How to play the intro to Suzy Q

Suzy Q is a song by musician Dale Hawkins recorded late in the rockabilly era in 1957. He wrote it with bandmate Robert Chaisson, but when released, Stan Lewis, the owner of Jewel/Paula Records and whose daughter Susan was the inspiration for the song, and Eleanor Broadwater, the wife of Nashville DJ, Gene Nobles, were credited as co-writers to give them shares of the royalties.

Hawkins cut Susie Q in a radio station in Shreveport Louisiana. Susie Q captured the spirit of Louisiana and featured guitar work by James Burton, who also worked with Ricky Nelson and later with Elvis Presley, among others.

Creedence Clearwater Revival released a version on their debut album in 1968. The band’s only Top 40 hit not written by John Fogerty, it peaked at number 11. This song was one of their first big hits. The album version clocks in at 8:37. The single is split into parts one and two on its A and B sides, respectively. The jam session during the coda is omitted in part one. Instead, it fades out with the guitar solo right before the coda, which fades in with part two on the B-side.

Fogerty told Rolling Stone magazine in 1993 that he recorded Suzie Q to get the song played on KMPX, a funky progressive-rock radio station in San Francisco, which is why it was extended to eight minutes.

How to play Both Sides Now

Both Sides Now is one of the best-known songs of Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell.  First recorded by Judy Collins, it appeared on the U.S. singles chart during the fall of 1968. The next year it was included on Mitchell’s album Clouds (which was named after a lyric from the song). It has since been recorded by dozens of artists, including Frank Sinatra, Willie Nelson, Herbie Hancock, Neil Diamond and many others. Mitchell herself re-recorded the song, with an orchestral arrangement, on her 2000 album Both Sides Now.

In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked Both Sides Now at #171 on its list of The 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time.

My solo arrangement of Both Sides Now is in Spanish tuning (also known as open G tuning). For best results learning the song use the tab and watch and listen to the video at slow speed. You can slow You Tube videos down in the settings in the top, right corner of the screen (three dots usually). The notation duration (stems, flags, etc.) aren’t totally accurate because the syncopation is too tedious to write out and I know most people will use the tab anyway.

How to play the C major scale on the Puerto Rican Cuatro

The major scale is the most essential scale in the western hemisphere. The video and web page below explains various ways to play the scale.

The C Major Scale on the Cuatro

Ask Asher #5: Tips for buying your first guitar

We still have four weeks until Christmas with enough time to learn a song.  Learning a Christmas song to share with your family would be a wonderful gift.

A Christmas song for beginning guitar students:

What Child Is This?

What Child Is This? is a Christmas carol whose lyrics were written by William Chatterton Dix, in 1865. At the time of composing the carol, Dix worked as an insurance company manager and had been struck by a severe illness. While recovering, he underwent a spiritual renewal that led him to write several hymns, including lyrics to this carol that was subsequently set to the tune of Greensleeves, a traditional English folk song. Although it was written in Great Britain, the carol is more popular in the United States than in its country of origin today.

What Child Is This? slow tempo

What Child Is This? normal tempo

A Christmas song for intermediate guitar students:

Silent Night

There’s a wonderful story about the carol Silent Night. Supposedly, the song was first performed on Christmas Eve in 1818, just a few hours after it had been written. The Austrian priest, Joseph Mohr, was in desperate need of music for the midnight mass because his church’s organ was broken. So, he penned these lyrics and brought them to the organist Franz Gruber, who composed a simple melody for a guitar accompaniment. But as nice is this tale sounds, it is not entirely true.

Joseph Mohr actually wrote the lyrics to “Silent Night” several years before, in 1816. Regardless of its origin, the carol has proved to be immensely popular. It was first translated into English by hymnodist Emily Elliot in 1858, and again by John Freeman Young in 1859. Since that first performance, the lyrics have been translated into over 100 languages, and merrily sung by carolers all over the world.

Spanish Tuning

What does Robert Johnson, Mississippi John Hurt, Joni Mitchell, Jimmy Page, Keith Richards, Leo Kottke, Michael Hedges, The Black Crowes, The Moody Blues,  and most of the acoustic blues players from the Mississippi delta have in common? Spanish tuning! Spanish tuning is usually, but not limited to, open A or open G. If you are familiar with the A chord then you will know the sound. Basically. you tune the guitar to sound like an A chord played open. Therefore, the open notes are EAEAC#E low to high. Open G is the same intervals a whole tone lower. Therefore, the notes are DGDGBD low to high. I prefer G because there is less string tension. The advantage of open tuning is the open strings are used extensively to our advantage and barre chords are much easier. In this lesson we have Silent Night using Spanish tuning in the key of G. I hope you enjoy!

