"Red Pony," by John Fahey

My November 1st Patreon post talks about "Red Pony." For the full instructional video and my transcription of the 1969 recording, go to my patreon account and pledge at the Tier 2 level. For nearly the cost of one private lesson you get access to a year's worth of content which includes some of the best guitar solos ever recorded. / andrewlardnerguitar

[@oobieo]

Massively underrated KZbin channel, this is by far the best cover of the red pony on here

[@Tony-hc9fw]

I totally agree! Greetings from Italy!

[@benbo21]

I just was exposed to this song while watching some Fahey videos and I thought "Andy should cover this." What a pleasant surprise to find you did and oof it kicks ass.

[@marcog7084]

Great piece by John and great rendition as always. Thank you Andrew for keeping us inspired

[@andrewlardner]

Thank you Marco. We'll get together soon

[@dodo14ify]

E' sempre un piacere ascoltare le tue esecuzioni e vedere i modelli delle tue splendide chitarre !!! Un saluto dall'Italia !

[@jeffreycollins7297]

Absolutely wonderful, now listen to it at .75 speed. A whole new world begins to open up with the beauty behind this song.

[@nancyeaton731]

I have to play it at .75 to be able to play along at this point. Still refining details.

[@adamsnider100]

excellent work, very fine. looking fwd to more

[@carlrichards9333]

Absolutely Gorgeously Brilliant....What a beautiful guitar also...WOW..

[@andrewlardner]

Thank you. Yes this is a really well-preserved Larson

[@essess7919]

You played it so clean! Thanks for the video, I've been watching this as my reference to learn this song

[@andrewlardner]

Thanks Ess Ess. My patreon also has a full video lesson on the piece as well as the tablature. Just in case you’re looking to save a little time!

[@justinmayhomes]

Wow Andrew, this is just a killer performance of Red Pony!

[@andrewlardner]

Thanks Justin.

[@richardshields6171]

Fantastic, well played sir👌

[@andychase7693]

Wow. Very nice! Great to hear an impeccable version that really gets the feel.

[@andrewlardner]

Thank you

[@704studio]

this is fantastic cover, so much perfection here

[@Carrandas]

Such a great song and so inventive. Just the part at 2:34 alone, awesome.

[@nancyeaton731]

Fahey says he took that initial chord from Horst’s “The Planets.”

[@nancyeaton731]

Holst’s…

[@bobwerner6967]

WOW. FROM THE MIND OF THE MASTER TO THE NEXT GENERATION OF PLAYERS. THANK YOU FOR KEEPING IT ALIVE. AGAIN, WOW.

[@andrewlardner]

Thanks Bob!

[@nathankinnaman595]

Andy, you made me dance at work!!

[@andrewlardner]

Don’t get in trouble dude

[@lshields4279]

What a great job Andy! Your playing is always exceptional. Great spooky sound for Halloween.

[@andrewlardner]

Thanks Lou. Let me know how things are as a kiwi

[@colindamo]

Awesome work as usual Andrew! That is the exact song and performance that ignited my rabbit hole into the music of John Fahey! Now I know how to play six of John Fahey’s songs and red pony is still my favourite one. Keep up the great work 😀

[@andrewlardner]

Mine was when the springtime comes again from the end of the same interview. I was about ready to quit guitar 8 years ago and it got me playing again and set a new path

[@colindamo]

@@andrewlardner Thanks for sharing that story! I am sure glad you kept playing guitar because your videos are inspiring and you play with such effortless precision. as well your covers are so spot on. In fact your covers are the most accurate and best sounding covers on the Internet In my humble opinion 😀😀 Plus you play them on such a cool Guitars!!! 🎸

[@RoseAkerman]

Fine job on this tune! Thanks for the music!

[@andrewlardner]

Thank you Rose!

[@TheClagga96]

Nice one! Great little piece by John!

[@andrewlardner]

Thank you!

[@stephanecaplette4389]

Great times! Thank you

[@poorter3847]

Wonderful! Well done! 👍

[@supercar-scene]

Fantastic

[@hostsofmichael]

down to every last detail. Great job. 1960 red pony reproduction. don't know how to play with finger picks though. I needed to feel it.

[@williamdevine9307]

likewise

[@williamdevine9307]

haha dude what the f word. I just clicked on your channel, and realized your a london ontario person too

[@hostsofmichael]

@@williamdevine9307 whoooooooaaaa very weird!! That rules. Hello! [Side note: I did an electric cover of this song on another channel. Search "red pony electric" if interested. ]

[@thedaywerevolt]

Outstanding

[@hardfolk]

Best cover!!

[@aidanfeldman9739]

Yesssss

[@stevegrooms1142]

Lovely job, Andrew. I'll always wonder what Red Pony meant to John. He didn't name his tunes willy-nilly. I have a special fondness for a Fahey piece that nobody else likes enough to cover. Orinda-Moraga is beautiful, and yet the only person I've heard play it is John himself.

[@nancyeaton731]

Probably the Steinbeck book.

[@MrMarktrumble]

Well done. Nice gutiar too.

