Gretchen Menn Plays "Going to California" on a 1997 Santa Cruz D | Acoustic Guitar Auction

[@dariushshikhaboolhassan783]

I have only one word to describe the guitar playing skills of Gretchen Menn, amazing.

[@christopherhanna5754]

Ok she's top notch and this recording performance is stunning and spotless.

[@drd1924]

I know, freakin amazing!

[@Skribblez_Entertainment]

And so is that guitar 😍

[@curtisduncanmusic7645]

She's also drop-dead beautiful, but, hey...

[@Scott-hq3jq]

You played that so wonderfully. I am 51 years old and the older I get the MORE I understand how great that era was - Led Zeppelin, The Doors, Velvet Underground. You floated it out in the air, a cascade of butterfly wingbeats fluttering in my ears. You played it wonderfully! There is nothing like Led Zeppelin. (And the Doors. :))

[@stevejazzband]

I remember coming home from a brutal boarding school in Idaho, driving my pickup across the state line back home into California with this song playing. Every time I hear it, I'm right back to that feeling of freedom. And that guitar is probably worth $5,000...

[@mwj5368]

Hi Steve! Thanks for your moving story! I was in Job Corps in the Cascades of Oregon in '73. A small radio in a distant room from our once a week indoors class with carpentry was playing Bob Dylan's "Knockin' On Heavens Door". It was distant, faint, but especially ethereal in the kind of acoustic-like space. It had a very moving effect on me where I can relate to your story. Job Corps could be brutal too, but I was 19, much older, and I could leave, quit, whenever I wanted which would've been probably not even possible for you, yet I can relate to your story. Really though you would get $14 a month spending money and more difficult to hit the road and leave. (I did and hitchhiked, gone for a week). The song with the acoustic effect, really putting up with a lot of mistreatment in JC, gave me a feeling of a good kind of spookiness, a kind of liberation, like laying under a stand of sunlit golden aspen in a breeze against a clear blue mountain sky kind of feeling of liberation. Gretchen Menn is amazing. I feel she's right up there with Leo Kotkke. I see it's a Santa Cruz guitar... I like finding videos from guitar makers as it's fun to see how they design guitars and make them. It's a fantastic sounding guitar.

[@espada9]

California is the last place to go for freedom in 2022.

[@darrenadams3383]

Music ,is as close as you will come to a time machine !

[@sportsmediaamerica]

Never heard of that brand of guitar, and the tone is fine but I am sure I have heard better.

[@dieselman7453]

Yes the guitar is expensive but listen to the sound sounds like my lowden guitar!! Her fingers are magic

[@axs62]

Never get tired of watching the focus Gretchen exhibits as she plays. A true pro to be admired.

[@gregcarter2302]

Someone told me there’s a girl out there…with love in her eyes and…some serious guitar chops! Nicely done. Captured the spirit of the song

[@pauladcock6458]

It's always interesting to watch someone playing Jimmy's compositions for open tunings. He was really a master at writing in this style & expanding the horizons of the instrument.

[@marnew1000]

Still is

[@furstlahst860]

Agree! But live the guitar was played by the incomparable JPJ. Pagey played the mandolin.

[@Gromper69]

@@furstlahst860not even remotely true.

[@furstlahst860]

@ I stand corrected! Had it backwards. Thank you!

[@koishooter]

I'm from California. This is a Northern Cali Spring morning. Driving west through the hills of Napa... It's a little chilly, dew on the Golden Hills, sun rising into a blue sky... getting warmer, until it's a perfect 73 Fahrenheit... suddenly the ocean comes into view, a few minutes later you can smell the sea... You start to realize the thousand possibilities at once, but you are not manic, you're totally at peace.

[@DriftwoodBeachMom]

Absolutely! I have felt that same feeling ....yep, Northern Cali...like nowhere else.

[@pcatful]

Reminds me of Big Sur. But it is also my theme song, because I returned to California 40 years ago. On my own, just pulling out of my past life, looking for something new, nothing going at all in my life, and I met my wife within a couple weeks. 40 years going strong. And we live in Sonoma now.

[@MrBlahdiblahdi]

Good morning brother. I'm in The Shenandoah Valley area of Virginia and getting that same vibe. Our grapes make some very good wine too. Sometimes they are actually the same grapes that do well in the Napa Valley. It works for the song too; Goin to Shenandoah with an aching in my heart.