A Christmas song for Puerto Rican cuatro students:

Feliz Navidad

Feliz Navidad is a Christmas song written in 1970 by the Puerto Rican singer and songwriter Jose Feliciano. With its simple Spanish chorus (the traditional Christmas/New Year greeting, “Feliz Navidad, próspero año y felicidad” meaning “Merry Christmas, a prosperous year and happiness”) and equally simple English verse “I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas from the bottom of my heart”, it has become a classic Christmas pop song.

Hello music lovers,

This week we have three freebies: 1) Guitar Chords Level 3: The Key of C,  2) Rocky Top on the Ukulele, and 3) Introducing Asher to the Cuatro. The lessons contain videos, tab, and/or chord diagrams. Comments and questions are always welcomed and strongly encourage

Chords Level 3: The Key of C

There are seven basic chords in the key of C. In this video we learn how to play the chords in the key of C with an accompanying backing track.

Rocky Top on the Ukulele

The ukulele has enjoyed a renaissance in recent years. Check out Brian’s version of Rocky Top.

Asher is introduced to the Puerto Rican Cuatro

Pioneer Day Tomorrow!

Asher, Simeon, and Brian will be performing at Jesse Jone Park Pioneer Day.

3-4 tomorrow, Saturday, November 9. We would love to see you there!

20634 Kenswick Dr, Humble, TX 77338

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In case you missed one!
Friday’s Freebies #1

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Friday’s Freebie’s #3

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Hello music lovers,

This week we have four freebies: 1) Guitar chords Level 2: The Key of G,  2) The swing classic, After You’ve Gone, 3) Silent Night on the Puerto Rican cuatro, and 4) Ask Asher, live stream #2. The lessons contain videos, tab, and/or chord diagrams. Comments and questions are always welcomed and strongly encouraged!

Chords Level 2: The Key of G

In our previous lesson I discussed chords: level 1.  We simply learned the 3 most common chords in each of the 7 guitar friendly keys. In level 2 we will learn to enrich the same chords using notes from the major scale (diatonic notes) that are not in the basic chords. By adding these notes we will construct the add9, sus4, 6, Maj 7, and the dominant 9 chords.

Here it is:
Chords Level 2: The Key of G

After You’ve Gone

After You’ve Gone may be as old as jazz itself. It was written by composer, Turner Layton, in the 1918. Every jazz legend has performed or recorded this song from the Great American Song Book. Django Reinhardt, Al Jolson, Gene Krupa, Bessie Smith, Louis Armstrong, and many more have made this song part of their repertoire. Originally it was a slower song but it can be played at any tempo. Compare the Fiona Apple with John Pizzarelli’s version in the videos below and you’ll see what I mean. Joscho Stephan is a gypsy jazz guitarist from the school of Django. If you are not familiar with gypsy jazz, watching Joscho is a great place to start. The chords are provided below the videos.

Here it is:
After You’ve Gone

Silent Night on the Puerto Rican Cuatro

here it is!

Silent Night

Ask Asher

Asher Rives is my twelve year old student and co-host of our live streams. In our second stream we discuss guitars and compare contemporary music to music from the golden age of radio. Is music from my generation better than contemporary music? See what Asher has to say.

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for future streams feel free to email me.

here it is:
Ask Asher: Live Stream #2

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Guitar Goodies

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In case you missed last weeks!

Friday’s Freebies #1

Friday”s Freebies #2

Asher Rives is my twelve year old student and co-host of our live streams. In our second stream we discuss guitars and compare  contemporary music to music from the golden age of radio. Is music from my generation better than contemporary music? See what Asher has to say.

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for future streams feel free to email me.

CC

Contact Brian and Asher

After You’ve Gone may be as old as jazz itself. It was written by composer, Turner Layton, in the 1918. Every jazz legend has performed or recorded this song from the Great American Song Book. Django Reinhardt, Al Jolson, Gene Krupa, Bessie Smith, Louis Armstrong, and many more have made this song part of their repertoire. Originally it was a slower song but it can be played at any tempo. Compare the Fiona Apple with John Pizzarelli’s version in the videos below and you’ll see what I mean. Joscho Stephan is a gypsy jazz guitarist from the school of Django. If you are not familiar with gypsy jazz watching Joscho is a great place to start. The chords are provided below the videos.

After You’ve Gone Chords

The notation, chords, and tab:

Malaguenia tab and notation

A computer generated audio of the tab and notation:

Hello music lovers,

This week we have four freebies: How to memorize chords level 1 for beginning guitarists, How to play Sweet Georgia Brown and an analysis of Honey Suckle Rose for intermediate to advanced guitarists. We also have minor scales for cuatro. All the lessons contain videos, tab, and/or chord diagrams. Comments and questions are always welcome.

