Paul | Guitar Lessons and Performance - Paul Elwood

Honey Don’t

“Honey Don’t” is a song written by Carl Perkins, originally released on January 1, 1956 as the B-side of the “Blue Suede Shoes” single, Sun 234. Both songs became rockabilly classics. Bill Dahl of Allmusic praised the song saying, “‘Honey Don’t’ actually outclasses its more celebrated platter-mate in some ways.” It has been covered by more than 20 other artists, including the Beatles, Ronnie Hawkins and Johnny Rivers. The song has appeared in films such as The Prince of Tides, Diner, Perfect Sisters and Honey Don’t!

According to David McGee, author of Go, Cat, Go! The Life and Times of Carl Perkins, the King of Rockabilly, Carl Perkins first brought the song to a rehearsal with his band which at the time comprised the Perkins brothers and W. S. Holland:

Carl Perkins – lead guitar and vocals
Jay Perkins – acoustic guitar and backing vocals
Clayton Perkins – double bass
W. S. Holland – drums

When Carl first played the song to Jay Perkins, Jay protested what sounded to him like an odd chord choice, going to a C7 chord after the E instead of the natural blues progression choice of A. At first, Jay refused to go along, but Carl convinced him it was something different, and today the chord choice is one of the most interesting aspects of the song.

Perkins and […]

Paul2026-05-05T10:53:14-04:00

How to play “Sloop John B” for solo guitar

Lyrics and chords

Tab, lyrics and notation
How to play “Sloop John B” for solo guitar

Some of the chord shapes here you can see are different voicings for the same chord. The chord patterns in the lead sheet here will help you see some alternate voicings for your chords.

“Sloop John B” (originally published as “The John B. Sails”) is a Bahamian folk song from Nassau. A transcription by Richard Le Gallienne was published in 1916, and a version was included in Carl Sandburg’s The American Songbag in 1927. Since the early 1950s there have been many recordings of the song with variant titles including “I Want to Go Home” and “Wreck of the John B”.

The 1966 folk rock adaptation by the Beach Boys was produced and arranged by bandleader Brian Wilson and served as the lead single from their 11th studio album, Pet Sounds. The song peaked at number three in the US on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, number two in the UK, and number one in several other countries. It remains one of the group’s most successful recordings of their mid-1960s period, containing an elaborate a cappella vocal section not found in other pop music of the era.

In 2011, the Beach Boys’ version of “Sloop John B” […]

Paul2026-05-04T08:14:20-04:00

Wishflower

wishflower chords, lyrics and notation

Deb told me a while ago that she and Miles had spent some time making wishes on dandelions and here are some of my thoughts about that. Enjoy!

Sometimes a wish’ll get lost in the shuffle
and never heard from again. Poor thing!
So we’ll make another one on the double!
In fact we might make ten! or More!

this piece was composed using Musescore, a free notation/composition/music tool.

Paul2026-05-01T11:28:02-04:00

Jira Jira Jira

Gypsy jazz is a musical idiom inspired by the Romani jazz guitarist Jean “Django” Reinhardt (1910–1953), in conjunction with the French jazz violinist Stéphane Grappelli (1908–1997), as expressed by their group the Quintette du Hot Club de France. The style has its origins in France and the Manouche clan of Romanis, and has remained popular amongst this clan. Gypsy jazz is often called by the French name jazz manouche, or alternatively, manouche jazz in English-language sources.

The style was popular in France and, via recordings and appearances by the original Quintette, in other European countries before and immediately after the Second World War. It fell out of favour as the “swing era” came to an end, being replaced in its homeland by bebop, mainstream jazz, and eventually, rock and roll. However, it had a resurgence from the 1970s onwards, among performers and audiences at festivals, etc., in particular the Festival Django Reinhardt which commenced in 1968 at Samois-sur-Seine, France (the location of Reinhardt’s last residence) and continues to the present time.

My piece here, “Jira Jira Jira” is inspired by the jazz-manouche style of guitar playing.

“The one human quality that must be developed is self discipline for success. The will power to force yourself to do what you know you should do […]

Paul2026-04-30T08:40:33-04:00

Wonderful Tonight

Wonderful tonight

“Wonderful Tonight” is a song written and performed by English singer Eric Clapton. The ballad was included on Clapton’s 1977 album Slowhand. Clapton wrote the song on his 1974 Martin D-28 guitar about Pattie Boyd. The female vocal harmonies on the song are provided by Marcella Detroit (then Marcy Levy) and Yvonne Elliman. It peaked at number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 on 15 July 1978, spending seven weeks in the top 40. In Canada it was in the top 40 for nine weeks.

On 7 September 1976, Eric Clapton wrote “Wonderful Tonight” for then-girlfriend Pattie Boyd while waiting for her to get ready to attend Paul and Linda McCartney’s annual Buddy Holly party. The song is mentioned in her 2007 autobiographical book Wonderful Today.

Billboard described “Wonderful Tonight” as “perhaps Clapton’s prettiest and mellowest love ballad in some time.” Billboard particularly praised Clapton’s guitar playing during the interludes. Cash Box said that “Eric’s singing is superbly understated; the guitar work is simple and evocative” and praised “the gentle beat and organ accompaniment.” Record World called it a “light, pretty ballad from [the album] Slowhand that should also move quickly up the charts” and praised Clapton’s singing.”

