What is Stupidity Induced Music Page format (SIMP)?
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Well,you don't have to be stupid to use SIMP. For me it's most useful when
I want to play songs without memorizing them (my memory for music sucks)
I wanted to have a book of good songs that could be played without
memorizing chord progressions, chord shapes, or lyrics. I want to play these
at parties, so it is better if no page turning is required and the page
can double as a lyric sheet for sing-a-longs.
Many SIMP songs I entered myself, some were entered by others
and some I edited after they were posted in crd.
(no one else has ever posted a song as "SIMP", though many have been E-mailed.)
Other formats:
CRD: "crd" is usually used to describe a file with all lyrics and chord names
above the first verse and chorus (separate lines). Recently it seems like "crd"
songs more often have chords with every verse.
(But often a file is spread over two printed pages without extensive editing.)
Some programs available can manipulte "crd" like chordpro.
Chordpro, (Chopro?) and "Chord"(?) are typed for a specific program to use.
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SIMP is derived from "crd"
Stupidity Induced Music Page format Goals:
1- Interchangeable between computers.(80 columns, no special program required)
2- Includes all lyrics so it can be used for sing-alongs.
3- Chords for every line (unless it has a very basic chord progression)
4- Song itself fits on one page (occasionally 2 for a long song)
. (I aim for 50-60 lines, though my Mac can print 65+)
5- Chord chart usually included, preferably compact to fit on the same page
6- I try to include tab for important riffs (compactly)
7- I sometimes substitute easier chords if a song has "weird" chords.
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I've only had two songs (American Pie and Cat's in the cradle) that I could not
fit on one page (though often I don't have room for the chord chart)
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Problems with SIMP:
-Sometimes a few crds or tab must be place on the same line (to save space),
. presumably throwing off the chopro/crd programs.
-I play "barre" chords a lot, which can be hard for others.
-Long songs are crammed onto one page.
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Other than that I believe it compares favorably to crd, though the SIMP requires
more time to enter. (for one typist, but SIMP may benefit "MANY" guitarists)
Lots of people have E-mailed that they think SIMP is a great format, but nobody
else has posted files with this name, so I don't know what to think.
I would think that if half the people who like SIMP would post in it, SIMP would
soon be an established format.
-Maybe SIMP got off on the wrong foot because the first major SIMP file was
"American Pie" (last summer) and I had a lot of chords in wrong positions.
(I assure you I feel quite the idiot!)
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This is the question: How many people have downloaded files and then edited
them to fit in less space, or to display chords with the second verse?
I'm assuming 5-20 people each decide to re-format (individually)
many of the 2-page crd files that are posted. It would save (us few) a lot of
time if the SIMP version was posted by the first person to reformat each song.
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If you agree, don't just send a note, post a song in SIMP!
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And if you don't agree, I still don't want any notes!
Who knows, I have received notes from many fans of this format.
(But it's definitly not going to catch on unless a few others make some SIMP
posts soon. A FEW. Few of us fully appreciate SIMP, but I'm sure many the
others will still appreciate the songs we post in SIMP.
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SIMP chord notation:
(x) is a chord change that you might omit, I skip these for rapid
. chord changes or if the previous chord sounds similar
"x" is a chord that I play but is either not in the book or not on the record
. (Usually it is the note of the vocals and I need the chord to match it)
(/) backslash indicates a choice of chords, whichever is easier
\/\/ can be used for strumming patterns
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The following is a list of all the songs I have enterred, reformatted, or
received for the "SIMP songbook." Most have been posted in SIMP, many others
have been posted in crd (often two pages) A few I don't think have ever
been posted.
Unless noted, all are formatted to fit on one page (for my printer anyway),
. have crds for every line, and complete lyrics.
I will post (repost?) any of these for a few weeks if they are requested
by anyone who has entered (and posted or e-mailed me) songs to the network
before. (in any format -but I don't want requests from "lurkers"!)
