Guitar Songs

Played 20091219: Not bad, play slowly and on rhythm. Then work up in speed to the pace of the song. I added lyrics to the tab below; in general, each phrase is sung somewhere around the first and second beat of every two measures, i.e., four measures will have two phrases sung. The tabber uses "&" for Coda and "$" for Segno. Lyrics during the first play at "$" follows (1) and during the second play follows (2). I=[C][F][C][F] II=[F,Am/E][Dm,F][G,C/G][G7] III=[F,G][C,E7][F,G][C,E7] III'=[F,G][C,E7][F,G][C] Where the chords Am/E and C/G are played by holding Am and C but just at the appropriate strings. IntroX I Verse1 I,I,II Verse2 I,I,II Chorus III,III' Verse3 I,I,II Chorus III,III' http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/j/john_lennon/imagine_ver2_tab.htm Intro [C][F][C][F] Verse [C][F][C][F] Imagine there's no heaven It's easy if you try [C][F][C][F] No hell below us Above us only sky [F,Am/E][Dm,F][G,C/G][G7

B B B B B B B B C#m C#m C#m C#m E E C9 C9 B B B B B B B B C#m C#m C#m C#m E E C9 C9 Chorus: B B F# F# E E B B Repeated several times Repeat Above

20101015: http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/a/amos_lee/keep_it_loose_keep_it_tight_tab.htm http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/a/amos_lee/keep_it_loose_keep_it_tight_ver2_tab.htm http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/a/amos_lee/keep_it_loose_keep_it_tight_crd.htm None of these tabs really fleshes out the song fully. But all capture bits and pieces to throw together. As such... I'm just gonna get the general idea. And go with the flow. 20101016: Actually the chord tab has all the chords in place so I go off that. E F#m G#m A B C#m. E major. (F# C# G# D#) Capo on II should make the relative key D major, yes? D Em F#m G A Bm (F# C#) I'll have to see later.

20101011: This song will get the simplification treatment. And the simplification is very simple. One tab has the same four chords repeating throughout the whole song. F# C# D#m B (F# major) (http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/j/jason_mraz/im_yours_ver4_crd.htm)(The tab labels D#m as Ebm, which is the same chord, but technically speaking, F# major has D#, not Eb). B F# G#m E (B major). (Original Key)(http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/j/jason_mraz/im_yours_ver3_crd.htm) In either case, the progression is I V vi IV. (Thus in C major one would have C G Am F) I guess you could play open chords with a capo on the 6th fret. Lyrics Breakdown: Verse (Well you done done...) Chorus 1 (I won't hesitate...) Verse 2 (Open up your mind...) Chorus 2 (I won't hesitate... + There's no need to complicate...) Verse 3 (I've been spending way too long...) Chorus 1 First 1/2 Verse 2' (... the sky is yours) [Background First 1/2 Chorus 2] Leads over Second 1/2 Chorus

20101010: This is one of the first songs I "learned" to play. The chords are simple. Now, I should tackle the chord breakdown and memorize it. Key of C major or A minor. Legend: [I] Am F Dm G [II] Am F G G [III] C F G G [IV] Am G Single Strum [V] F G Single strum Song Breakdown: Intro I II Verse I II I II Intro I II Verse I II I II Chorus III III III Verse I II I II Chorus III III III Bridge IV V IV V IV (Picks up coming into chorus) Chorus III III III III Chorus III III III III Outro III Strum Pattern: I'm not sure, but I was listening to the song today and it sounds like maybe the pattern goes: P_P_DUD_ or D_D_DUD_, where P is Pick a string, D is Down strum, and U is Up strum. Or perhaps the pattern changes depending on the part. D_D_DU__ or the way I've been playing it this whole time (in the past) D_DU_UDU. Intro sounds like D_D__UD_. So it could be subsets of D_DU_UDU. Like D_DU_UD_. Or perhaps the intro is PP_D_DU_ or DU_U_UD_ Mayb

