TURN TURN TURN - THE BYRDS (Cover/Recreation)

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First vid of 2023! And my first "Byrds" video. RIP Croz...
FEB 8th: Blocked for royalties because KZbin's algorithm thinks this is the original record!! I guess that's a compliment? :D
CROSBY'S TECHNIQUE: What a lot of people don't realize is that David Crosby plays in drop-D tuning on this song, allowing him to play 5ths and emphasize the descending bass progression. He cleverly plays normally during the verses ("a time to gain, a time to lose" etc) and switches back to drop-D emphasis on the chorus. One can do this by muting effectively or selectively playing certain strings, as he does in live performances (and shown here). During the intro and outro, he also emphasizes Roger's B-minor to A chord riff by playing open strings and jumping to the A. There's a lot going on here.
McGUINN'S TECHNIQUE: Contrary to popular belief, there ARE in fact overdubs on the original record. The Bm-A chord stabs are overdubs, and thanks to the stereo backing track ‪@lypilapa‬ provided, it's 100% clear that McGuinn does NOT play these as part of his "main" 12-string track on the record. Which brings me to an important point - my goal was to recreate how this was played in 1965, NOT how he plays it now. The solo is also overdubbed on the record, as is his "banjo track" but it IS live as part of the solo - Roger is doing this with fingerpicks playing the solo AND the banjo picking at the same time (as seen live). I do not have this skill, so I played the "banjo" picking during the solo as an overdub. By the way...this video is proof you can get an identical sound with a regular pick if you practice enough. ;)
DRUMS/BASS: Chris Hillman and Michael Clarke. The drums are pretty interesting, and Clarke goes for a sidestick and hi-hat rhythm during the choruses before switching to ride, snare, and toms during verses. It's mostly a fairly patterned drum track with some minor variations on the fills. Hillman's bass is the same, and it shares many of the same notes as Crosby's guitar. I tried to mix my bass a little louder than the record so you can hear it (I may have spiced it up a tiny bit). Oh, and there is also an ever-so-essential tambourine track as percussion.
VOCALS: Three people - Gene, Roger, David. What's sort of interesting about "Byrds harmonies" is that they are usually 2-part. David's voice is so amazing that his high harmonies are enough to compliment Gene and Roger singing in unison while still cutting through the mix. The only 3-part harmonies in this song are the refrains of all the verses - "a time for peace, I swear it's not too late" etc. I also used the tape-speed technique I've mentioned in recent videos, where I record some vocal tracks at slightly different speeds so that when they're all played together it doesn't sound like "all Nick." In total, you're hearing 6 vocal tracks here - 3 parts, all doubled.
MIXING: Did my best to recreate the sound of 1965. I'm not going to lie, this took a LOT of takes - hence the lighting changes throughout the video. I believe The Byrds took 5 days and 78 takes for this song, so I don't feel too bad about it! Ironically, Crosby's guitar and the bass were take 1 - it was the 12-string that took forever! I absolutely love the Danelectro 59X12 I'm playing here - the bridge pickup allows coil tapping so I'm getting TWO lipstick pickups at once in a humbucker formation. It sounds VERY close to a treble boosted Rickenbacker in my opinion - but you be the judge! Dano oughta be paying me for advertising at this point :D
On a personal note, I've lost about 50 pounds now so I figured it'd be time to grab a new suit!
GEAR
Audio Interface: Motu M4
Microphone: Audio-Technica AT2035, Shure Beta 57A
Electric Rhythm: Gretsch Tennessee Rose
Electric Lead Guitar: Danelectro 59X12
Bass Guitar: Hofner H500/1-62
Amplifier: Vox AC-15
Drums: Toontrack EZdrummer Ludwig with "Nick Ringo Settings"
Tambourine: CP380
Additional Plugins: Waves "Abbey Road" suite, Izotope Ozone
Software: Reaper
SONGWRITERS: Pete Seeger / The Bible (Book of Ecclesiastes)
DISCLAIMER: Absolutely no audio from the original recording has been used in this video. This video is for educational purposes ONLY under fair use. No copyright infringement is intended. My videos are provided as INSTRUCTION to help you learn how to play and sing these songs yourself. For this reason, many of my videos feature footage of a song's construction (both instrumentally and vocally) to aid you in this learning process. All audio tracks are intentionally mixed with louder instrument levels and further channel separation than the original recordings to help isolate sections when learning. They should NOT be sold, duplicated, or distributed without the original copyright holder's permission. If you enjoy this music, support the original artists and BUY the officially released versions.

