A new original acoustic guitar piece, recorded with Scott Ferguson at FMP Matrix Studio in Dartmouth, NS in early February, 2021. This is a track from my 2nd solo CD, "Two Steps Forward, One Step Back."

Written on the cusp of the illusive transition from late summer to the blessed fall season which we enjoy here in Nova Scotia. Autumn just kind of fades in as summer slowly fades out. Autumn just goes on and on and on...and on.  Metorologically speaking, September through November is often the best time of the year (although it's also our hurricane season so take that comment with a proverbial grain of salt).

AE(ADEA)² (002222, AEBEF#B open) tuning, Carbon fibre Emerald X30 Fan-Fret Baritone. Final Mix May 10, 2021. Notation/Tab Available. Note: the CD is now available, visit my website to order.

Summerfall

A new original acoustic guitar piece, recorded with Scott Ferguson at FMP Matrix Studio in Dartmouth, NS in late January, 2021. This is from my 2nd solo CD, "Two Steps Forward, One Step Back."

I was writing this during and following the exceptionally toned-down New Year's Eve celebrations of 2021. In any other year, I would’ve expected the usual not-yet-broken resolutions along with the annual angst and protestations of forthcoming change that too often accompany a New Year but early expectations, now borne out, are that this has just been 2020 redux.

DA(DEA)³E (003330, DAFGCE open) tuning, Rainsong 'Nashville' N-JM1100N2 (jumbo spruce/CF top/CF body), Martin Retro (monel) strings. Final mix May 10, 2021. Notation/Tab Available. Note: the CD is now available, visit my website to order.

In Any Other Year

An original 'lockdown' pandemic composition, and the opening track of my 2nd CD, "Two Steps Forward, One Step Back." Recorded by Scott Ferguson at FMP Matrix in Dartmouth, NS.

Being locked down (or locked in, as the case may be) AND being able to order liquor for home delivery is just a recipe for being locked in, loaded. Not a good combination for far too many people, both the drinkers and their victims, er, families.

DA(DGA)⁴D (004440, DAF#BC#D open). Lowden O23c. Final mix May 15, 2021. Notation/Tab Available. Note: the CD is now available, visit my website to order.

Locked 'n Loaded

Charles Cook (Violin) & Phil Schappert (Guitar). For more information about the tunes see http://randalbays.com/99and98.htm. Our video of this track can be see at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aW-F7b9oFaQ

DADGAD tuning, Lowden O10.

'99 March (Randall Bays) / '98 March (Traditional)

An original solo guitar instrumental inspired by the writing of Mercedes Lackey. Talia was the Queen's Own Herald, an empath, who finally learned that tears can be liberating!

DA(DGAD)³ (DAFBbCF open) tuning, Lowden O10. Notation/TAB available.

Talia's Tears

Fløteren (The Log Driver) is a fun contemporary tune from Norwegian fiddler Annbjørg Lien that attracted our attention because of its "floating" time signature. We moved it from its original key of E to F so that we could pair it with Byggnan, a nearly 200-year-old Swedish polska by the venerated composer Byss-Calle (a.k.a. Carl Ersson Bössa, 1783-1847).

This track is from the 2018 release, Sociable Butterflies, by Papilio, available as CDs or Downloads from the Papilio website or directly from me. DADGAD tuning, capo 3, Lowden O23c.

Fløteren - Byggnan (Papilio)

Solitaire (short for "a solitary air") is an original guitar solo written in neo-traditional style in memory of a missing friend, a staunch supporter of traditional music, and fine whistle player and piper, Roy Logan. It's even in Roy's favorite key!

DA(DGAD)² (DAEABE open) tuning, Crosby FS Elite. New mix May 12, 2014. Notation/TAB available.

Solitaire

A trio version of my original solo guitar instrumental inspired by the writing of Mercedes Lackey. Talia was the Queen's Own Herald, an empath, who finally learned that tears can be liberating! Many (many!) thanks to my Papilio bandmates, Jennifer Publicover (flute) and Anthony Rissesco (violin), for contributing their musical sense and instrumental skills to this track!

BF#(BEF#B)³ (BF#DGAD open) tuning, Crosby JE Baritone Multiscale. New recording May 1, 2014, new mix May 20, 2014. Notation/TAB available.

Talia's Tears (the trio version)

An original acoustic guitar piece, recorded by John D. S. Adams at Stonehouse Sound in Mahone Bay, NS. This is the final mastered mix of a track that is on my solo CD, "One Size Does Not Fit All." I was going to call this "Lazy Bones" until I encountered a fly that wouldn't fly but persisted in just walking everywhere. I thought this was pretty much the epitome of laziness (not to mention the implied contradiction). Final mix August 27, 2018. The CD is now available, visit my website for a link.

