A few months back a student asked me about how to play without chord sheets.

They were struggling to jam with others and here’s what they said: 

===

Everyone keeps saying "it just a 1 - 4 - 5", but it's never exactly one measure of 1, followed by exactly one measure of 4, then one measure of 5.  They say I should hear the changes coming, and recognize the one, four, five chords by ear.  But I can't.  So I have a binder with 100+ chord sheets, and I need it to play anything.  And, if a measure has 2 beats of C and 2 beats of G, I need that noted on the chord sheet. How do I play without sheets?

===

Sometimes musicians say things like “You’ll hear it…” Or “It’s easy, you’ll be fine” as they try to get you to jam songs they know really well, but you’ve never heard in your life. 

It’s challenging.

Of course, many songs seem easy once you can play them. So, THEY will be fine. But if...

Let’s go back in time to 1895…

This song sings of a utopian world free from pain, struggle, and heartache. 

It’s a simple song… it only uses 3 chords.

Below I’ll break down the history and guitar style behind this classic American folk song.

So grab your axe, and let’s dive into this "Big Rock Candy Mountain" chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Big Rock Candy Mountain?

"Big Rock Candy Mountain" was originally written by Harry McClintock, a.k.a "Haywire Mac". He was a popular American folk singer, songwriter, and labor activist. Although McClintock first wrote the song in 1895, it later became widely known after he performed it at the 1928 American Folk Song Festival.

The lyrics are quite interesting…

It sings of a utopian paradise where everything is perfect—there are "cigarette trees," "lemonade springs," and "ice cream mountains." However, the song also has an undercurrent of cynicism. It was written during a time when...

Here’s a powerful song from none other than “The Eighth Wonder of the World" himself.

It’s got a groove deeper and wider than the Grand Canyon... 

And will show you how to blend fancy jazz chords and funky rhythms in an amazing way. 

So grab your 6-stringer, and let’s dive into this Stevie Wonder "Higher Ground" chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Higher Ground?

“Higher Ground” was written, produced, and performed by Stevie Wonder. It’s one of his most iconic tracks where he recorded the song almost entirely by himself. Wonder is a virtuoso musician that is immensely adapt at playing multiple instruments at a level far beyond most. He played all the instruments on the track, including the clavinet, drums, and Moog bass. 

He’s said “Higher Ground” is about second chances — a chance for people to do better in their lives and strive for enlightenment. He wrote the song just before being involved in a...

I can’t think of any other band that blended rock, punk, and reggae in such a new and exciting way.

From Andy Summers’ driving rock rhythms… to the punk rock attitude Sting’s vocals brought to the mix… to the highly rhythmic and syncopated drum parts of Stewart Copeland… 

The Police were one of a kind.

Below I’m going to dive into the signature guitar style behind one of their most legendary tracks. 

So grab your axe, and let’s dive into this "Message In A Bottle" chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Message In A Bottle?

"Message In A Bottle" is one of most iconic tracks performed by British power rock trio The Police. It was written in 1979 by Sting, and released as the lead single from the band’s second studio album, Reggatta de Blanc. 

Sting reportedly wrote the song while living in a small apartment in London. He was reflecting on his own feelings of solitude after relocating to the city to pursue music.

...

Many guitar players get stuck playing the blues in keys like E and A.

Which are great guitar keys. But they are not as popular as keys like F and Bb are for piano players and horn players. This means if you don’t know your scales and notes in these other keys. Jamming with different musicians can be tough.

In this post, I want to show you a great scale to know whether you are a beginner or an advanced player. I’m going to share ways to play the F blues scale on guitar, how to practice the F blues scale, and even songs that use the F blues scale. This all ties in with music theory as well. But it’s important to realize the blues scale is a Western interpretation of a style that is tough to pinpoint.

But let’s get straight into it, starting with…

What notes are in the F blues scale?

The notes in the F minor blues scale are: 

F - Ab - Bb - Cb - C - Eb - F 

Now, it’s important to point out, that when guitarist say “Blues Scale”...

