this from Dan Fan to another!

[@raykoukal91]

Thanks Mike and Leslie! It was the same for me, I tried to play it in standard tuning and something was missing- it just sounded so flat. When I discovered Dan did it in Open D, the light bulb turned on and it changed everything. Hey- just so you know, I will be performing that song, as well as a few other DF songs on a Live Stream from My Living Show this Friday night, March 27 at 7pm PST. Gonna be a lotta fun!! Go to facebook and search for "Rosewood Brew" Hope you can join us!

[@mikeandleslieouellette]

@@raykoukal91 On youtube or facebook or some other platform?

[@mikeandleslieouellette]

Never mind. Reread that. 7 pm PST is kind of late for me. I'm in Nova Scotia. :) My wife is from northern Maine, ergo the connection to that song. Lots of lobster fishermen around here. If I don't catch your live broadcast, I will certainly catch the next day for sure!

[@mikeandleslieouellette]

Hey Ray. Mike here again! Just checked out your band Morning Sky and really enjoyed them. Can't go wrong with all those Dan tunes!

[@raykoukal91]

@@mikeandleslieouellette Thanks! We added a bass player and a drummer and some more tunes. Hope to do a full show by this summer, rehearsals are underway.

[@raykokopath]

Thanks for the compliment! It's easy to teach a song that you love so much. Enjoy!

[@raykokopath]

@LlanoEscatado I always wanted to play the song but it sounded so dull in standard tuning so I was never inspired to learn it. Then I saw the video you spoke of and wow, that made all the difference. It's one of my favorite songs to perform. Thanks for the comment!

[@mikewitte6124]

Ray, this is so awesome! I've been wanting to learn the CORRECT way to play this for 32 years. Guess what-you can also play Hard To Say if you take the capo off. Same way that he plays it in concert either with the band or solo.

[@raykokopath]

@axstevens I hope to have a performance of "If I Laugh" up in the next week or two. The lesson will have to come a little later, but I do want to do it. It's one of those songs that I tried and tried since I was a teen to learn, but it never worked. So now that I've found it's really pretty simple with the alt tuning, I hope others can discover that joy as well. Thanks for writing back.

[@raykokopath]

@trh6887 Thank you so much for your kind comments. I'm so jazzed to see others get excited about playing "The Reach", it's such a great song!

[@raykokopath]

Very cool Barry! I know you'll enjoy performing it as much as I do.

[@axstevens]

Ray, thanks for the response and encouragement! You'll be happy to know that as a result of your tutorial on open tuning, I discovered I can now play another song "Los Angeles" by Peter Bradley Adams (he does both piano and acoustic guitar version) that has since eluded me. So thanks a million for that one too! BTW, "If I Laugh" is my all time favorite CS song...any way to get you to post another tutorial??? Stay well my friend.

[@charlespurvis2803]

Ray--this is so outstanding. Marvelous work on what is truly one of my favorite songs ever. I've messed around with The Reach in std tuning, and you can actually play a pretty strong version of the intro, using G and C. I use the same fingering from the opening bars of Take it Easy by the Eagles, since it easily allows for the type of hammering used by Dan. And the melodic run is actually exactly the same pattern . . . it just starts on the B string. Thanks again!