Category: Guitar Tips

This version of Edelweiss is played in the key of G. In this version I combine melody with chords. Edelweiss was featured in the famous movie called “The Sound of Music”. It was a folky feel but was not a traditional Austrian song. It was written specifically for the 1959 musical The Sound of Music

In this video I add a bass pattern to the accompiament of “Waltzing Matilda”. I use all downstrokes in this example, but you could just as well use down-up strokes. The initial pattern is Bass-Strum-Strum-Strum (1-2-3-4). I then introduce variations like this: Bass-mute-Strum-Strum, and Bass-mute-Strum-mute. “Bass-mute” and “Strum-mute” actually amounts to holding the note for

In this video we look at a simple finger style accompaniament. Pay special attention to the movement of the bass line in this version.

Here’s what is often called the “Old Faithful” strum for guitar players. The version I describe here consists of Down-Up-Down-Up–Up-Down-Up. In other words, you miss the 3rd Downstroke. You may also hear a variation which does not include upstrokes for the first two beats. In other words, Down–Down–Up-Down-Up. The important aspect of this strum is

Here’s Twinkle Twinkle played with chords, in the key of G –

“She’ll Be Comin’ Round the Mountain” Spiritual Roots: (from ChatGPT) The song originated as a Christian spiritual called “When the Chariot Comes” during the late 1800s. It was sung by African American workers and spiritual communities in the South. In this version, the “she” referred to the chariot that would carry believers to heaven, symbolizing

“Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright” appeared on Bob Dylan’s 1963 album “The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan”. This was his second studio album and the one that really got him noticed. It also included “Blowin’ in the Wind”. The song is based on the end of Dylan’s romantic relationship with Suze Rotolo. It captures the melancholy feelings

Adding Bass notes to your playing is one of the easiest ways to spruce it up. Typically you want to strike a bass note in the chord for the 1st and 3rd beat. For example, if you’re playing a D chord, play the open D string on the 1st beat, and perhaps the open A

From Wikipedia… “Rivers of Babylon” is a Rastafari song written and recorded by Brent Dowe and Trevor McNaughton of the Jamaican reggae group The Melodians in 1970. The lyrics are adapted from the texts of Psalms 19 and 137 in the Hebrew Bible. The Melodians’ original version of the song appeared on the soundtrack album