A New Backing Track For “Merrily Kiss The Quaker's Wife”

I had fun making this backing track for “Merrily Kiss The Quaker's Wife.” I used Dave Hum's recording as a template. This is one of my favorite songs to play, that is, Dave Hum' beautiful arrangement. On his Volume 2 album, Dave Hum uses an intro, and also in this video. But in this video he skips the intro. I didn't figure it out at first, but Dave is using the same exact backing track in the different versions, he just starts off the song differently sometimes. He'll either play some harmonics first, or jump right into the song, but it's the same backing track. This song is done in the Key of A, standard tuning. So, you'll need a capo on the 2nd fret, and for the fifth string on the 7th fret. Enjoy! ...

• Merrily Kiss The Quaker's Wife (normal)
• Merrily Kiss The Quaker's Wife (slower)
• Merrily Kiss The Quaker's Wife (slow)
• Merrily Kiss The Quaker's Wife (woodshed)

I have difficulty playing bar chords in higher tempo songs. I've tried to record at a slower tempo, and then speed the song up later on, but the guitar doesn't sound right. But I learned something helpful today about playing my guitar to make backing tracks. For example: “Merrily Kiss The Quaker's Wife” is done in the key of A. This song uses the chords A, D, E, F#m, Bm and B. Playing A, D and E are no problem, but F#m, Bm and B are difficult for me because they require bar chords. I was frustrated trying to get the bar chords right while playing at an up tempo speed. But then it dawned on me that I could put a capo on the 2nd fret of my guitar, and then play A, D and E using the G, C and D chord positions that I am so familiar with without a capo. I am good at playing those chords. And now whereas I usually play an A minor without a capo, with a capo on the 2nd fret I now have the B minor that I needed (and it's easy to play without having to do any bar chords). E minor without a capo is now F# minor with a capo on the 2nd string. I will remember this nifty little trick in the future. It worked wonderfully in this backing track.

I used a MIDI piano in here too, which Dave uses. I used a grand piano. You don't need a lot of piano skills. In fact, I just played single piano notes in this song. I also used various audio loops (shakers, tambourine and a djembe). I love that tambourine rattle at the end. I was just looking around for free loops on the internet and found that one yesterday, which fit perfectly at the end of the song.

Dave Hum (1966-2012)