Memorizing Chords level 1

Guitar chords level 1 consist of the 7 friendly keys. They are friendly because no barre chords are involved. Memorizing a lot of chords can seem like a daunting task but when you understand the number system the task becomes much easier. The chords in level 1 are what we call the I IV V (Roman numerals) chord progression.

Here it is:
The I, IV, V chord progression.

Sweet Georgia Brown

Sweet Georgia Brown may be the first swing song I learned. My earliest recollection of it is watching the Harlem Globe Trotters on TV when I was a kid. It was their theme song. Anyone raised in the 60s remembers the whistling version of Sweet Georgia Brown. In the following video you will see my ace student, Asher Rives,  performing the classic. I also have versions by the legendary Django Reinhardt, Louis Armstrong, and more. The chords, tab, and melody are also provided.

Here it is:
Sweet Georgia Brown

Analysis of Honey Suckle Rose

Last week I showed you Honey Suckle Rose. Let’s discuss why and how the chords work.

Here it is:
Analysis of Honey Suckle Rose

Minor Scales for Cuatro

In these videos we will learn the pure minor scale and the harmonic minor scales in the key of Dm and how to use them over the Andalusian cadence. The chord progression is know as the Andalusian cadence.

here it is:
part 1
part 2

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In case you missed last weeks!
Friday’s Freebies #1

Sweet Georgia Brown may be the first swing song I learned. My earliest recollection of it is watching the Harlem Globe Trotters on TV when I was a kid. It was their theme song. Anyone raised in the 60s remembers the whistling version of Sweet Georgia Brown.

Reportedly Ben Bernie came up with the concept for the song’s lyrics – although he is not the accredited lyricist – after meeting Dr. George Thaddeus Brown in New York City: Dr. Brown, a longtime member of the State House of Representatives for Georgia, told Bernie about Dr. Brown’s daughter Georgia Brown and how subsequent to the baby girl’s birth on August 11, 1911 the Georgia General Assembly had issued a declaration that she was to be named Georgia after the state, an anecdote which would be directly referenced by the song’s lyric: “Georgia claimed her – Georgia named her.”

The tune was first recorded on March 19, 1925, by bandleader Ben Bernie, resulting in a five-week number one for Ben Bernie and his Hotel Roosevelt Orchestra.^[1]

One of the most popular versions of “Sweet Georgia Brown” was recorded in 1949 by Brother Bones and His Shadows and later adopted as the theme song of the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team in 1952.

First, let’s us check out four versions:

Now let’s learn the song:

First, let’s analize the chords. The A section of Sweet Georgia Brown follows a chord progression that is very common in jazz known as backing cycling or the cycle of 5ths progression. Notice you start on E7 (at 4 o’clock) and then you go counter clockwise until you reach G, then you skip up to B7 and back cycle again. The B section is a I V in the relative minor (Em).

Here it is:

Tab and chords in the key of G

Tab and chords in the key of F

Let me know if you have questions.

Thanks,

Brian

Hello music lovers,

This week we have three freebies: Chords Level 1 and how to use a capo for beginner guitarists, How to play Honey Suckle Rose for intermediate to advanced guitarists, and how to play Seis Mapeye for Puerto Rican cuatro lovers. All the lessons contain videos, tab, and/or chord diagrams. Comments and questions are always welcome.

Enjoy and thanks!
Brian

Chords level 1
and the capo

Guitar chords level 1 consist of the 7 friendly keys. They are friendly because no barre chords are involved. With these chords and a capo you can play in any key. The first video explains how to read the diagrams. The next video explains how to use a capo. You will also find a quiz at the end to see if you are ready to proceed to level 2.

Here it is:
Guitar chords-level-1 and the cap

Honey Suckle Rose

Honey Suckle Rose is a classic song that was composed in 1929, but it never gets old. The music was written by the great Thomas Wright “Fats” Waller (May 21, 1904 – December 15, 1943) and the lyrics by Andy Razaf. It was recorded my countless musicians and it is considered a jazz standard in what has become known as The Great American Song Book. Like most songs by Waller, this song is very upbeat and great for dancing. The lyrics are funny and light hearted. This song seems to always bring a smile to to faces in the audience.

Here it is:
Honey Suckle- Rose

How to Play Seis Mapeye on the Puerto Rican cuatro

Seis Mapeye is a song I was introduced to me by a Puerto Rican friend. In the video you’ll see me playing the melody. The tab and backing track is also provided.

here it is:
Seis Mapeye

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