Paul | Guitar Lessons and Performance - Paul Elwood

Miss Celie’s Blues

“Miss Celie’s Blues“, also known as “Sister”, is a song from the Steven Spielberg film The Color Purple (1985), with music by Quincy Jones and Rod Temperton and lyrics by the two of them with Lionel Richie, performed by Táta Vega. The song was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Music, Original Song in 1986.

During the song, composed in a blues/ragtime style, the singer explains to her “sister” that she has her in her mind as a kindred spirit. She sings that after a long period of loneliness on the road, she has finally become “someone” and hopes that her sister is also.

In the 1985 film, the song is sung by Shug to Celie, and portrays the romantic and sexual relationship blossoming between the two women. Although Shug was portrayed by Margaret Avery, her voice was synchronised by Táta Vega, and the harmonica at the beginning of the song was played by Sonny Terry. It appeared in the 2023 film adaptation of the stage musical as a nod to the previous film, performed by Taraji P. Henson as Shug.

This is Kia Hamm on vocals. If you’d like to hear more of Kia and Paul, here you go

“I’m not saying a guy shouldn’t take lessons … but […]

Paul2026-05-02T13:29:04-04:00

Ten Years Gone

Download the PDF for this lesson here

“Ten Years Gone” is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin from their 1975 album Physical Graffiti. Record producer Rick Rubin has described the song as, “A deep, reflective piece with hypnotic, interweaving riffs. Light and dark, shadow and glare. It sounds like nature coming through the speakers.”

Jimmy Page had originally intended the song to be an instrumental piece; he recorded around 14 guitar tracks to overdub the harmony section. Robert Plant later added lyrics, which are dedicated to an old girlfriend who, ten years earlier, had made him choose either her or his music. Plant explained this in an interview in 1975:

Let me tell you a little story behind the song “Ten Years Gone” on our new album. I was working my ass off before joining Zeppelin. A lady I really dearly loved said, “Right. It’s me or your fans.” Not that I had fans, but I said, “I can’t stop, I’ve got to keep going.” She’s quite content these days, I imagine. She’s got a washing machine that works by itself and a little sports car. We wouldn’t have anything to say anymore. I could probably relate to her, but she couldn’t relate to me. I’d be smiling too much. Ten years gone, […]

Paul2026-04-19T11:53:28-04:00

Angel Eyes

Angel-eyes chart

“Angel Eyes” is a jazz standard which has inspired many interpretations. Many singers have recorded versions of the song, including Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, June Christy with Stan Kenton, Chet Baker, Shirley Bassey, Neil Sedaka, Willie Nelson with Ray Charles, and Sting. Ella Fitzgerald, who recorded “Angel Eyes” at least four times, named it her favorite song.

Instrumental versions were recorded not as often as vocal takes, by the likes of Benny Carter, the Modern Jazz Quartet, Dave Brubeck, Kenny Burrell, Joe Albany, and more recently by McCoy Tyner, Gary Thomas and Joe Lovano.

“I’m not saying a guy shouldn’t take lessons … but if you want to play like the artists, you have to go and get what they’re putting on records and take it from there … “ – Grant Green

Paul2026-05-02T13:30:16-04:00

In My Room

Download the sheet music PDF:

“In My Room” is a song written by Brian Wilson and Gary Usher for the American rock band the Beach Boys. It was released on their 1963 album Surfer Girl. It was also released as the B-side of the “Be True to Your School” single. The single peaked at number 23 on the US Billboard Hot 100 (the A-side peaked at number 6, for a two-sided top-40) and was eventually inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999. “In My Room” was ranked number 212 on Rolling Stone’s list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

The song is written in the key of B major and features a flat VII A major chord.

Gary Usher explained that: “In My Room” found us taking our craft a little more seriously. Brian and I came back to the house one night after playing ‘over-the-line’ (a baseball game). I played bass and Brian was on organ. The song was written in an hour … Brian’s melody all the way. The sensitivity … the concept meant a lot to him. When we finished, it was late, after our midnight curfew. In fact, Murry [the Wilson brothers’ father] came in a couple of times and wanted me to leave. Anyway, we got […]

Paul2026-04-16T10:29:53-04:00

Sunny

“Sunny” is a soul jazz standard written by the American singer and songwriter Bobby Hebb in 1963. It is one of the most performed and recorded popular songs, with hundreds of versions released (BMI lists “Sunny” No. 25 in its “Top 100 songs of the century”.) and its chord progression influencing later songs.

Bobby Hebb’s parents, William and Ovalla Hebb, were both blind musicians. Hebb and his older brother Harold performed as a song-and-dance duo in Nashville, beginning when Bobby was three and Harold was nine. Hebb performed on a TV show hosted by country music record producer Owen Bradley.

Hebb wrote the song after his older brother, Harold, was stabbed to death outside a Nashville nightclub. Hebb was devastated by the event and many critics say it inspired the lyrics and tune. According to Hebb, he merely wrote the song as an expression of a preference for a “sunny” disposition over a “lousy” disposition following the murder of his brother.