[@rocknrollss]

Excellent!!

[@poppybell2209]

Wonderful cover!! Much talent!

[@MrKenstar2]

Excellent

[@songwriterxandtheskeletonband]

love the 12 string lead

[@pallen8]

Fantastic tribute,..great job

[@kpoharrison]

Really great! Love your covers and it’s another masterpiece! Thank you!

[@durango8882]

☮️

[@BeatlesCentricUniverse]

EXCELLENT!

[@BratislavMetulski]

perfect

[@LightSnowOvernight]

Wow! So perfect

[@davidbriggs9675]

Hi Nick, I have probably listened to all of your Beatles covers...and more besides. This is a fabulously authentic sounding 'cover/tribute', to David Crosby and The Byrds. I must also agree that the Danelectro 12 string guitar is sounding expecially jangly. Great stuff...you nailed it Nick.

[@TonyFuentesTV]

The best cover! Great job!!!

[@curtisblair3653]

Nailed it!

[@MisteriosoyPlateado]

Excelente

[@kubamaruszczyk4043]

Inspiring

[@patrickrobinson317]

Awesome Possum !!! 😀 I love this one !!! This is perhaps your BEST Video yet !!!! Great Work !!!

[@johnbasos]

great execution!!!

[@Fezzler61]

Outstanding.

[@bolivianprince7326]

12 string sound is class. Loved your Shakers poster

[@PaulinaAngel]

This is so amazing, great cover and tribute to David Crosby!!!

[@stealthbastard8837]

Awesome cover Nick!

[@KaBoomChannel]

jeezus, freakin' perfect

[@vincentbarbeau3031]

Great !!! RIP David Crosby

[@theivory1]

That's so good Nick.

[@lypilapa]

This is "Excellent" as Terry Melcher would say, you did a tremendous job! Thank you for mentioning my name.

[@robertallen3631]

Wow...Holy Smokes... I got a tear on 'Time For Peace..' beautiful work

[@MikeZero98]

Tremendous performance. Love your stuff, Nick.

[@ROLLOGUITAR]

Fabulous! That put a smile on my face 😀

[@joestarr05]

Accurate, perfect tribute. 🙏

[@ABCFORKIDSCOMEDIAN1998]

You call that accurate? You should know that Roger used a Rickenbacker 360/12 and Chris used a Guild Starfire IV

[@joestarr05]

@@ABCFORKIDSCOMEDIAN1998 HEY! I said accurate in playing. This is a tribute to David Crosby so respect.

[@joestarr05]

@@ABCFORKIDSCOMEDIAN1998 Y'know, you're getting on our nerves. You're just a spammer who can't have a good musical skill.

[@ABCFORKIDSCOMEDIAN1998]

@@joestarr05 okay

[@Luke_D9]

@@ABCFORKIDSCOMEDIAN1998 brah come on Nick is still using a 12 string to play those parts.

[@TRICK-OR-TREAT236]

🌴🌴< < < N.T.S. DUDE ! > > > 🌴🌴

[@LoneRevD]

Very cool, I like the two tracks to get around Rogers banjo picking solo ( I play banjo (well I can make music with it lol) but not sure I could relate it to 12 string, I hope to get a danelectro someday) that worked really good. Thanks for that!

[@tbirdtim]

Nick, you nailed this one. Exceptionally done. I love ❤️ it and you as well!