20100927: So I asked for a song recommendation and was given Hey Soul Sister by Train. Interesting, as the next song I will try is I'm Yours and that would be three songs that employ the ukulele. And my friend just got a ukulele. I think I'm being told I need to get a ukulele too! I don't have this song in my music library, so I don't have the lyrics memorized. Though the basic layout of the song is fairly simple. It'll take a while before I can remember the lyrics. Overall Patterns: I: |C |G |Am |F II: |C |G |Am |F; G II': |C |G |Am; F |G III: |F |G; C, G IV: |F |G Song breakdown: Hey Ay: I Verse1: I II I II Chorus: III III III IV Hey Ay: I Verse2: I II' I II Chorus: III III III IV HVerse: I II HChoru: III III ChorusAlter: III III III III IV Hey Ay: II II C

20100925: I strummed and felt like the song was in the key of D major. With the chords D, G, and A repeating. The third tab I came to had the chords A, D, and E (key of A major). Lol, either I'm off (wrong key) or I'm close (consecutive major keys have two major chords in common). Though I'm more likely off, because when I was first listening, I was switching between the A and the G. And then only added the D when trying to complete the key. And D sounded right. But I didn't realize that A and D belong to the key of A. If I had realized, I would have tried A, D, and E compared to D, G, and A. Oh well... You learn from your mistakes.

20100925: Like for many of the songs here, I've looked at the tab(s) for this song before, but I've either only memorized parts of the tab, or only played the song while looking at the tab. I looked at about three different sources. The most useful being the acoustic tab . My goal being to boil the song down into its key components. I think the lack of getting the key components has been a stumbling block to learning songs in the past. But recognizing the phrases helps break down the song. Otherwise, I already know how to do the fingering for I. Later, in the afternoon (12 hours later), I sat down, and was able to play the song from memory. Breaking it down the song into little repetitive phrases really helps. The lyrics however will be hard to do, because I don't think they come in a convenient timing with the chords. 20101011: Doing the lyrics.

Key of G 20100916: I have yet to memorize the song, but I broke I was able to identify the main structure. I played along a couple times. I'll try to memorize some pieces tomorrow.

When trying to practice this song, I had trouble remembering the bridge. I remember it starting with a C. And when guessing I would have followed with F, to G, to E. Drumroll... Bridge: C; E; F; G, F C; E; F; G. Alright...

20100828: [20100829] So I get home, and I just listened to Gone Going (by Black Eyed Peas) and so had the urge to remember Gone by Jack Johnson. Amazing, I guess this is another indicator of improvement, I pin the chorus, "Gone going, everything gone give a damn..." as E B C#m B. But it's really E B C#m A. Anyways, there was definitely some hidden memory involved, but still impressive, whether memory or by sound. Anyways... the song has an easy pattern to memorize. So here is the song after practicing it two or three times yesterday: Four measures to get the rhythm. ... Verse 1: E C#m; E C#m; E C#m; E C#m; ... E G#; C#m A; Look at all THOSE fancy clothes {"those" not "yours"} E G#; C#m A; BUT these could keep us warm just like those {"But these" not "these"} E G#; C#m A; And what about your soul is it cold? Is it {"" not "or"} F#m F#m; B B; straight from the mold and ready to be sold Verse 2: E

20100827: So this is either the first or one of the first songs I've ever learned. But on the other hand, I always forget the chord progression near the end of the verses and typically forget some of the lyrics. So today, my goal is to at least get those two. Then third, less important for me, but important to the song, is the intro. I've learned the intro a couple times, but I never think to play it or memorize it. I might consider doing that. See what remains of the old Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl post. Now, I would know in full, lyrics and chords to three songs: As Lovers Go, I Will Follow You Into the Dark, Brown Eyed Girl. I know in chunks Better Together and Banana Pancakes. I looked at a Brown Eyed Girl Chords (ver 2) tab and here is what I can remember after practicing two or three times: [text removed] 20110320: Verse: G C G D Repeated C D G Em Chorus: C D G D7 Bridge: D7 D7 D7 D7 G C G D Twice Intro Verse1:Hey now where did... Chorus Verse

