Paul | Guitar Lessons and Performance - Paul Elwood

L.A. Freeway

“L.A. Freeway” is a song written by Guy Clark in 1970, a few months after he moved from California to Nashville, Tennessee. It was originally recorded by Jerry Jeff Walker for his self-titled 1972 album; his version reached #98 on Billboard’s “Hot 100” in July 1973. It was later released by Clark in 1975 on his debut album Old No. 1. It has been covered by artists including Steve Earle and Yellowstone actor Ryan Bingham.

“There are no mistakes, save one: the failure to learn from a mistake.” – Robert Fripp

Paul2026-03-11T08:40:35-04:00

clap for the wolfman

“Clap for the Wolfman” is a song written by Burton Cummings, Bill Wallace, and Kurt Winter performed by their band, the Guess Who. The song appeared on their 1974 album, Road Food. The song was ranked #84 on Billboard magazine’s Top Hot 100 songs of 1974.

Background

The song is an homage to Wolfman Jack, who is featured talking in his typical on-air DJ voice several times on the recording, including echoing Steve Miller‘s “pompatus of love” remark from his own contemporary hit The Joker. Wolfman Jack performed the song with the Guess Who in “The Midnight Special” and even in some live dates with the group. On other occasions Burton Cummings would impersonate Wolfman Jack’s voice.

“I don’t think you can ever do your best. Doing your best is a process of TRYING to do your best.” – Townes Van Zand

Paul2026-04-08T18:32:37-04:00

New Orleans Weekend

A trip to New Orleans with Mrs. E was lots of fun and very inspiring!

According to our tour guide, if you have New Orleans in mind as a final resting place, he suggests as a first step, moving here and learning to play an instrument. The musician’s tomb in Cemetery #1 would be your last port of call. I especially like the symbolism of the blue note in the center of the cross on top. The blue note is pretty darn important!

During some down time on our last day in N’awlens I put this down- “New Orleans Weekend”. Sounds like it has a sort of French influence to me. Or maybe that’s the fried oyster po’boy I hear… This sheet music you can get here

This (and all my other music too, come to think about it) was written with musescore which is a FREE! notation software and pretty easy to get a handle on. If you like music and you want to look under the hood a little I highly recommend it.

“If you want to work consistently, you have to be a team player.” – Russell Malone

Paul2026-04-08T18:33:03-04:00

Six String Shrink

You’re never smarter for NOT knowing something

Paul2026-04-08T18:33:32-04:00

Ken lockwood Gorge

This was created on an Akai MPK mini (keyboard) and Logic Pro on the iMac.

The MPK mini is quite a useful addition to your studio equipment, especially if you don’t play keys! Using a piece of equipment like this makes digital music composition fairly easy to do. If you’re interested in making your own digital music and you want some help, just reach out!

“Music heard so deeply, that it is not heard at all, but you are the music while the music lasts.” – TS Eliot

Paul2026-03-22T10:12:45-04:00

Jira Jira Jira

“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 when you should do it, whether you like it or not, whether you feel like it or not. Success is tons of discipline.” – Brian Tracy

Paul2026-03-16T14:35:41-04:00

Doom Scrollin’

Doom_Scrollin’

You ever lie in bed looking at bad news on your phones? Me too.

“The good teacher….knows that the best learning environment is always student-centered, never teacher-centered.” -Yvone Enoch and James Lyke

Paul2026-04-08T18:34:03-04:00

Cenote Afternoon

cenote_afternoon

This song came out of a vacation trip to Mexico with Deb. We spent a lovely afternoon at a Cenote in the jungle, kind of off the beaten path. I think we may have been the only Americans there that day, but the place was full of families just enjoying the beautiful natural scenery. A wonderful day.

Cenotes are natural, crystal-clear sinkholes formed by collapsed limestone bedrock, primarily located in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. Derived from the Mayan word tz’onot (“sacred well”), they were once sacred to the Maya. With over 6,000 in Mexico, top examples include Ik Kil, Dos Ojos, and Azul, offering popular swimming and diving spots.

“Do not try to satisfy your vanity by teaching a great many things. Awaken people’s curiosity. It is enough to open minds; do not overload them. Put there just a spark. If there is some good inflammable stuff, it will catch fire.” – Anatole France

Paul2026-04-08T18:34:29-04:00

Catzilla

Catzilla!

…one crazy kaiju, she’s both angry and bitter cuz for half a million years she used the same kitty litter- CAT ZILLA! A fun tune about a giant cat monster.

“Teach the student first, the music second and the guitar third.” -Frances Clark

Paul2026-04-08T18:34:56-04:00

Way Down in the Hole

Way_Down_In_The_Hole

“Way Down in the Hole” is a song written by the singer-songwriter Tom Waits. It was included on his 1987 album Franks Wild Years, which was first presented as a stage production put on by the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois.

The song was used as the theme for HBO’s The Wire. A different recording was used each season. Versions, in series order, were recorded by The Blind Boys of Alabama, Tom Waits, The Neville Brothers, DoMaJe, and Steve Earle. Season four’s version, performed by the Baltimore teenagers Ivan Ashford, Markel Steele, Cameron Brown, Tariq Al-Sabir and Avery Bargasse, was arranged and recorded specifically for the show. An extended version of the Blind Boys of Alabama recording was played over a montage in the series finale.

In 2004, music historian Kim Beissel said that the 1994 song “Red Right Hand” by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds was loosely based on “Way Down in the Hole”.

“Music has always been a matter of Energy to me, a question of Fuel. Sentimental people call it Inspiration, but what they really mean is Fuel. I have always needed Fuel. I am a serious consumer. On some nights I still believe that a car with the gas needle on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music […]

Paul2026-04-08T18:35:46-04:00

About Paul

Background