Akousto I

Akousto III

Akousto IV

Many thanks to my SoundCloud collaborators and listeners!

Sung Songs & Collaborations

Akousto II

My all-time favorite Leo Kottke tune! I don't play it with my 12-string tuned quite as low as Leo, or with fingerpicks, but I hope the spirit is there... 

Open D tuning: D-A-D-F#-A-D

Check out the album: 
https://gratton.bandcamp.com/album/gratton

~2006

Watermelon (Leo Kottke cover)

Sort of a metaphor with several meanings... hope you enjoy.

And here is a vocal version with Empire of Gold:
https://soundcloud.com/gratton/the-ride-home-feat-empire-of-gold

Photo - Eric Plahna

Check out the album:
https://gratton.bandcamp.com/album/willow-house

(c) 2013

The Ride Home

This is my take on the Jimmy Page version - though he did apparently "borrow" quite a bit of this from Bert Jansch, it's based on a traditional folk song "Down by Blackwaterside." 

Here's a collaboration on the traditional version of this song with the awesome Chris O:
https://soundcloud.com/gratton/blackwaterside-collab-w-chris-o

~2013

Black Mountain Side (Led Zeppelin cover)

The image is Peetie Wheatstraw, whom this song is not really related to, but I like to think the vibe of it perhaps harkens his "High Sheriff from Hell" persona.

Open D tuning: D-A-D-F#-A-D

http://gratton.bandcamp.com/

(c) 2010

Stalking Tall

Song 1 of the Willow Trilogy

Photo - Eric Plahna

Check out the album:
https://gratton.bandcamp.com/album/willow-house

Featured in an article on Sing Out!
http://singout.org/2015/08/20/folkfinds-grattons-winters-wisp/

(c) 2013

Winter's Wisp

Song 2 of the Willow Trilogy - "Withywindle River" is based on John Fahey's "Sunflower River Blues." It's similar rhythmically, but the harmony, melody, and overall vibe are quite different, so I figured it deserved a new title. 

Open D tuning: D-A-D-F#-A-D

Photo - Eric Plahna

Check out the album:
gratton.bandcamp.com/album/willow-house

(c) 2013

Withywindle River

The subtle Tolkien references are coming to fruition here with a full-blown Middle Earth homage in this journey through the Old Forest - also the "unofficial" epilogue to the Willow Trilogy! Thanks for listening.

Open G tuning: D-G-D-G-B-D

Check out the album:
gratton.bandcamp.com/album/gratton

(c) 2008

Tom Bombadil

Electric Guitar - Gratton
Audio Manipulations, Synthesizers and Beat - Aqua Bear

Really love how this one turned out! Aqua Bear took my simple guitar part and transformed it into a vast, cold, mysterious world...

(c) 2014

Ice Elephants (collab w/ Aqua Bear)

Visitation Three

Guitar - Gratton
Vocals, Dobro - Chris O
Engineer (Songcave Studios) - Eliot Reynolds
Photo - Eric Plahna

I feel so honored to have been a part of this wonderful collaboration with the talented Australian singer/guitarist Chris O! Her amazing voice and tasty Dobro playing have really taken this piece out to the stratosphere. Our version is based on the old traditional folk tune as reinvented by Bert Jansch and Jimmy Page. Hope you enjoy. Thanks so much Chris!!

https://soundcloud.com/chris-okunbor

I'd also like to dedicate this to my new daughter Paige, born 4-8-14.

~2014

Blackwaterside (traditional - collab w/ Chris O)

Open G tuning: D-G-D-G-B-D

Art - Nils Blommer

Check out the album: 
http://gratton.bandcamp.com/album/gratton

(c) 2008

Shillelagh

Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Bass, Keys, Drums - kogwonton
Electric Guitars - Gratton

Truly a pleasure to work with Daniel Hoffay (kogwonton), who gave me his fully-formed, immaculate track to record over.