20100822: So going through the tab, the verse to this song is straightforward. [Some text has been deleted] To simplify things, I will learn the chorus as B F# E C#m E F#. B F# E C#m A B. As done in As Lovers Go (Tab Ver 3) Or B F# Abm C#m E F#. B F# Abm C#m E F#. As done in As Lovers Go (Chord Ver 2) But maybe in the evening or tomorrow. UPDATE: I learned the second for simplicity. Then it's easy to do the modulated chorus just by shifting all the barred chords up two frets. The second verse I got, but the chorus I still get a little confused with the verses. Chorus: This is easy as lovers go, so don't complicate it by hesitating. [And] This is wonderful as loving goes. This is taylor made. What's the sense in waiting. 20100823: So I guess I got down the whole song except for one minor silly factor haha. Verse 1 Refrain 1 Chorus Verse 2 Refrain 2 Chorus Chorus Modulated Chorus Modulated End. The silly factor is I've long listened to the song a

20100819: Listened and tried getting the strum pattern. Then tried playing some chords. It sounded like the key of A to me. Yay! Practiced the chord transcription first two or three times. Then the tabbed transcription once or twice. 20110324: I read my notes and went at the chord transcription. At first I sang some of the lyrics weirdly. But slowly they sounded more like the original melody, and without looking at strumming or listening to the original song, I strummed the song in a way that sounded right. After a couple of times, I went to the tabbed transcription. I paid attention to the similar chord progression and that helped draw patterns. The transition between the chords A and F#min sounds awesome. I decided not to play the tab exactly to the letter, but sort of get the idea. That is a choice of strumming A twice and then F#min three or four times or hit the open e, hammer on the second fret and slide to the fifth before strumming the A once and then getting to F#min. Th

In the month of July, I put in some practice for the songs "Better Together," "Never Know," "Banana Pancakes," "Good People," and "Sitting, Waiting, Wishing." Some practiced more than others.

20100307: It's a simple song, just two chords. So the focus is on the lyrics. But the song is best with two people as its done by the band. This way, the song is a sort of conversation. And plus, from one verse to the other, the "But you" leads into slightly into the next verse. The tabber below starts the Cmaj7 at "But you" but I feel the Cmaj7 starts at "in anyone else." ::shrug:: http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/m/moldy_peaches/anyone_else_but_you_crd.htm 20110324: I concur with my above opinion about when to start the Cmaj7. Actually it's not a matter of when to start it, it simply starts there due to the timing of the song. As I sort of said above, the "But you" comes in near the end of the measure, perhaps on beat four. If this was done in a pair, the person singing "But you" can carry the note for a couple extra beats. Doing the piece solo, one option is just to play an extra G and Cmaj7 before starting the next

20100116: I decided that I would put a capo at the 8th fret instead of playing a barred C chord. And by rewriting the tab with respect to the 8th fret, you can move the capo to whichever key you want. http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/b/brett_dennen/darlin_do_not_fear_ver2_tab.htm Tuning:Standard Modified to Capo on 8: ----Intro---- e|---------0------------------------------------| B|----/1-------1---1/3--1-0--0----------0---1---| G|------------------------------2p0h2-----------| D|----------------------------------------------| A|----------------------------------------------| E|----------------------------------------------| e|--3--3---1--0---------------------3------| B|--------------3--1---0h1p0---------------| G|-------------------------------0---------| D|----------------------------2------------| A|-----------------------------------------| E|-----------------------------------------| e|--1--0-----------------------------| B|--------3--1--0h1p0-----0-

Played 20100116: Fixed the first riff from the tab below. Alternatively, play at 5: One Riff: e[---------------------5-------] b[-6-----6-----6-6-------6---6-] g[---7-5---7-5-----7-5-----7---] d[-----------------------------] a[-----------------------------] e[-----------------------------] http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/m/matt_and_kim/good_ol_fashion_nightmare_intro_tab.htm One Riff: e[-1-----1-----1-1-----5-1---1-] b[---3-1---3-1-----3-1-----3---] g[-----------------------------] d[-----------------------------] a[-----------------------------] e[-----------------------------] Another Riff: e[--------------------------] b[-3-1----------------------] g[-----2-0--0-2-0---0-2-----] d[---------3------3-----0---] a[------------------------3-] e[--------------------------] Ahhhh... What a Good Ol' Fashion Nightmare e[--------------------------] b[-3-1----------------------] g[-----2-0--0-2-0---0-2-----] d[---------3------3-----3---] a[--------------------------] e[----------------

