Paul | Guitar Lessons and Performance - Paul Elwood

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

Paul2026-05-09T13:05:48-04:00

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

We are gonna be friends

“We’re Going to Be Friends” is a song by American alternative rock band the White Stripes from their album White Blood Cells. It was released in 2002 and tells the story of meeting a new friend at the beginning of a school year.

“Suzy Lee”, who is mentioned in the song in “We’re Going to Be Friends”, makes recurring appearances in White Stripes’ discography, including in their eponymous album, which includes the song “Suzy Lee”, as well as on Get Behind Me Satan, which is dedicated to Suzy Lee, “Wherever she may be…”

The song speaks of a girl and boy who become friends while engaging in activities in and out of school. AllMusic said the song “takes a nostalgic look back at the innocence of school days with a surprisingly sensitive vocal as [Jack] expertly paints impressions of days past with deft economy.”

Paul2026-04-19T17:39:41-04:00

Broke Down Palace

Paul2026-04-16T14:23:08-04:00

Your Song

your song chords and lyrics

Your Song” is a song written by British musician Elton John and lyricist Bernie Taupin, and performed by John. It was John’s first international Top 10 chart single.

“Your Song” was first released by American rock band Three Dog Night in March 1970 as an album track on It Ain’t Easy. John was an opening act for the band at the time and allowed them to record it. They did not release it as a single as they wanted to let John, then an upcoming artist, have a go with it. John’s version was recorded at Trident Studios in London in January 1970 and appeared in April as the first cut on his self-titled second studio album. Following “Border Song” as the first album single, “Your Song” was released in the United States in October 1970 as the B-side to “Take Me to the Pilot“. Both sides received airplay, but “Your Song” was preferred by disc jockeys and replaced “Take Me to the Pilot” as the A-side, eventually making it to number eight on the Billboard chart. The song also peaked at number seven on the UK singles chart, as […]

Paul2026-05-18T17:32:55-04:00

Peaceful Easy Feelin’

Download the music: Peaceful_Easy_Feelin

“Peaceful Easy Feeling” is a song written by Jack Tempchin and recorded by the Eagles. It was the third single from the band’s 1972 debut album Eagles. The single reached No. 22 on the charts and is one of the band’s most popular songs. Glenn Frey sings the lead vocal, with Bernie Leadon providing the main harmony vocal (starting in the beginning of the second verse) and Randy Meisner completing this three-part harmony.

“Learn from the masters, learn from your contemporaries. Always try to update yourself.” – Jimmy Stewart

Paul2026-04-16T14:28:22-04:00

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Why is guitar the best instrument to start on?

Fred Astaire recordings