Learning BOWA, please help me out

[meicjos]

I've listened to a lot of recordings on here, and I keep wishing that I could sing and play guitar at the same time and sound halfway decent, or at least have it seem like I know what I'm doing. I've come up with an idea, but I'll need the help of more experienced musicians on here. I thought that I could just go through the steps of learning to preform a song, and post a video of myself just playing, then refine that and post another video, eventually add vocals, up until I can preform the song where people will listen and say "thats not too bad."

I've been playing guitar off and on for a couple of years now, and I have a decent guitar, but it definitely needs to get used more. I also suck at singing, so when the time comes for me to add vocals, you've been warned.

Anyways, I would like to start with one of my fovorite songs, The Best of What's Around. I just started this song yesterday so bear with me.
This first video is just me playing through the song, and butchering the whole second half, but its definitely my best attempt up to date.

http://beta.yousendit.com/transfer.php? ... 1A2CD5B91D

I'm looking for you guys to tear into me in the most constructive manner, and to give any suggestions, tell me to work on just the refrain and post that, tips on the fingering, your past experiences on learning to sing and play, and anything else that I need to do to help me be able to preform this song. Hopefully, I'll be able to preform this song soon, and will have an excellent foundation on the process of learning songs. Thanks for any help you can give, I really appreciate it. And, I recorded this on my digital camera so the quality is pretty shitty, but it still works.

[i like tictacs]

Just keep practicing. Your rhythm during the

x0221x 3-2-1

part was off, and it sounds like the E string is out of tune, or you're just clanking on that thing way too hard. Try to get a Dave + Tim version of that song to pick up the subtleties of the rhythm.

[mattinbeloit]

Good advise, the best way to learn this song is the D&T version, thats the way I learned it, it's alot easier to pick up the rythm without the band.

[paulaitchison]

keep a constant speed when you slide

[Taylor2885]

Just keep practicing. Your rhythm during the

x0221x 3-2-1

part was off, and it sounds like the E string is out of tune, or you're just clanking on that thing way too hard. Try to get a Dave + Tim version of that song to pick up the subtleties of the rhythm.

And i always slide down the guitar after the 3-2-1 part. after 1 i go up to the 8,9, 10 fret, whatever and slide down. It doesn't sound right when you slide up the frets.

[andybutter]

i gotta tell you man, your left hand is good, but your rhythm is pretty weak. i can give you something that helped me and a few friends with rhythm if you like... let me know...

[meicjos]

Hey everybody, thanks for the help. I haven't been able to practice too much due to finals this week, but I got some quality time in today. I haven't improved enough to make another video, but I feel that its coming along, and I'm also having a lot more fun with the song. And, andybutter, I'd love to hear anything about rhythm, because I know that's what is hurting me now.