Here's another version of the tune: https://soundcloud.com/kogwonton/set-the-controls-for-the-heart-of-the-sun-pink-floyd-cover-kogwontongratton-collab

Check out Daniel's other amazing sounds: https://soundcloud.com/kogwonton

~2014

Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun (Pink Floyd cover - collab w/ kogwonton)

Open G tuning: D-G-D-G-B-D

Photo - Eric Plahna

Check out the vocal version with https://soundcloud.com/ewwills:
https://soundcloud.com/gratton/one-night-and-the-universe-collab-w-bright-shadow-animal

Check out the album: http://gratton.bandcamp.com/album/gratton

(c) 2008

Old Friend Night

Guitars, Shakers, Field Recordings - Gratton
Vocals, Whistles, Bodhran - Chris O
Art - Mea-Mei

Another wonderful collaboration with my Australian friend Chris Okunbor (@chris-okunbor)! This is our take on the pastoral Zeppelin classic. Really enjoyed working on this one and we hope you enjoy it too : )

~2014

That's The Way (Led Zeppelin cover - collab w/ Chris O)

Guitars, Drums - Gratton
Guitars, Bass, Sitar, Synthesizers, and Chaos - Aqua Bear

This is the fourth piece I've done with the uber-creative Aqua Bear and it's always a treat to hear what he'll come up with next. And so the Water Spirit Woman saga continues... hope you enjoy!

https://soundcloud.com/aqua-bear

Here is Part I: https://soundcloud.com/gratton/water-spirit-woman-collab-w

(c) 2014

Water Spirit Woman Part II (collab w/ Aqua Bear)

gratton.bandcamp.com/album/willow-house

(c) 2014

Runewalk

Companion track to "Run Deep" - similar 12-string ideas here but played slower and without capo.

Open D tuning: D-A-D-F#-A-D

Check out the album: 
https://gratton.bandcamp.com/album/gratton

(c) 2005

Still Waters

Vocals, Bass - E.W. Wills
Guitar - Kurt Plahna
Photo - Eric Plahna

This was originally a solo guitar piece called "Winter's Wisp," now graced by my good friend Eric. And thanks to the other Eric for the amazing photo!

https://soundcloud.com/ewwills

https://soundcloud.com/gratton/winters-wisp

(c) 2015

Falling Diamonds (collab w/ E.W. Wills)

Here's the solo 12-string version of "Sky Song"... 

Open D tuning: D-A-D-F#-A-D

And there are several other versions of this song posted:
https://soundcloud.com/gratton/sky-song-redux
https://soundcloud.com/gratton/sky-song

Check out the album: 
https://gratton.bandcamp.com/album/willow-house

(c) 2014

Sky Song

Dedicated to John Renbourn (1944 - 2015)

Drop D tuning: D-A-D-G-B-E

Check out the album: http://gratton.bandcamp.com/album/gratton

~ 2010

The Hermit (John Renbourn cover)

Guitar duet, inspired by the "Village of the Watermills" segment from Akira Kurosawa's movie, Dreams.

Open D tuning: D-A-D-F#-A-D

Check out the album: gratton.bandcamp.com/album/gratton

(c) 2010

Windmill

Dedicated to my dad, who is alive and well despite the "Grave" song title! Happy 70th Birthday Papa Eric.

Leo originally played this tune on 12-string, tuned down quite a bit. I arranged it here for 6-string. 

Open G tuning: D-G-D-G-B-D

Photo by Eric Plahna

~ 2015

The Sailor's Grave on the Prairie (Leo Kottke cover)

Yep, another Fahey excursion - based on his early version of this traditional tune. Both Johns were some serious mofos!

~ 2015

John Henry (John Fahey adaptation)

My favorite piece by Jimmy Page - timeless Zeppelin magick : )

C6 tuning: C-A-C-G-C-E

~2015

Bron-Yr-Aur (Led Zeppelin cover)

Featuring E.W. Wills on upright bass 

https://soundcloud.com/ewwills

(c) 2016 

John Henry Adventures (collab w/ E.W. Wills)

Old Dirt Road

Daydream

Unofficially titled "Natalie Noodle Vs. the Ice Cream Dragon" : )

Art by Natalie Plahna

(c) 2016

Natalie Noodle

Just Beneath

Finally got around to learning this Fahey favorite. A fantastic Hal Leonard book has the transcription, plus many other Fahey epics:

https://www.halleonard.com/product/viewproduct.action?itemid=150257&lid=0&keywords=john%20fahey&subsiteid=1& 

~2017

Brenda's Blues (John Fahey cover)

Foxglove (Bruce Cockburn cover)

Uninvited Sphere

Special thanks to... 