20100113: C G Am7 F C. 20100114: The intro is more easily done on an acoustic guitar where the neck is narrower which allows for use of thumb on the [1] and [3] on the sixth string during the F chord. Or, one could ignore the [0] on the third string and then barre an F chord and use the middle finger which would normally be on the fourth string and hover over the [3] on the sixth string. 20100115: Got a real capo yesterday, tried it a bid. So now I have three different capos. This one isn't bad, but just barely fits the classical guitar. I'll have to bring it to MD and see how it compares to my other two kinds. The F to C intro is hard, again due to the width of the neck of a classical, but I'm able to play and sing looking at the lyrics. I just have to try and remember the bridge. All the C, C', C'' business is mostly just variation that may or may not be discernible. http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/c/calling/wherever_you_will_go_acoustic_crd.htm

20100110: This song is hard to get the vocals in, because its sort of choppy. I play strumming the chords. The D/F# can be formed and it sort of comes in after you play the D. That is you sort of do more or less your same strum pattern, but then I come up and hit that F# during the middle of the strum pattern. http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/t/the_fray/how_to_save_a_life_crd.htm Step [G]one you say we [D/F#]need to talk He [Em]walks you say sit [D]down it’s [D/F#]just a [G]talk He smiles po[D/F#]litely back at [Em]you You stare po[D]litely [D/F#]right on [G]through Some sort of [D/F#]window to your [Em]right As he goes [D]left and [D/F#]you stay [G]right Between the [D/F#]lines of fear and [Em]blame And you begin to [D]wonder [D/F#]why you came [C]Where did I go [D]wrong, I lost a [Em]friend Somewhere a[G]long in the bit[D/F#]terness And I [C] would have stayed [D] up with you all [Em] night Had I known [G]how to save a [D/F#]life Let him know that you know best

20100110: I always forget the chord progression at the end. But I think now I can do it: C D G Em. See the newer Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl post. http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/v/van_morrison/brown_eyed_girl_ver2_crd.htm http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/v/van_morrison/brown_eyed_girl_ver3_tab.htm BROWN EYED GIRL by: Van Morrison Tab by: Aaron Meredith Standard tuning: (E-A-D-G-B-e) Over the years, I have seen this intro played a few different ways. I believe 1 & 2 are played together but all sound good. If there are 2 guitars playing, you can harmonize by playing 2 different ones. Intro: (Arrangement 1) e|7---8--10---8--7----12--13--15--13--12----7---8--10---8--7---5~--2--3-5| B|8--10--12--10--8----13--15--17--15--13----8--10--12--10--8---3~--------| G|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|x2 D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------| A|-----------------------------------------------

2010010X: Tried to play without a capo, but when running into the G chord, I ran into an obstacle. One or two of the crew just suggested I make one. 20100109: Today, I entertained the idea of making a capo. I took a pencil, grabbed some rubber bands, and folded up a bounty napkin to bad the back. I took up some of the rubber band space by twisting it back and forth. After it was fairly tight, I added in another pencil. I tuned it so it was in tune at the fret. It doesn't beat a real capo due to lack of curvature, but it works decently. And I can try and fine tune it, that's why it has two pencils, but I decided that the tightness from two pencils is enough. 20100109: Really it is 3 o'clock in the morning of 20100110, but anyways... I think this song isn't too bad. Spitting out the chords: Am C F C,G Am C G G Am C E Am,G F Fm C C<- C C Am Am F F C<- G<- C C Am Am F F C G repeat times 3. Fm Fm Fm Fm. Go to the chorus. The one's with an arrow "<

Played 20100101: This was an easy enough song, that before looking at the tab, I knew the first chord is G, and that the key was in G, and that the other two chords would be D and C, and was pretty sure on the G D C D progression. But not entirely. Though I knew it didn't sound like Brown-Eyed Girl, so it wasn't a G C G D progression. And the music was lively enough to not contain an Am or Em. The Dsus4 does sound better than the D, but I wonder if it should replace the second D as well. G Dsus4 C Dsus4 instead of the below G Dsus4 C D. ::shrug:: If just playing the guitar part as done in the song, the strumming is Strum, Strum Strum, Strum Strum, Strum Strum... where the two strums are strumming one chord from the previous and then the next, i.e., G, G D, D C, C D, D G, etc. But when playing alone, or with only guitars, it's better to be a little creative to fill in the blanks. I seem to be doing D D D DU UD. But I don't know how that's happening because I'm