DA(DGA)³D (003330, DAFBbCD open) tuning, Lowden O23c. Notation/TAB available.

The Walking Fly

An original solo acoustic guitar piece, recorded at Stonehouse Sound by John D.S. Adams for my CD, "One Size Does Not Fit All." This is the final mastered mix of the "live off the floor" recording. The title, for the curious, is a literal Latin translation for Thanks Giving Again/Return (or, as I like to think of it, for my American friends, Thanksgiving Two: The Sequel). Final mix August 27, 2018. The CD is now available, visit my website for a link.

CG(CFGC)² (002222, CGDGAD open) tuning, Larrivee J-09. Notation/TAB available.

Gratiarum Actio Redux

Another original solo acoustic guitar piece, recorded at Stonehouse Sound by John D.S. Adams for my CD, "One Size Does Not Fit All." This is a final mastered mix of the "live off the floor" recording. The title comes from a succession of middle-of-the-night bouts of composing to combat frustrating insomnia, and the "counting" feel of the piece. Try not to fall asleep while listening! Final mix August 27, 2018. The CD is now available, visit my website for a link.

CG(CFGC)⁴ (004444, CGEABE open) tuning, Larrivée J-09. Notation/TAB available.

Counting Sheep

I intended to write a slow, melodic neo-Celtic air but didn't want it to begin with the usual 5th-1st-2nd-3rd introduction of far too many Celtic airs (including, to be honest, some of my own! Just listen to Talia's Tears for proof!). So, I thought, "Well, how about 5th-4th-3rd instead?" I immediately liked and chased that idea but it kicked the creative juices into overdrive and the air that I intended to write quickly went, well, too quickly (!) and it quickly (see what I did there?) became a reel.

After I had it all written I said to myself (I really do talk to myself like this), "Ya know, this sounds like something someone would write when they're on an extended caffeine jag!"  My Papilio bandmates, Jennifer Publicover and Anthony Rissesco, had graciously asked me to do a solo guitar piece for the 2018 Papilio CD, Sociable Butterflies (CDs or Downloads are available from the Papilio website or directly from me), so I offered up this  piece. This solo guitar track is only available on the Papilio CD.

Recorded, mixed and mastered by John D.S. Adams at Stonehouse Sound in Mahone Bay, NS, the piece is dedicated to my Papilio bandmate, Anthony "Is the Coffee Ready Yet?" Rissesco, who prefers to live life fully caffeinated. 

DADGAD, Lowden O23c. Notation/TAB available.

Caffeinated

I wrote this piece in 2010 shortly after receiving my Crosby FS Elite. It pays hommage to one of my favourite Don Ross tunes, “Thin Air,” which Don wrote after a harrowing bus trip down the Icefield Parkway in the Rocky Mountains. I hope this piece evokes a similar feeling of relief at having survived a death-defying journey! And it, too, has a “fun to play” ad lib bridge section that always makes me smile every time I play it.

While I originally wrote this in Dm, I recorded it in Cm so the tuning here is CG(CFGC)³ (003333, CGEbAbBbEb open). Recorded at Stonehouse Sound by John D.S. Adams on Jan. 11, 2018, this track is available on my "One Size Does Not Fit All" solo recording. Larrivée J-09. Notation/TAB available.

Icefield

A new original acoustic guitar piece, recorded with Scott Ferguson at FMP Matrix Studio in Dartmouth, NS on January 15, 2021. This is a track from my 2nd solo CD, "Two Steps Forward, One Step Back."

After I started writing this piece in 2019, I felt that the main verse riff was somehow familiar but I couldn't place it. A week or so later I figured out that I had been channeling a melody fragment from "Deep Breaths" by harp guitarist Tommy Loose! Please do check out Tommy's tune on that U-Tube thing.

I have an elusive, woefully incomplete personal understanding of what constitutes a "latin" rhythm. It wasn't quite a Bossa Nova or a Salsa but I thought it was "o contrario!" It probably most closely resembles a spicy diced tomato tortilla chip dip but feel free to dance if you're so inclined.

DA(DGA)²D (002220, DAEABD open) tuning, Lowden O23c. Notation/TAB available. Final mix May 10, 2021. Note: the CD is now available, visit my website to order.

Salsa Falsa

Fingerstyle Guitarist, Composer, Retired PhD Entomologist/Botanist, Entomophotographer, Artist-in-Residence at Chez Curmudgeon.

Phil Schappert

Pinned to spotlight

Popular tracks