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Here's one for the boffins out there...

I can remember distinctly a BBC TV programme which was on TV soon after I got my first guitar at the age of 7 and, in particular, the opening tune played at the top of the show. All I could remember about the presenter was that he had a beard...

Well, with the wonders of modern technology and, in particular, the BBC Genome project, which allows searching of listings from old Radio Times, it turns out that this programme was called 'Hold Down a Chord' and was presented by a guy called John Pearse. I searched for this programme on youtube, but there was only a short snippet - which did not include the opening tune.

So I'm still no further forward. Does anyone remember this programme and, in particular, what the opening tune was called?

Incidentally, although I had never heard of John Pearse, it turns out that he was a well known guitarist / teacher - and this 'Hold Down a Chord' concept may first have arisen in the 60s (according to Wikipedia, that is).

thanks for any contributions.

Bernard

I'm answering my own question here - but further investigation on youtube has solved the mystery...the tune in question is called 'Guitar Train' and was the theme to 'Hold Down a Chord'. It's exactly as I remember it - more than 30 years ago! I found out that John Pearse remade his 'Hold Down a Chord' programme in the early 80s (the original dating from the 60s) - this is the version of the programme that I remember.

Guitar Train was issued on a Transatlantic single in 1967...



Bill

Thank you Bill

Believe John Pearse is the same guy who makes and sells guitar strings and plectrums etc for info

...and as one can easily deduce from the fact that single was released in 1967, the original series of HDAC was shown (on BBC1, not BBC2) in 1967.

I can remember watching the first edition.

BTW: I reckoked in first hearing, all those 48/49 years ago, that Guitar Train was based on Davey Graham's Anji, with which I was already familiar:

roger bayliss wrote:Believe John Pearse is the same guy who makes and sells guitar strings and plectrums etc for info

I think I heard that John passed away some years ago.

The brand to which he lent (or sold) his name is a mark of quality. A set of JP12s fitted to my Gibson 335 about three years ago still ring out clear and unmuffled...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Pearse

From Radio Times, Thursday 15 June 1967, 11.12pm...


John Pearse died in 2008. Wikipedia...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Pearse

Bill

Ahhh wish I had stayed up late to see this programme. Indeed a catchy little piece like Anji

Mike

JimN wrote:

roger bayliss wrote:Believe John Pearse is the same guy who makes and sells guitar strings and plectrums etc for info

I think I heard that John passed away some years ago.

The brand to which he lent (or sold) his name is a mark of quality. A set of JP12s fitted to my Gibson 335 about three years ago still ring out clear and unmuffled...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Pearse

Yes noted JN I have used JP strings and found them quite good too. Breezy Ridge Instruments !