Events influenced Hebb’s songwriting, but his melody, crossing over into R&B (#3 on U.S. R&B chart) and Pop (#2 on U.S. Pop chart), together with the optimistic lyrics, came from the artist’s desire to express that one should always “look at the bright side”. Hebb has said about “Sunny”:

All my intentions were to think of happier times […]

Paul2026-05-09T13:15:30-04:00

Hello Dolly

download the lead sheet for “hello dolly”

“Hello, Dolly!” is the title song of the popular musical of the same name, with music and lyrics by Jerry Herman.

A recording by Louis Armstrong released in 1964 was a widely popular success, winning the Song of the Year and Male Vocal Performance awards at the 7th Annual Grammy Awards. Armstrong’s rendition was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2001.

At the behest of his manager, Louis Armstrong made a demonstration recording of “Hello, Dolly!” in December 1963, for the song’s publisher to use to promote the Broadway show.

In January 1964, the same month Hello, Dolly! opened in New York City, Kapp Records released Armstrong’s publishing demo as a commercial single. His version reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, ending the Beatles’ streak of 3 chart-topping hits in a row over 14 consecutive weeks.

Never being able to master the guitar is both the worst thing and the best thing about guitar.

Paul2026-05-04T12:12:59-04:00

How High The Moon

how high the moon lead sheet

“How High the Moon” is a jazz standard with lyrics by Nancy Hamilton and music by Morgan Lewis. It was first featured in the 1940 Broadway revue Two for the Show, where it was sung by Alfred Drake and Frances Comstock.

The earliest recorded hit version was by Benny Goodman & His Orchestra, featuring vocalist Helen Forrest. It was recorded on February 7, 1940, and released by Columbia Records as catalog number 35391, with the flip side “Fable of the Rose”. The Les Paul Trio recorded a version released as V-Disc 540B with a spoken introduction which was issued in November 1945 by the U.S. War Department. In 1948, bandleader Stan Kenton enjoyed some success with his version of the tune. The recording, with a vocal by June Christy, was released by Capitol Records as catalog number 911 (with the flip side “Willow, Weep for Me”) and 15117 (with the flip side “Interlude”). It reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on July 9, 1948, its only week on the chart, at #27.

A recording of the song by Les Paul and Mary Ford was made on January 4, 1951, in their apartment’s home studio in Jackson Heights, Queens. This version featured Paul on all […]

Paul2026-04-16T14:05:24-04:00

Dream Lover

download a pdf chord and lyric sheet here
“Dream Lover” is a song written by American musician Bobby Darin. Darin recorded his composition on March 5, 1959 and released it as a single the following month. It was produced by Ahmet Ertegun and Jerry Wexler and engineered by Tom Dowd.

In addition to Darin’s vocal, the song features Neil Sedaka on piano. While recording it Darin decided to stretch out some chord changes he found on the piano and add strings and voices. A picture sleeve, featuring a portrait of Darin, was also issued for this record in the U.S.

“Music brings a warm glow to my vision, thawing mind and muscle from their endless wintering.” – Haruki Murakami

Paul2026-04-15T07:50:14-04:00

Beyond The Sea

Beyond the Sea

“Beyond the Sea” has been recorded by many artists, but Bobby Darin‘s version released in late 1959 is the best known, reaching No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 15 on the US R&B Chart, No. 7 in Canada (co-charted with “That’s The Way Love Is”), and No. 8 in the UK Singles Chart in early 1960.

Before Bobby Darin’s version, two instrumental recordings reached the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100. Benny Goodman‘s version charted in 1948, and was featured in the Cary Grant/Betsy Drake romantic comedy Every Girl Should Be Married. Roger Williams’ recording reached No. 37 in 1955.

The first recording of “Beyond the Sea” was by Harry James and His Orchestra on December 22, 1947, and the first recording of “La Mer” was by French musician Roland Gerbeau in December 1945 (the song’s author, Charles Trenet, did not record it until the following year).

American R&B singer George Benson recorded an R&B version of the song under the title “Beyond the Sea (La Mer)”. It was released on Warner Bros. This version entered the UK Singles Chart on 20 April 1985. It peaked at No. 60 and remained on the chart for three weeks.

“The only love affair I have ever had was with music.” – Maurice Ravel

Paul2026-04-13T11:57:05-04:00

Moon River

Moon river

“Moon River” is a song composed by Henry Mancini with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. It was originally performed by Audrey Hepburn in the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany’s, winning an Academy Award for Best Original Song. The song also won the 1962 Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Song of the Year. In 1999, Mancini’s recording was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

The song has been recorded by many other artists. It became the theme song for Andy Williams, who first recorded it in 1962 (and performed it at the Academy Awards ceremony that year). He sang the first eight bars of the song at the beginning of each episode of his eponymous television show and named his production company and venue in Branson, Missouri, after it; his autobiography is called “Moon River” and Me. Williams’ version was included in a LP that he recorded for Columbia on a hit album of 1962, Moon River and Other Great Movie Themes. In 2022, Williams’ rendition of the song was selected for preservation in the Library of Congress.

The song’s success was responsible for relaunching Mercer’s career as a songwriter, which had stalled in the mid-1950s because rock and roll had replaced jazz standards as the popular music of the time. The […]

Paul2026-04-20T15:36:56-04:00

About Paul