Paul | Guitar Lessons and Performance - Paul Elwood

Folsom Prison Blues

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folsom_prison_blues
“Folsom Prison Blues” is a song by American singer-songwriter Johnny Cash, based on material composed by Gordon Jenkins. Written in 1953, it was first recorded and released as a single in 1955, and later included on his debut studio album Johnny Cash with His Hot and Blue Guitar! (1957), as the album’s 11th track. The song combines elements from two popular folk styles, the train song and the prison song, both of which Cash continued to use for the rest of his career. It was one of Cash’s signature songs. Additionally, this recording was included on the compilation album All Aboard the Blue Train (1962). In June 2014, Rolling Stone ranked it number 51 on its list of the 100 greatest country songs of all time.

Cash performed the song live to a crowd of inmates at California’s Folsom State Prison in 1968 for his live album At Folsom Prison (1968), released through Columbia Records. This version became a number-one hit on the country music charts and reached number 32 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the same year. This version also won the Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance, Male, at the 11th Annual Grammy Awards in 1969.

Original 1955 recording

Cash was inspired to write this song after seeing the movie Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison (1951) while serving in West Germany in the United States Air Force at Landsberg, Bavaria (itself the location of […]

Paul2026-06-08T20:22:32-04:00

Continental Divide

Continental Divide music sheet

This composition came out of a trip to Yellowstone with Mrs. E. We had a pretty fantastic time! But the title has more to do with the current state of affairs in the US; we are, quite literally a divided continent.

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

Paul2026-06-08T20:28:37-04:00

Every Time We Say Goodby

ev’ry time we say goodby

“Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye” is a popular jazz song with lyrics and music by Cole Porter. Part of the Great American Songbook, it was published by Chappell & Company and introduced by Nan Wynn and Jere McMahon in 1944 in Billy Rose’s musical revue Seven Lively Arts.

The lyrics celebrate how happy the singer is in the company of the beloved, but suffering equally whenever the two separate. Describing it by analogy as a musical “change from major to minor”, Porter begins with an A♭ major chord and ends with an A♭ minor chord, matching the mood of the music to the words.

The Benny Goodman Quintet (vocal by Peggy Mann) enjoyed a hit record with the song in 1945.

“The easiest way to avoid wrong notes is to never open your mouth and sing. What a mistake that would be.” – Pete Seeger

Paul2026-06-17T07:18:07-04:00

How do lessons with Paul work exactly?

How do lessons with Paul work, exactly?

I offer in-person and online lessons, and the process is slightly different, depending.

In either case, you’re probably interested in playing a particular song, or maybe a couple of ’em. If you’ll give me a couple of choices I’ll pick one and break it down into manageable sections* based on your interest, aptitude and level of experience. We tackle it one piece at a time, at whatever speed is comfortable for you.

During the online lesson I’ll help you figure out any parts you’re having trouble with. Split screen video show both hands and my face, so you can hear and see just what I’m doing. The video is recorded and available to you after the lesson, along with a synopsis, action items and significant take-aways, courtesy of Fathom the online AI teaching assistant I use.

In-person lessons are very useful for brand-new guitarists! You can get a sense of how to hold the instrument, tuning, finger position, music theory as it pertains to guitar playing and much more.

Sign up for your first free lesson here:

Guitar Lessons In-Person

Book your guitar lesson

* how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time!

“I believe every guitar player inherently has something unique about their playing. They just have to identify what makes them different and develop it.” – B.B. King

[…]

Paul2026-06-08T20:28:30-04:00

Can’t Buy Me Love

Can’t Buy Me Love

“Can’t Buy Me Love” is a song by the English rock band the Beatles that was released in March 1964 as the A-side of their sixth single. It was written by Paul McCartney and credited to the Lennon–McCartney partnership. The song was included on the group’s album A Hard Day’s Night and was featured in a scene in Richard Lester’s film of the same title. The single topped charts in the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, the Netherlands, France and Sweden. In the UK, it was the fourth highest selling single of the 1960s.

Can’t Buy Me Love chords and lyrics

“Where words leave off, music begins.” – Heinrich Heine

Paul2026-06-23T13:42:25-04:00

How do you stay motivated as a older beginning guitarist?

How did you stay motivated as a beginning guitarist (who is over 50 years old)?

Two pieces of advice I offer all my students, regardless of their age. First: manage your expectations! You cannot expect to master this in weeks or months, it is the work of a lifetime. You can, however- and this is my second piece of advice- have fun while you’re learning!

