Paul | Guitar Lessons and Performance - Paul Elwood

Three ways to play D

Three ways to play a D chord.

Just like the C chord, there a a few different ways to play D. We usually learn it first high up on the neck, using the open D string and the 2nd, 3rd and 2nd fret of the 3,2 and 1 string respectively. This is an easy one to remember because your fingers make a “triangle” shape. The notes here are D (open D string) A (2nd fret of G), D (3rd fret of B) and F# (2nd fret of E).

We can also play the D chord in the 5th position with our 1st finger on the 5th fret of 5 string and our 3rd finger barring the 7th fret of 2,3 and 4. This is a useful shape for sure!

We can also play this “F” shape in the 10th position, using our 1st finger on the 10th fret of 1 and 2 strings, our 2nd finger on the 11th fret of 3 string and our 3rd finger on the 12th fret of the 4 string.

Download the PDF:
3 ways to play D

“The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little “extra”. Jimmy Johnson

Paul2026-04-27T12:12:16-04:00

Three ways to play C

Three ways to play a C chord. Often we learn first to play a C chord at the top of the neck it what is known as “first position”. That simply means that the first finger will be responsible for the notes on the first fret, second finger for notes on the second fret and so on. So, in first position, third finger on the third fret of the 5 string, 2nd finger on the 2nd fret of the 4 string, open 3 string and first finger on the first fret of the B or 2 string.

we can also play the C chord as a barre chord with our first finger on the 3rd fret of the 5 string. Holding that note (C) and the 5th frets of the 2,3 and 4 strings, we can get our G, C and E notes, and that spells a C chord!

We can also play the C chord at the 8th position (8th fret) using an “F” shape. that is, the two adjacent 1 and 2 string held down at the 8th fret with the 1st finger, second finger on the 9th fret of 3 and 3rd finger on the 10th fret of 4.

Download the PDF:
3 ways to play C

Paul2026-04-16T14:20:45-04:00

stretching

Simple stretching is useful for guitar players. Here are some exercises to get you started

stretches for guitar players

Paul2026-04-16T14:21:14-04:00

how hard to press the strings

You want to be like “Goldilocks” a little.

Press too lightly, the string will not vibrate correctly. Press too hard, you’ll change you intonation and make the note sharper. Just a little bit of practice will show you precisely how to channel your inner Goldilocks :-)

Download the PDF: How Hard To Press The Strings

Paul2026-04-21T15:32:01-04:00

Notes at the top of the Neck

It’s useful to have an idea about the notes at the top of the neck, meaning, closest frets to the nut. This is where our first few chords will be made, and being able to refer to the notes will be helpful for learning some chord theory at the same time.
Download the PDF: guitar notes top of neck

Why is guitar the best instrument to start on?

I may be biased, but by far-
the best to start on is guitar.
The reasons? too numerous to count
so here are just a small amount:
it’s portable, it’s cool (and cheap!
Buy one? You don’t need pockets deep!)
With six or seven chords at hand
play tons of songs by any band.
No girl to call your own, my friend?
take up guitar, and that will end.

Paul2026-04-16T16:11:09-04:00

C Scale First Position

Download the PDF: C scale first position

“The mind, once expanded to the dimensions of a larger idea, never returns to its original size.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes

Paul2026-04-16T16:11:31-04:00

Diatonic root notes, pentatonic pattern

Download the pdf sheet: Diatonic root notes, pentatonic pattern

“A creative artist works on his next composition because he was not satisfied with his previous one.” – Dmitri Shostakovich

Paul2026-04-16T16:12:03-04:00

Spiderman

spiderman chords and lyrics

“Spider-Man” is the theme song of the 1967 cartoon show Spider-Man, composed by Paul Francis Webster and Bob Harris. The original song was recorded at RCA Studios in Toronto (where the cartoon was produced) featuring 12 CBC vocalists (members of the Billy Van Singers, and Laurie Bower Singers groups) who added to the musical backing track supplied by RCA Studios, New York. The singers were paid only for the session and have had no residuals from its use since then.

The song has since been adopted as Spider-Man’s official theme, including in-universe.

“Being a musician is a given for me–I didn’t have much choice in the matter.” – Tom Morello

Paul2026-04-19T14:42:14-04:00

Night and Day

Download the Night_and_Day Lead sheet

“Night and Day” is a popular song by Cole Porter that was written for the 1932 musical Gay Divorce. It is perhaps Porter’s most popular contribution to the Great American Songbook and has been recorded by dozens of musicians. NPR says “within three months of the show’s opening, more than 30 artists had recorded the song.”

Fred Astaire introduced “Night and Day” on November 29, 1932, when Gay Divorce opened at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre.

The song was so associated with Porter that when Hollywood filmed his life story in 1946, with Cary Grant, the movie was entitled Night and Day.

Fred Astaire recordings

A week before the musical Gay Divorce opened in November 1932, Astaire gathered with Leo Reisman and his orchestra at Victor’s Gramercy Recording Studio in Manhattan to make a record of two Cole Porter compositions, “Night and Day” backed with “I’ve Got You on My Mind”. All was done under the shadow cast by the 1929 stock market crash, which had spawned the Great Depression, a severe economic downturn that lasted through the 1930s. In just over two years, record industry revenues had fallen from $100 million to $6 million, driving all but three […]

Paul2026-04-16T14:24:33-04:00

Blue Eyes Cryin’ In The Rain

As guitarists, we all come to this crossroad at one point or another. Give up, or work harder. What will you do?

“Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” is a song written by songwriter Fred Rose. First recorded by Elton Britt in early 1947, then made more popular by Roy Acuff later that year, the song has been covered by many artists, including Hank Williams Sr., Johnny Russell, Charley Pride, and Elvis Presley. Most notably, the song was recorded by Willie Nelson as part of his 1975 album Red Headed Stranger. Both the song and album revived Nelson’s success as a singer and recording artist.

Originally recorded in 1947 by Acuff, “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” was recorded by Hank Williams in 1951 for the Mother’s Best Flour Hour. Other early remakes of the song were made by Donn Reynolds (MGM single – June 1957), Ferlin Husky (album Ferlin’s Favorites – November 1959), Slim Whitman (album Country Favorites – 1959), Gene Vincent (recorded October 15, 1958; album Crazy Times! -1960), Bill Anderson (album …Sings Country Heart Songs – January 15, 1962), John D. Loudermilk (album Country Love Songs Plain and Simply Sung – August 1968), Hank Snow (album Greatest Hits) and Conway Twitty (album Hello Darlin’ – June 1970).

The version by Willie Nelson, […]

Paul2026-05-02T09:57:32-04:00

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Why is guitar the best instrument to start on?

Fred Astaire recordings