[@joebuczek312]

Just found your channel. Really appreciate the work you do on these recreations. Super clean!! Your visuals are excellent, too. Great work!! Hope you keep it up.

[@guyisabel5047]

Masterfully done! Bravo, Nick! You have a new follower, my friend. :)

[@paultina3985]

Outstanding!!!

[@Timster2]

Another awesome job Nick! 👍🏻

[@ishwarishwarnag2611]

Most accurate guitar cover

[@StephenPike]

Rad

[@cantadios]

Muy bueno . Hermosas aromonías vocales y de guitarra. Gracias Nick

[@stevem5010]

Brilliant, as always, Nick. You were born in the wrong era mate!!!

[@dennisperusse3837]

Great cover! :)

[@allandavelinojf]

México - Present - Please Nick More Stones !

[@ringodingo]

So cool. Is that 12 string a rental ? Thanks for a the interesting details in the video description.

[@Pimp-Master]

I can almost hear Terry Melcher saying, "wait, too slow. Let's go again. Hal, lose that drum intro. Ok, let's go."

[@NickMartellaro]

I would almost bet on a metronome being used in their headphones, but who knows? The song is almost a perfect 125bpm with some minor variations that could easily be attributed to analog tape mastering...

[@ejcoppini]

Ni Nick, great job. Excellent peeformance. Thanks. Your nave the Shakers 2nd album on your wall!! Hugo os the only one still alive. Your should contacto him. I can help on that

[@robertyoung6036]

not just freaking great, freaking awesome job!

[@patlaw53]

Where can we hear the stereo backing track? Thanks for dissecting the recording and providing this information. Fascinating.

[@user-cv5oo8ln9h]

✴✴excellent✴✴ (*^▽^*)(*^▽^*) i've been waiting for this moment ヾ(≧∇≦) 素晴らしい演奏と ハーモニーを ありがとうございます😆✨ fromJapan🙌

[@NickMartellaro]

Arigato ❤ありがとう

[@user-cv5oo8ln9h]

​@@NickMartellaro 🎶🎶🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩 really great harmony😆😆😆

[@CluvVenny]

First time seeing you playing a 12 string electric guitar. Not familiar of the brand that makes that 12 string electric guitar. Perhaps you can let me know.

[@Pimp-Master]

The '65 Fender 12 is a heavy beast, but still easier to play than the Rickenbacker 12 string.

[@josemiguelcarrizo7373]

Great as always but, why don't you make a song written by Crosby like Everyboy's been burned? You still have time.

[@gregoryfeo6837]

Not a bit like Cagney!

[@karmicselling4252]

Arrgggh! Sorry! :( To my ears, you have produced a wonderful rendition. But I had to go back and listen to the original Byrds recording again to be sure of myself. The Dano 12 sounds great and is well suited to the song. But it ain't no Rickebacker! The Dano certainly does jangle. But to my ears, again!. The Dano lacks the CHIME of the Rickenbacker. The RIC produces a fuller bodied twelve string sound. And you can hear that on the original recording. Now, I'm willing to bet a bit of the difference is to do with the way the RIC is strung. Would be interesting to hear a similarly strung Dano for purposes of comparison. Although I think the Dano would still sound a little thin compared to the RIC. Of course, it isn't really fair to compare these two instruments. They are basically very different beasts. Still, the effort you put into doing this has certainly produced a wonderful result you should be very proud of. A lovely tribute to the late great David Crosby. He was such an under-rated musician and his contribution to the classic Byrds is often overlooked. Good on you for highlighting it. Thanks.

[@lqr824]

The difference is probably more in amplification. The stringing of the Ric (from the top, it has the bass string followed by octave) has no effect on tone, which I verified before getting a new bridge and nut to make my 370/12 easier to play and better-sounding. See my video on the topic. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hmSsnZWCh96Ja7M

[@OccamsEraserhead]

Better than the original tbh