E.W. Wills (https://soundcloud.com/ewwills) 
Chad Johnson (https://soundcloud.com/chad-l-johnson)

...for their help/suggestions in making this a better tune.

(c) 2017

Eyes Seeing Through

Vocals, Mandolin, Bass - E.W. Wills
Guitar - Gratton
Photo - Eric Plahna

Really enjoyed this collaboration with the uber-talented @ewwills! Check us out as https://soundcloud.com/northernsuns.

~2017

Going to California (Led Zeppelin cover - collab w/ E.W. Wills)

Gsus4 tuning: D-G-D-G-C-D, capo II 

~2017

De Trilport A Fublaines (Pierre Bensusan cover)

Hearing Leo Kottke's debut album (6 and 12 String Guitar) was really the main thing that inspired me to pursue fingerstyle guitar. Hard to believe he was doing these things in 1969! Here's my rendition of one of the many beautiful tunes on that album. Thanks for listening.

I took this photo of my dad as we fished the mountain streams in Ten Sleep, Wyoming.

(c) 2012

The Fisherman (Leo Kottke cover)

~My Tribute to John Fahey~

gratton.bandcamp.com/album/willow-house

(c) 2012

Blind Death

Played on a capoed 12-string, this was kind of inspired by the spirit of an epic journey. My wife and I took a road trip out West in our old Saturn the first year we were dating and really had an unforgettable and amazing two weeks together, journeying through mainly Montana and Washington. The start of that journey was on Highway 94...

Open D tuning: D-A-D-F#-A-D, capo VII

Check out the album:
https://gratton.bandcamp.com/album/gratton

(c) 2005

Highway 94

Open G tuning: D-G-D-G-B-D

Check out the album:
https://gratton.bandcamp.com/album/gratton

(c) 2009

That's the Way (Led Zeppelin cover)

This is kind of inspired by the little woods up the street from my childhood home where I used to play all the time - many, many adventures were had.

Open D tuning: D-A-D-F#-A-D

Check out the album:
https://gratton.bandcamp.com/album/gratton

(c) 2008

The Woods

12-String Guitar

Open D tuning: D-A-D-F#-A-D

Photo - Eric Plahna

Check out the album:
https://gratton.bandcamp.com/album/gratton

(c) 2008

Grainwind

Photo - Eric Plahna

https://gratton.bandcamp.com/album/gratton

(c) 2009

Sligo River Blues (John Fahey cover)

gratton.bandcamp.com/album/willow-house

(c) 2012

Train Days

Open G tuning: D-G-D-G-B-D (Nick Drake used a different tuning)

~2019

From the Morning (Nick Drake cover)

Shangri-La (M. Ward cover)

Climb

Acoustic Guitars - Gratton
Decorations, Sitar, etc. - Aqua Bear
Art - N. Cywink

(c) 2013

Water Spirit Woman (collab w/ Aqua Bear)

In college, I worked as a security "guard" at the campus library. Occasionally, I got to work 3rd shift while the library was closed, by myself, in a huge, dark, sometimes freaky, complex. I would bring in my acoustic guitar and record it in different areas of the library (not to mention, raid the music library). So much fun - like a giant playground for me. I probably wasn't the best choice for security! So I named this 12-string piece after it. I'm not sure if it's really "about" the library, but more of a salute to a fun, creative time in my life.

Open D tuning: D-A-D-F#-A-D

Check out the album:
gratton.bandcamp.com/album/willow-house

(c) 2013

Library

Atmospheric Folk - Fingerstyle Guitar - et cetera

Gratton Albums:
https://gratton.bandcamp.com/

Gratton

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