If I had to pick ONE song that’s been a staple of all the weddings, parties, and events I’ve played over the years… it would be THIS ONE!

The carefree vibe and infectious dance groove have made its status legendary.

Below, I’m going to break down the guitar style behind it, as well as some cool jazzier chords to boot.

So grab your 6-stringer, and let’s dive into this "September" chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote September?

“September” was originally written by Maurice White, Al McKay, and Allee Willis. It was first recorded in 1978 and released as a new track for Earth, Wind & Fire’s album: The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1. The song’s iconic date, “the 21st night of September,” has no specific meaning other than “the words just sounded good together”, according to Allee Willis. Similarly, the “ba-dee-ya” lyric came from Maurice White whose preference was more about...

Keith Richards is a master at creating simple riffs that evoke strong primal energy.

I know that may sound a bit strange but there’s something about his guitar parts and rhythms that hit you right in the gut. 

As of the time of me typing this, the song I want to share with you has over 13 million plays on YouTube. Apparently, I’m not the only one who can relate to this.  

So grab your axe, and let’s unpack this "Jumpin’ Jack Flash" chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Jumpin’ Jack Flash?

"Jumpin' Jack Flash" was written by Keith Richards and Mick Jagger two founding members of the legendary rock band The Rolling Stones. It’s one of their most iconic songs, first released as a single in 1968 it marked the Stones' return to their blues-rock roots after a brief departure into psychedelia.

The song was recorded at Olympic Sound Studios in London and is a great example of the raw and driving sound that became a staple of the...

Here’s a witty song with a pretty depressing undertone.

It’s a unique blend of playful lyrics, a broad sentiment, and of course, the blues…

Paul Simon plays it fingerstyle. 

Grab your 6-stringer, and let’s dive into this "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover" chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover?

"50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" was written by Paul Simon in 1975. It became his first solo number-one single in the U.S. after parting ways with Art Garfunkel.

They got together in the 1950s when first performed as "Tom and Jerry." But their big fame emerged in the 1960s when they adopted their real names and embraced a folk-inspired sound.  

“50 Ways To Leave Your Lover” is renowned for its playful yet punchy lyrics. The inspiration for the song came during Simon's own divorce from Peggy Harper. He reportedly came up with the opening lyrics while waking up in his Central Park apartment, reflecting on his pain. ...

Here’s an epic song that’s become a bit of a cultural phenomenon. 

Every time I’ve performed it at a special event, bar, wedding, or club the crowd always seems to go CRAZY.

Especially when they get to the sing-along… 

So grab your 6-stringer, and let’s dive into this "Sweet Caroline" chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Sweet Caroline?

"Sweet Caroline" was written by Neil Diamond in 1969. The story goes for years he claimed it was inspired by Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of President John F. Kennedy. 

He said he saw a photo of young Caroline on the cover of a magazine and thought the name "Caroline" fit perfectly with the melody he had already been developing. 

However, in 2014, Diamond revealed that the song was actually inspired by his then-wife, Marcia Murphey. He chose "Caroline" simply because her name didn’t fit the rhythm of the song.

Can you picture it?

“Sweet Marsha…”

This unexpected twist adds...

George Harrison was sued by the publishers of the song "He’s So Fine" recorded by the Chiffons. 

They claimed he had unintentionally copied their melody. 

This song is a standout tune from Harrison’s monumental album All Things Must Pass.

In this post, I’m going to break down the guitar style behind it in an easier and more advanced way.

So grab your axe, and let’s dive into this "My Sweet Lord" chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote My Sweet Lord?

"My Sweet Lord" is a powerful song written by George Harrison, the lead guitarist of The Beatles. It was released in 1970 as part of his landmark solo album All Things Must Pass. 

At this point, Harrison was truly blossoming into his unique solo sound – post The Beatles. “My Sweet Lord” is one of the most beloved spiritual pop songs of all time. It blends Harrison’s newfound enlightenment with pop music of the day.

Harrison was inspired to write the song after hearing the Edwin...