I’ve been playing music with a friend, a skilled guitar player, for several years now in a duo setting. While I initially started on mandolin and consider myself the less technically proficient player, we’ve developed a solid setlist. We’re now looking to broaden our musical horizons and explore playing at local venues like bars, coffee shops, and open mics this summer. We aim for casual gigs and are excited to expand our repertoire.
Currently, we confidently perform these songs:
- Old Joe Clark
- Arkansas Traveler
- Whiskey Before Breakfast
- Blackberry Blossom
- Eight More Miles to Louisville
- Church Street Blues
- Gonna Lay Down My Old Guitar
- All The Good Times Are Past and Gone
- Last Train From Poor Valley
- The Old Home Place
- Hard Times
- L.A. Freeway
- Sing Me Back Home
- Wagon Wheel
- Wayfaring Stranger
- Coal Dust In My Soul
While I also play guitar on some tracks, I’ve become the primary vocalist. Although I can carry a tune, powerhouse vocals aren’t my forte, and singing isn’t my passion – though I genuinely enjoy singing a select few songs from our list.
We plan to incorporate more fiddle tunes and are particularly interested in adding some blues-influenced songs to our performances. We’re consciously avoiding overplayed “two dudes with guitars” classics—think no Dylan, Dead, or Neil Young. Instead, we’re drawn to including an Uncle Tupelo song, possibly something from the early Son Volt albums, and more classic country tunes.
Are there others out there who perform in a mandolin/guitar (or sometimes two-guitar) duo setting? We’re eager to hear your suggestions for Good Songs To Play On Guitar in this type of setup and expand our list!