[@andrewlardner]

Thank you Mark

[@michaels8297]

Damn. Well done. You did it hahaha

[@nashwilliams5852]

Just exquisite. I was recently working on this tune.

[@oobieo]

Whats the tuning?

[@nashwilliams5852]

@@oobieo open D minor

[@andrewlardner]

Thank you Nash

[@oobieo]

@@nashwilliams5852 thanks

[@nancyeaton731]

@@oobieo Fahey plays it in open C# minor, but it can feel a little flabby tuned that low. Dm is a sweet spot.

[@citybuddha]

Great take! Share the tuning please?

[@AleXxXheart5who]

Phenomenal!!

[@nelsonreymusico5635]

Buenísimo!

[@andrewlardner]

Thank you!

[@mikefenner7346]

Nailed it!

[@bobwerner6967]

YOU ARE MOST WELCOME. GUITAR: PRAIRIE STATE OR EUPHONON?

[@andrewlardner]

Prairie State

[@Bearghoster]

Beautiful playing. Did you tune to the recording? I’ve noticed as I learn his pieces that the tuning is almost always slightly out, in this case flat. Definitely adds to their charm for me.

[@andrewlardner]

Thank you. Most of the vintage guitars I leave tuned a little flat of concert pitch

[@jimmysteinbeck3391]

wow

[@DJustice91]

Oh yeah

[@user-vh8xc7cl8c]

What tuning is this in? Trying to learn it 👍

[@LonesomeLeftist]

What guitar is this?

[@jlard1917]

Andy is playing a Larson Brothers Prairie State

[@nancyeaton731]

Working on this now, and just came across your performance. It's perfection. Your guitar sounds incredible, is it a custom? I'd love to get recordings as clear as this as well. Will definitely be checking out your Patreon.

[@andrewlardner]

The guitar is a Prairie State, they were built in the 30s and 40s. Would love to have you on the Patreon! Lots of fun stuff there.

[@donaldkelly5376]

Nice that you wore the same colour shirt 😂

[@dannyechevarria2698]

what tuning is this in?

[@andorrasrevenge1683]

dude was up with all these old vintage guitars? did you invent the internet or something?

[@andrewlardner]

Ha I wish!

[@andorrasrevenge1683]

@@andrewlardner But seriously great playing man!(and taste in guitars)

[@samuelromeromusic5609]

big fan here. this particular guitar you play has to be, for me, in my top 5 best tones i've ever heard. what are your go to strings for your guitars? Keep the music going -Samuel

[@andrewlardner]

Hi Samuel. Thanks for the compliments and question. For six strings I always use daddario phosphor bronze, light or medium depending on guitar. People frequently give me a hard time for never changing my strings. Almost everything I record is on strings that are months old.

[@samuelromeromusic5609]

@@andrewlardner i am pro dead strings, granted that the guitar sounds good to begin with. i've been playing DR veritas and three months in they got that thuddy fat bass and airy crisp trebles. i'm really impressed actually. that's why i wondered about your strings, especially on the 1936 OM. your version of Turnpike Terror exemplifies that tone that i love.

[@vonbrach]

What brand of guitar is that?

[@andrewlardner]

Prairie State, 1936

[@tribchb]

I played this same melodic piece from Fahey back in the day, learned from one of his LPs *prior* to 1969. I could swear the title was Sunflower River Blues. Am I losing my mind, or did he re-record and retitle this?

[@andrewlardner]

This was titled wine and roses on the dance of death lp. Sunflower river blues is a different piece and is from the previous lp, death chants

[@tribchb]

@@andrewlardner The answer is my memory is eroding. Thanks for reply.

[@andrewlardner]

@@tribchb Ha don't blame yourself if a memory from 50 years ago is a little foggy.

[@mito88]

isn't this song called "wine and roses"? from the album "The Dance of Death & other plantation favorites".

[@Jeff5P]

Yes, it's basically the same song.

[@unicornlover3269]

Hi

[@magnusruben9646]

Hey Andrew! Do you still have a John Fahey book of a tablature for sale??

[@andrewlardner]

I sold out but Mel Bay still has it

[@magnusruben9646]

@@andrewlardner Oh, great. Could you chuck over a link?

[@andrewlardner]

@@magnusruben9646 Not sure if KZbin will block links but I'll try www.melbay.com/Products/30599/blind-joe-death.aspx

[@cozxmos]

Great one. what model is your guitar. Such a stunner

[@andrewlardner]

It is a 15" Prairie State built in 1936

[@cozxmos]

@@andrewlardner outstanding. Are these very rare??

[@andrewlardner]

@@cozxmos Yes quite rare. I’ve been collecting for 15 years and I’ve only seen about 5-6 Larson OM guitars for sale, only two of them were prairie state brand

[@michaelmenet2712]

@@andrewlardner Extremely cool guitar in every way. Never heard of them before. You make it sound fantastic! Thanks and cheers.

[@briandaperez2647]

Hi can I stay pls

[@briandaperez2647]

Yay

[@iolipuara3979]

What's the tuning?

[@Jeff5P]

DADFAD

[@user-vh8gg1zh7o]

I'm so empresses the playing but need to mention the tone the guitar is a dead match. Does he visit much?