[@koishooter]

@@MrBlahdiblahdi Thanks for the tip! If If get a chance to get out that way, I am for sure visiting!

[@james.simpson020]

I so appreciate that delightful word picture

[@Krispy1011]

Gretchen - she is wonderful and very talented - great job Gretchen - thx!

[@toddscheler7194]

When a video shows up in your feed you just feel compelled to watch.......❤

[@jammydodger9161]

Thank you so much Gretchen for showing us how to play this! Can now play along on a piece of the soundtrack of our Youth.

[@josefcosta8267]

Wow...beautiful, serene, transcendent

[@NoWayOut55]

That Santa Cruz has incredible tone.

[@f8surf]

I love Gretchen's close attention to detail, tone, timing, and general excellence in her playing skills. Just beautiful in every way!!!

[@joolslaloosh]

I've never seen or heard anything so beautiful. Flawless. ❤

[@geraldcurtis9646]

i could listen to Gretchen all day. Just amazing.

[@clivetaylor27]

what makes this performance divine is your Mona Lisa smile as you transmit the beauty of the piece.

[@dieselboatman5357]

Always enjoy listening to a player with a talented right hand.

[@williamkerr3350]

Knopfler said when you crack alternate picking an entire new world opens for you.Id imagine its so second nature she's actually probably not paying much attention to it.

[@keoni927]

Thank you for brightening up the world with your beauty and your beautiful music Gretchen.

[@thomasbrown6169]

This was the first finger picking song I ever learned, still one of my favorites to play. Well done

[@jadeedmundson5715]

Gretchen Menn is an amazing player, wow! I have to say, l have never heard one single finger style performance on YT for guitar demos, tutorials, covers or anything at all, where the player did not flub a note or two, or some of the notes were not played crisply, but this was perfection, on a not so easy to play song. Well done Gretchen🙌👏💐🙏🏻🐶 BTW, nice guitar, Santa Cruz!

[@daddio307]

I appreciate your appreciation, but obviously you've never seen or heard Carl Miner on the North American Guitar channel. Check it out

[@steveb9325]

@@daddio307 you beat me to the punch. That was awesome by Gretchen though. We know what it takes and appreciate awesome players like Gretchen and Carl

[@iqosuser2754]

This was really nice enjoyed it.

[@001USA001]

Flubs are normal for us humans.

[@danabiondo9243]

So Beauty Filled ! Thank You Brother Jimmy, Sister Gretchen !

[@quicksandproductions]

Nice to hear Gretchen before closing my eyes for the night with that melody and her soft touch on the strings - thanks

[@JSProjectWild]

Can we talk about the incredible memory capacity that musicians have? Also, Gretchen truly loves to listen as she makes the guitar sing. And Jimmy Page, I find myself thinking, what the heck kind of a thought process has to occur to assemble all those notes into a masterpiece such as this? Mind blowing to us non-musicians!

[@bghill1000]

Thank you for this! I have taken inspiration from this version of the song because you made it so easy to see and learn. I appreciate that. I'm from California but live in Nashville now. It still takes a teacher to help me learn songs, and I am grateful for you tube videos like this that make it simple to absorb. ❤👍☺

[@hollywood3190]

Was fortunate enough to see Page play this during their 77 tour when they played an acoustic set.....remember how upset a lot of folks were that wanted the heavy metal show. They played 4 hour shows then as well.....great memories

[@jc.5513]

No matter what you play DAN I REALLY INJOY IT. Those little extra notes you put in.Love it-gives me incentive, to keep on studying and practicing. Thank you and keep on rolling.

[@jasonmears4393]

Wow! Absolutely stunning. This is most definitely going on my playlist. When I listen to this, I just want to turn off all the lights...and put this version on repeat and let it take me away to pure bliss.

[@alecolson9169]

Dude I hear ya on that

[@fredsmith6324]

Beautiful. Such a beautiful tune. Never would've thought, it's better without the mandolin.

[@LutherKrank]

Stunningly beautiful performance, Gretchen is incredible...

[@janrandles8683]

This was my theme and dream song for years and finally moved to CA. Beautiful performance Gretchen, I aspire to fingerpick like that on my Breedlove! Loved it!!

[@kirksings]

Beautifully done Gretchen.

[@ColinBarrett001]

Just stunning. So beautiful.

[@loganpierce9244]

The age of time Withers us all Thank you for your interpretation

[@SuperEdge67]

All that’s missing is John Paul Jones on a mandolin to accompany you.