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___________________________________________________The list:
Send me your requests and mention your previous posts!_______Cat Stevens:
Another Saturday Night
But I Might Die Tonight
Can't Keep it in
Changes IV
Don't be Shy
Father and Son
How Can I Tell You
If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out
Moonshadow
Peace Train
Tuesday's Dead
Two Fine People
Where Do the Children Play (w/tab)
Wild World______________________________________Billy Joel:
Easy Money
It's Still Rock and Roll to me
Just the Way You Are (1 & 2 pg, chord charts with text)
The Longest Time
My Life
Only The Good Die Young
She's Got a Way made easy_______________________Eagles:
Best of My Love
Desperado made easy
Hotel California -crd (Am and Bm)
Lyin' Eyes crd___________________________________Beatles:
Can't Buy Me Love
Eight Days a Week (D)
From Me to You (G)
I Want to Hold Your Hand (G)
Let it Be
Twist and Shout (D)
We Can Work it Out (G?)___________________________"Oldies: misc:
Down on the Corner -CCR
Gimme Some Loving -Blues Bros version
Homeward Bound -Paul Simon
House of the Rising Sun -Animals
Kodachrome -Paul Simon
Looking Out My Backdoor -CCR
Love the One You're With -Stills
Marrakesh Express -CSNY
Proud Mary -CCR______________________________________70s(?) misc:
American Pie 2 pg-Don Mclean -lyric 1pg
Baby I Love Your Way -Peter Frampton
Cat's in the Cradle -Harry Chapin (1 pg crd, 2 pg SIMP)
Crocodile Rock -Elton John
Don't Stop -Fleetwood Mac
I Got a Name -Jim Croce
Gimme 3 Steps -Lynyrd Skynyrd
Part of the Plan -Dan Fogelberg
The River -Springsteen (G?)
Sister Golden Hair -America (intro tab wanted)
Wonderful Tonight -Clapton_____________________"My generation" misc:
Centerfold -J Geils
Dance, Dance, Dance -Steve Miller crd
Don't Cry -Asia
Hurts So Good -JCM
Just the Way You Are -Billy Joel
Leader of the Band -Fogelberg
Old Time R&R -Bob Seger
R.O.C.K in the U.S.A. -JCM crd
65 Love Affair -Paul Davis
Surrender -Cheap Trick
Take the Money and Run -Steve Miller
The Tide is High -Blondie
Time After Time -Cindy Lauper
Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go -Wham
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Some requests:(PS: please E-mail them to me as I won't have newsgroup access
. for 6 weeks unless I can ftp from Europe)
Billy Joel from "an Innocent Man" other than Easy Money and The Longest Time
Tommy Tutone - Jenny ("867-5309") simplified
Sammy Hagar-*Your Love is Driving Me Crazy*, other Van Halen crd
Pretenders from "Learning to crawl"
Huey Lewis (Heart and Soul)
James Taylor-Your Smiling Face simplified
Lynyrd Skynyrd - You got that Right
America You Can do Magic, also Sister Golden Hair intro tab.
Christopher Cross Never Be the Same, tab for sailing
Steve Miller. Jet Airliner, others
Cheap Trick: *California Man*, Dream Police, , I Want You to Want Me,
Cat Stevens: I Love My Dog, Matthew and Son,
. Here comes my baby (esp intro riff tab), I.m gonna get me a gun,
. Wigwam, I Never Wanted (to be a star), Daytime, Ready,
. (or if anyone knows how I can get a book with these songs -tell me!)
*What I like*, (& other Romantics hits)
Also I would like an ASCII/crd versions of songs that have been posted
in Chopro.like "Bad Case of Loving You" and some Cat Stevens.
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This month I plan to finish the "Beginners SIMP Songbook" with about 15
popular songs with easy chords and a few pages of instruction on chord
fingerings and advice on how to start guitar. When friends say they want
to learn to play quitar I intend to give them a 30 minute introduction
and a copy of the 20 page pamphlet. Should I post this?
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My friend and I will be traveling in Europe next month
and would like to find hospitable places to crash for a night or two.
Have an extra bed? (We can pay) Please reply soon!