Free Christmas Caroling Songbook

This past Saturday I attended SMooCH, a fantastic fundraiser concert for Seattle Children's Hospital. Macklemore headlined. Free drinks and food. It was a religious experience. Well, religious except that I was freeloading. The ticket was a gift from a student, I took advantage of the open bar, and I didn't give a dime. We're on a tight budget this year, ...

Looking for an Awesome Practice System

Musicians and teachers, I need your help. Have you used a system for tracking guitar practice that really motivated you or your students to stick with it? I’m hoping to integrate a proven tracking system into the online guitar course I’m creating. Plus, it’d be awesome to use something like this with my private students. I know how to teach …

We Have A Winner

Congratulations to Wesley for winning the 2013 Summer Cover Competition. Wesley won a $100 gift certificate to Musician’s Friend. Here’s his incendiary performance of Link Wray’s “Fire and Brimstone” that earned him first place. You can see the full results and the other competitors (who were also excellent) on the Summer Cover Competition page.

New Chart: “Fires of Edinburgh” by Nick Keir

The Cowgate Arch of George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, 1860 Source: National Galleries of Scotland Commons Here's a special treat for traditional music buffs: A chart for a gorgeous, epic tour of the history of Edinburgh written by the obscure Scottish songwriter Nick Keir. "Fires of Edinburgh" by Nick Keir (the first of the two songs) Transcribing this song was a ...

New Chart: “Crocodile Rock” by Elton John

30 Charts in 30 Days continues! Up next we have a paradox packaged in a bubblegum wrapper: Mr. John is yearning for those golden days of his youth, when he and Susie used to rock to…the song he just wrote. Careful, Elton–just because no one’s created a black hole while writing a song doesn’t mean it can’t happen. Here’s the …

New Chart: “Roll On, John” by Bob Dylan

Here's a chart for Bob Dylan's mythical ode to John Lennon, "Roll On, John". The song's structure--a long (7:25) series of alternating verse and chorus--is typical of his songwriting in the last decade. It has a similar feel to several of Joni Mitchell's songs on Hejira, namely "Song of Sharon," which is 8:40 of verses, one after the other. Their ...

New Chart: “June Hymn” by The Decemberists

Here's a chart of "June Hymn" by The Decemberists. What a gorgeous song. Lovely bass-strum technique on the guitar, the accordion and Wurlitzer interweave elegantly, and the lyrics are lush poetry. Plus, if you're a high school student with your eyes on a competitive college, this song, and really any Decemberists tune, makes for great SAT prep. English major rock ...

New Chart: “I Got Stripes” by Johnny Cash

Here's a chord chart for "I Got Stripes," originally written out for my student Wesley, the biggest Cash fan I know. Check out his great strumming in his Coffee Shop Jam performance. Part of what makes that groove sound so good is that he's accenting the 2nd and 4th beats of the measure, called the "backbeat." These are the beats ...

New Chart: “You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away” by The Beatles

Photo Credit: www.thebeatles.com I've just posted a chart for the Beatles tune "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away". Many Beatles songs are deceptively difficult. They may sound simple, but then halfway through the tune, BAM! Key change to C#! Or WHAM! Weird diminished chord invented by Thelonious Monk. Beatles fans who just know cowboy chords have a rougher row ...

New Chart: “In My Life” by The Beatles

Here's a chart for the beloved Beatles tune, "In My Life," often found in the lists of top songs of the last century. Fun Fact: The baroque harpsichord-sounding solo was composed and performed on piano by the Beatles' producer George Martin. He was unable to play it at full speed, so he recorded it at half-speed and then sped the ...