[@beemelonhead1]

You're so right.. all I kept hearing in the background of my mind was his mandolin. It really brings the song together. John Paul Jones is terribly underrated in Zeppelin fandom in my opinion.

[@randomprecisionmotors3130]

@@beemelonhead1 no he ain't...he's just as appreciated as Jimmy Page or John Bonham or Robert Plant...without ANY of them Led Zeppelin simply wouldn't have been. Proof of this is an attempted remake with Jason Bonham...it was good alright, but it just wasn't the same, and the same would be true if any other was taken out of the lineup...

[@Davilow]

On live versions of this song (1975 and 1977) Page plays the mandolin and JPJ plays the six-string on his three-neck guitar.

[@coryCuc]

@@randomprecisionmotors3130 Such a long-winded comment over someone's subjective opinion.

[@randomprecisionmotors3130]

@@coryCuc Long winded is the spoken word. What you're looking for is 'Run-On-Sentence', which isn't present, as I used proper punctuation. You want 'long winded'? I'll do about 7 paragraphs next time, without any punctuation at all, and then you may have a valid observation...in my experience brevity invites criticism...

[@wlodell]

I never get tired listening to this.

[@russelljackman1413]

Wonderful! Simply wonderful!!!

[@NexusDL12]

Beautifully played! Love that song. Gretchen, can you do a tutorial lesson of that song?

[@lemaitrethemonk]

Love this lady's chops. Just what I needed; a serotonin hit...

[@KarlLew001]

Thank you for the gift of hearing a familiar song with fresh ears and rapt wonder.

[@howabouthetruth2157]

Great job!!! I used to perform this song ( among many other Zep tunes ) decades ago.......I played and sang it at the same time. Being the perfectionist that I ( once ) was.........I can honestly say: she NAILED it. Sweet guitar too.

[@jackheslin5237]

WOW that's gorgeous Gretchen. Thank you!

[@davejones732]

Ya. Ya. Love it. Thank you! PCH#1 January 5th 1977 hitching to L.A. from San Francisco. Ya.

[@JGonzales52]

Thank you for sharing. I had forgotten how beautiful this song is.

[@MrMattyflower]

Possibly the most beautiful song ever written, played superbly. Thank you Gretchen 🙏

[@TuckerPastor]

She's married Matt. Go take a cold shower, and release your loins. Smdh

[@lindsaythomas2283]

Fantastic playing. I play lefty style and had the chance to play a lefty Santa Cruz, Tony Rice and a Santa Cruz D-12 at Jerry's Lefty Guitars in Sarasota Fl a few years ago. They were the 2 best sounding guitars I have ever laid hands on. I kick myself in the ass for not buying either one of them.

[@Skribblez_Entertainment]

I love that string squeal when she goes back to the G. Beautifuuul!

[@artemisnite]

Every time I hear this song it just crushes me that the most beautiful melody ever can't be written anymore because here it is.

[@StevieOcean]

Excellent played with feeling and emotion Stevie Ocean 😎🇯🇪💯⭐️👏👏❤️👍

[@mistervee1901]

You take me there every time Gretchen. Big respect for you from a fellow player. Ear candy and eye candy in one experience. A gift for the senses 👍✌️🤘❤️

[@0guiteo]

Gretchen is truly talented. What a great guitar player.

[@jimmysupafly1547]

When I learned to play this song I felt like my fingerpicking had gone to a new level. Great song to learn.

[@dano1234v]

What tuning is it played in?

[@ishaanrtiwari5663]

@@dano1234v Double drop D

[@dano1234v]

@@ishaanrtiwari5663 Thank you

[@donmac5918]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z57Gq5d8Zcujpqs ❣️

[@PeterMurr-sl9gu]

just beautiful playing! Thanks!

[@bmac1205]

How in the world have I never heard of this amazing talent?

[@orangescout1967]

That is one fantastic left hand and an otherworldly right hand…..beautiful…..brava!!!!

[@riffraffrichard]

Lovely guitar and beautiful playing by beautiful lady

[@markrose5968]

Gretchen Mann, WOW, fantastic, gonna watch this over and over again so I can it down. Going to California is one of my favorite Zeppelin songs.

[@AcousticGuitarMag]

Start by tuning your guitar to double drop D: DADGBD….

[@jameskratz4612]

Beautiful playing.

[@michaeldoucette]

Everytime I think of quitting,I think of Gretchen!!!

[@rgrbmac3066]

Awesome flawless performance Gretchen!

