After 40 years, I finally decided to play guitar again (2015).....and it's weird how you still know your chords after all these years.Last summer, I brought my guitar with me and started to play around a campfire. What happened next...... our neighbors asked if they could join us, and we had such a good time. I played some of my songs, they played theirs and everyone was singing.....I'm sure some of you folks play guitar or sing around a campfire and I thought I could share my favorite songs and perhaps some of you have your favorite ones too. Maybe that way we can have more songs to our list.So, here is a list of five songs I love to play:1- Margaritaville (Jimmy Buffett)2- Brown eyed girl (Van Morrison)3- The sound of silence (Simon & Garfunkel)4- California dreamin' (Mamas & Papas)5- A kind of hush (Herman's Hermits)

As good as I am (hehe) I only do this when camping OFF-ROAD up against a creek bed somewhere. The squirrels and chipmunks don't seem to mind my playing the guitarLike you when I have tried this at regular camp grounds folks tend to start showing up... Then they quickly find out how 'GOOD' I am hehe...Roy Ken

I keep an extra guitar in the RV, and pull it out once in a while. My list is about half original songs, plus lots of Johnny Cash, Hank, Dylan, and some rock.BTW-An alcoholic man, suffering from memory loss and blackouts, blames his associates and his surroundings for his fate. After a physical injury, he returns to his place of origin, only to discover that he alone is the source of his problems.That is what the song "Margaritaville" is about!Matt B

One of my biggest pet peeves when camping is getting stuck near that neighbor that stays up all night by the fire, while they drink and talk loud and laugh way too loud all night.But last year we were at a Provincial Park on Lake Huron and there was a group a few sites over, it appeared to be a father, his teenaged daughter and a couple of her friends. One of them had brought a guitar and the girls played and sang all night by the fire. It was one of the most relaxing evenings, listening to their music gently carry all thru the campground.

We camphost at a state park and last year, we had several large family groups come into the park and we were FULL. Many of the groups came in on Thursday instead of waiting for Friday. Sites are reserved, but not site-specific. When the large (5 sites) Jones family showed up, the Smith family, Roberts family and Rose family (all made up names) had already picked out their sites, so the Jones family had to take what was left and they were scattered throughout the campground. This upset them. They were all tent camping with the exception of one popup camper. They set up a large pavilion tent in front of the popup and that was where they gathered. On Friday night, there were no complaints made to us, but they went to the office to the ranger. On Saturday night, we stayed outside and carefully watched the campground they were in. About midnight, we called it a night and headed in, but at 12:30 or so, there was a knock on the door. A couple had walked up and were complaining about the group doing karaoke. Yes, karaoke after midnight. I called the ranger and he drove up to our RV and we walked across the hill to see if we could hear them. We could, since they had microphones and an actual karaoke machine! So could everyone else in the campground. They sang and then would clap and yell about how good that song was. That was one night we won't forget! and I'm not sure that I want to experience anymore music in the campground now.

Guitar around a campfire !! | Good Sam Community

26 Replies

drenjoey
Explorer
Apr 16, 2016
I already play a lot of songs you posted, but there are also some that I forgot about and will include them on my list of songs to learn.
Great choice folks........Keep them coming!

As for ttempleton...keep it up !...........I stopped playing for 40 years, and started playing again eighteen months ago........A great move on my part and a great hobby for when I will retire.
ttempleton
Explorer
Apr 16, 2016
Cats in a cradle
Sweet Home Alabama
Country Roads
Amazing Grace
Never Rains in Southern Calf.
Take it Easy

Started to learn to play few months ago, enjoy trying to play
NYCgrrl
Explorer
Apr 15, 2016
Wrote a different post a few days back but apparently it was swallowed into the ethernet. Oh well.

What I recall is it was women singers/songwriters like:

Joni Mitchell's 'Court and Spark' (Nothing wrong w/ 'Raised on Robbery' or 'Free Man in Paris' either)
'Blue Bayou'- Linda Ronstadt
Roberta Flack- 'The First Time Ever I Saw your Face'
Maria Muldaur- 'Midnight at the Oasis'

Since this is a double post I'm including Gordon Lightfoot's 'Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald'; Arlo Guthries' 'City of New Orleans' and Elton John's ' Burn Down the Mission'; George Harrison's 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps' and Randy Newman's 'Rider in the Range'.

Oh and thank you, Canada. You make this country better in so many ways.
Deb_and_Ed_M
Explorer II
Apr 15, 2016
There are some groups, who wrote such popular music that everyone knew the words, and it didn't take many chords to play.
Beach Boys
Barry Manilow
Mamas and the Papas
Kenny Rogers
Lionel Richie
Beatles (early stuff)
Simon and Garfunkel
Peter, Paul and Mary
Wanderlost
Nomad II
Apr 15, 2016
When I was a teen, THE song to play was The Animals' version of House of the Rising Sun. As long as you know the guitar chords, it's easy to play and sounds great.
The Animals - House of the Rising Sun 1964

Other campfire songs I enjoy playing and singing:
Big Iron (Marty Robbins)
El Paso (Marty Robbins)
Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay (Otis Redding)
Brown Eyed Girl (Van Morrison)
Down on the Corner (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
Fernando (Abba)
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Apr 13, 2016
Tried and found that I have not the manual dexterity to play Guitar. :Plus due to an accident and injury I have limited range of movement in my left hand.

But Sing, that I can do and if you play (And I notice) I will gladly join you.

True Story:
Was at a "Botique Mall" and they had a gathering space with a Piano (now nailed shut i'm sad to say) A young lady was doing a fairly decent job of playing, as I recall "The Rose" so I joined her and sang. Well, we proceeded to find several songs we knew in common.. Finally I had to move along as I was traveling as part of a group and it was time to catch the buss.. turned around (I had been focused on her and the piano) and the space behind me was PACKED with people, listening to us perform.. What can I say.. I rather enjoied that..
jake2250
Explorer
Apr 13, 2016
A couple of years ago we camped on the beach and the campers next to us in a VW camper van showed up,, I thought "Cool a couple of Hippies" and yeah,, But they were great neighbors,, He played Guitar and his girlfriend played the Flute,, They actually came over, introduce them selfs and asked if we would mind them playing and singing,,Of course we said we would enjoy it!
They played almost all day and into the night, then the next day they had friends show up and they had instruments,Needless to say it was one of the most joyful camping adventures we have ever enjoyed!!
They played good music and music I have never heard before but enjoyed it!!
They were very nice and considerate and very polite!! If I could camp next to them again I would look very much forward to that!!
Stefonius
Explorer
Apr 13, 2016
When our group gets together, someone can always be counted on to play "Wagon Wheel". It's the "Stairway to Heaven" of folk music.
Go_Dogs
Explorer
Apr 13, 2016
My late husband would play, 'Taps' on his harmonica at sunset. I can still hear it.
banjo
Explorer
Apr 13, 2016
Guitar??? Who plays the guitar?

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Guitar around a campfire !!

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