Paul2026-05-09T13:25:27-04:00

Composition 071324

Normal for the spider

tabs and notaion: 071324

The quote “Normal is an illusion. What is normal for the spider is chaos for the fly” is famously attributed to Morticia Addams from The Addams Family. It is often associated with the show’s creator, cartoonist Charles Addams, and is frequently used to illustrate that “normalcy” is subjective, depending entirely on one’s perspective and circumstances.

Context: The quote highlights that what one person considers a routine or normal situation (the spider spinning a web) can be a chaotic or disastrous experience for another (the fly caught in the web).

Significance: It is often applied to indicate that subjective perspectives impact how tasks or situations are approached.

Usage: The line gained popularity through various adaptations of The Addams Family

this piece was composed using Musescore, a free notation/composition/music tool.

Paul2026-04-30T07:52:29-04:00

Composition 030125

Composition_030125

Composition 030125 was inspired by “The Hollow Men“, a 1925 poem by T.S. Eliot, known for its themes of spiritual emptiness, paralysis, and disillusionment in the post-World War I era, famously concluding with the line,”This is the way the world ends / Not with a bang but a whimper”.

The poem describes “hollow men” who are “shape without form, shade without colour, / Paralysed force, gesture without motion,” trapped in a state of inaction and spiritual limbo, unable to confront reality or “death’s other kingdom”.

Key Themes and Imagery

Spiritual Emptiness:

The men are “stuffed” with straw, lacking substance and conviction, existing in a state of despair and inaction.
Paralysis and Inaction:

They are unable to act, caught in the gap “Between the idea / And the reality” and “Between the motion / And the act”.
Fear of Judgment:

They fear the “eyes” of “death’s other kingdom,” representing a truth or spiritual reality they cannot face.

Paul2026-04-30T07:54:08-04:00

Every Breath You Take

every breath you take ”

Every Breath You Take” is a song by the English rock band the Police from their fifth and final studio album Synchronicity (1983). Written by Sting, the single was the biggest American and Canadian hit of 1983, topping the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for eight weeks (the band’s only No. 1 hit on that chart), and the Canadian RPM chart for two weeks. Their fifth UK No. 1, “Every Breath You Take” topped the UK singles chart for four weeks. It also reached the top 10 in numerous other countries. In May 2019, the song was recognised by BMI as being the most played song in radio history.

“Every Breath You Take” is the Police’s and Sting’s signature song, and in 2010, it was estimated to generate between a quarter and a third of Sting’s music publishing income. At the 26th Annual Grammy Awards, “Every Breath You Take” was nominated for three Grammy Awards, including Song of the Year, Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, and Record of the Year, winning in the first two categories. For the song, Sting received the 1983 Ivor Novello Award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (BASCA).

Intro G | G | Em | Em | C | D | G

G […]

Paul2026-05-02T13:33:37-04:00

All My Exes

All_My_Exes lead sheet and tabs

“All My Ex’s Live in Texas” is a song written by Sanger D. Shafer and Lyndia J. Shafer, and recorded by American country music singer George Strait. It was released on April 10, 1987 by MCA Records as the second single from Strait’s seventh studio album, Ocean Front Property, following the album’s title track. Becoming his 11th number one hit single, Strait received his first Grammy Award nomination for “All My Ex’s Live In Texas” for Best Male Country Vocal Performance at the 1988 Grammy Awards.

The song has been used in various forms of media, including Strait’s version in the films Road House (1989), Necessary Roughness (1991), Cold Creek Manor (2003), Power Rangers (2017), and Bumblebee (2018), and in television with Halt and Catch Fire in 2016, Ash vs Evil Dead in 2015, and Chuck in 2011. Canadian rapper Drake name checks Strait and the song in the opening lyrics of his 2012 single “HYFR (Hell Ya Fucking Right)”.

“You have to be willing to eat–or not eat– for it. Then you’re a musician.” – Johnny Copeland

Paul2026-04-22T12:33:24-04:00

L.O.V.E.

download the l.o.v.e. leadsheet

“L-O-V-E” is a song written by Bert Kaempfert and Milt Gabler, recorded by Nat King Cole for his 1965 studio album L-O-V-E.

The song was composed by Bert Kaempfert with lyrics by Milt Gabler, and produced by Lee Gillette. The trumpet solo was performed by Bobby Bryant. The song had previously appeared as an instrumental track on Kaempfert’s album Blue Midnight (1964).

For international versions of his L-O-V-E album, Nat King Cole also recorded versions of “L-O-V-E” and other songs, in Japanese (mixed with English words), Italian, German, Spanish and French. In this last language, the song was renamed “Je Ne Repartirai Pas” and translated by Jean Delleme.

English singer Joss Stone recorded a cover of “L-O-V-E” for the soundtrack to a commercial for Chanel’s Coco Mademoiselle fragrance. The ad, starring Keira Knightley and directed by Joe Wright, debuted on September 24, 2007, on E!, Bravo, and VH1.

Stone’s version was released digitally on September 18, 2007, reaching number 100 on the UK singles chart and number 75 on the Swiss Hitparade. It was later included as a bonus track on the deluxe version of her third studio album, Introducing Joss Stone (2007), […]

Paul2026-05-02T13:32:38-04:00

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