[@leontoolbelt4559]

listn again. juss so beautiful!!!! and for the record, Gratchen im chill. thank you.

[@leonrmerian4864]

very very nice as a guitarist my hat is off for you , totally one of a kind thank you leon r

[@gcarlton]

Even J. Page used a thumbpick to play this. What a beautiful sounding guitar. Going to be looking for some more Gretchen Menn videos.

[@jrockofages5413]

Wonderful! Made my day. Fluid and soft...like a waterful

[@basiczyn]

I think the prettiest guitarist of the world. :)

[@b1j]

Lovely. Nice work. Thanks also for the lesson. We can follow your tuning and fingerings. You have spawned a new cohort of people who know how to play this dreamy classic.

[@lovelightshining4444]

3 minutes and 15 seconds of Heaven! Thank you so much Dear Gretchen 💕 🌬️💨💜

[@Guy-pu3nb]

I know music, can't play it, I sure do listen, you give me goosebumps. That's very rare with me, Thanks and you very special

[@randallgargan8369]

Not sure if the comments are ever read by Gretchen however, I will say what an amazing Talented Artist and Teacher. Thank you so much for the inspiration and education.

[@AcousticGuitarMag]

We passed your message along to Gretchen; she says "How lovely, thank you!"

[@RichardFriendartist]

beautifully played!!

[@maxkelter3561]

Didn't know the title of that song. But kept listening......then I knew who it was. Thanks for sharing.

[@johntucci5908]

Absolutely glorious. Thank you for sharing this with us.

[@Mark-ow6tw]

I forgot to watch Gretchen play...my thoughts pirouetted to another place...beautiful.

[@andydinesguitar]

Fantastic rendition, thanks Gretchen!😊😊😊😊

[@traubentaucher4035]

Pretty wonderful 🌹 I love this song ! Timeless

[@aussiefarmer8741]

Lovely playing Thank you.

[@sla68495]

Seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years of exercise and sacrifice, but it's worth it. Congratulations.

[@startreker8591]

Liked that ax y the axer y the thing she axes, Go Cal!(: Ty too!

[@clivetaylor27]

Awesome, one of my favourites, now immortalized by you,

[@averagejoegrows]

ive watched this so many times since i found it, its so freaking good!!!!

[@Richard-po6fl]

absolutely awesome. replaying over and over playing my j45

[@embmargiotta4706]

gretchen kills it great job ❤

[@BrianJSheen]

Awesome! I loved seeing Tull do this in concert long long ago and your version was wonderful! Thanks!

[@quogir1]

beautiful .even with such a tune. natural beauty

[@paulmorphy6638]

Just awesome. Played this 5 times already since finding it yesterday.

[@cavaturnagesh]

that is like mind blowing wow

[@jamesmonahanmusic]

Wonderful performance. ❤

[@musicalcontessa4275]

Gretchen, you are so incredibly talented, truly brilliant!!!!

[@willthornton1690]

😊beautiful….both the song and lady playing it! I know…not original but heart felt …Thank you! ❤

[@ralphgabriel2363]

Excellent! Always admired finger picking. I was taken to this type of playing by John Hurt. You do this song justice.

[@matthewmaguire3554]

Gretchen with fingers like wings , strong yet delicate…interpreting the masters of duality…thunder and whisper …lightning and sunset and a tornado and wind in your sail…As long as there is fresh ears and a sense of wonder Zep will live on.🎸

[@uttz9]

Gretchen! Honestly, That is the best sound ever heard out of my computer speakers. Actually got scared lol Thank Your sharing. Love Your Playing and Love the Guitar

[@Moonshot568]

What a beauty, I’m in love .

[@danlozza]

Beauty creating beauty.....Infinity showing it's face.

[@michaelsingley5641]

Simply wonderful 🌷❤️👏

[@sprezzatura8755]

Beautiful, immaculate and soulful. Her guitar-playing is wonderful as well. She makes it look effortless.

[@georgegarbutt8853]

What a peaceful song Gretchen. Awesome!

[@georgegarbutt8853]

I have listened to this time and time and time again. Zep needs to travel a bit

[@TimothyDraper-i5q]

Nice one Carolyn. Aussie Aussie Aussie.😁 Great old Maton. You’ve got some great skills and a sweet heart with grit. Thanks for sharing.

[@Yarcman6245]

Amazingly graceful guitarist

[@stratdx]

That is so soothing to my soul