The guitar can be a solo instrument or played along with others for variety in a talent show.
With a history dating back literally thousands of years, the guitar has been a breeding ground for star players as well as those who simply enjoy it. If your high school has announced the date for a talent show, and you have some guitar skills, there are several ways to get that first prize. You can play a complex piece, play rhythm along with a more advanced player in a duet or even strum a pretend guitar while showing the changes and specific notes in a song.
Instrumental
Nothing impresses a crowd like a piece written for guitar, or a classic song performed in an acoustic setting. Even if singing isn't your strong suit, you can still wow the audience with something familiar. A variety of famous songs can be played without vocals that are common enough to be recognized by students and teachers alike. If you are a classically trained player, surprise your rock-loving friends with a rendition of a piece from one of the great composers.
Duet
If you are more a beginner than expert guitarist, you can still shine at the talent show with some help from a skilled player. Rehearse ahead of time a song with two guitar parts, such as a Lynyrd Skynyrd or AC/DC tune. Let your partner handle the leads and tricky fills as you provide the rhythm track. This can often be as simple as a two- or three-chord loop repeated throughout the song.
Sing-Along
Timeless songs like Bob Dylan's "Blowing in the Wind" or The Beatles' "Help" provide opportunities to solicit vocal participation from the audience. Tell the crowd ahead that you'd like them to join in, and even give them a cue for when to interject. Tell them the chorus, or a couple of words which repeat frequently. "American Pie" by Don McLean has a memorable chorus, and the audience may have fun trying to remember the long verses.
Air Guitar
Even if you've never strummed a guitar in public, or even touched one, there's still a place for you at the show. You, too, can be an air guitarist, playing along to your favorite song with an imaginary "ax" slung over your shoulder. An activity so popular that it now has an annual world championship, air guitar can still show your audience that you know a song inside and out. Listen repeatedly to a song with a prominent guitar throughout, and when it's showtime, play all the parts as you would picture them on a real guitar. The high notes should be on the higher frets, chords should be strummed and individual notes can be plucked with a pretend pick.
Tags: song with, along with, talent show