I ask my students not to set the guitar down until they do something that makes them smile. I don’t care what it is! Did you play that single note beautifully? Did you finally get that strumming pattern you were aiming at? Did you learn something new about the neck of the guitar? Enjoy the ride, pat yourself on the back frequently and have fun with it! Having fun doing anything spikes up your endorphins, and that is a great way to stay motivated, imho.

“There is always going to be somebody more advanced than you. You can only aspire to meet your own expectations, and if that is just pure joy, then you are on the right track.” —

Paul2026-06-08T20:23:34-04:00

San Francisco Bay Blues

Sanfrancisco Bay Blues

“San Francisco Bay Blues” is an American folk song and is generally considered to be the most famous composition by Jesse Fuller. Fuller first recorded the song in 1954, which was released by the World Song label in 1955. A “one-man band” rendition of the song featuring a kazoo solo was recorded by Fuller during a 1962 concert. It appears on a Smithsonian Folkways compilation, Friends of Old Time Music.

Topic Records issued the original Jesse Fuller version on a 10-inch vinyl LP called Working on the Railroad in 1959 and included it as track six of the first CD of the Topic Records 70 year anniversary boxed set Three Score and Ten.

During the 1960s American boom in popular commercial recordings of folk and folk-inspired music, the song was recorded by more than a dozen soloists and folk groups, including Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, the Weavers, the Rooftop Singers, Tom Rush, Richie Havens, and Peter Paul and Mary. Since Fuller’s introduction, there have been at least 88 recordings of the song in English and other languages, including jazz […]

Paul2026-06-22T09:24:04-04:00

How do I transpose guitar chords?

A bass player I played with for a while showed me this neat trick. Thanks Lenny! First make a row of notes like this, a half-step apart. we’ll start with C. Notice that we’re listing all the notes, not just the C scale notes.

What key do we want to transpose to?How about E? Rewrite the note names exactly in order but underneath the first row, starting with E.

Now we can clearly see what notes correspond to the notes in the C scale. In the scale of C, the notes are C, D, E, F, G, A and B. In the key of E, the notes are E, F#, G#, A, B, C#, D# and E.

Do you see? So let’s say you Have a C major triad in C and you want to transpose it to the key of E. In any key the Major triad is one, three and five; in C major, 1,3 and 5 are C, E and G. Moving those numbers to the key of E, what you’re saying is “if C is now E, then E=G# and G=B. All you’re looking for when you transpose is the same relationships in a scale with a […]

Paul2026-06-26T13:13:46-04:00

Ken lockwood Gorge

ken lockwood gorge

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

Ken Lockwood Gorge is between Califon and High Bridge in Lebanon Township of Hunterdon County, New Jersey. It was purchased in 1948 by the Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife and has been referred to as “one of New Jersey’s most beautiful places.” It is presently administered by the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife.

The 2½-mile (4 km) stretch of the South Branch Raritan River comprises the central feature of this 563-acre (228 ha) Wildlife Management Area. Steep, hilly woodlands host a plethora of flora and fauna including both game and non-game varieties, including a diverse population of birds and mammals.

Ken Lockwood Gorge is best known as a trout fishing destination. The New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife has designated the area as a “Trout Conservation Area”, in which a separate set of rules apply. The limits are different from most other sections of the Raritan River, and fishing with bait is prohibited.

The gorge is named after Kenneth F. Lockwood, an outdoor journalist and conservationist. Ken Lockwood was best known for his column, “Out In The Open”, which ran in the now-defunct Newark Evening News. He was also a strong advocate for land […]

Paul2026-06-15T17:27:48-04:00

What is the best instrument to play around a campfire?

What is the best instrument to play around a campfire?

OF COURSE it’s a Tuba.

Hands down, the best instrument to play around a campfire for several solid reasons. Number 1, you (tuba campfire player) will generate stories that will last for decades. 30 years or more from the date of your campfire intubation (I may be spelling this incorrectly), people will still be marveling at your verve and chutzpah and the precision with which you hammer out those blazing tuba riffs. Secondly, when you run out of tunes or when people beg you to stop playing, you can pack the bell with ice-cold lagers. See? two excellent reasons for tuba camping. Thirdly, tuba music, I have heard, is an excellent bear, raccoon and bigfoot repellent. Bravely you will sit up all night long gently oompa-ing into the forest, and your camping mates will sleep all the more soundly for hearing that rock-steady stream of tuba’d quarter notes echoing through the darkness.

So bungi that instrument to the top of your sedan and head for the woods! You’ll be glad you left your guitar at home, imho.

From a reader: Sorry to disillusion you, but although tuba music is an excellent bear repellant, it acts like a mating call for moose. (I don’t know […]

Paul2026-06-18T11:49:26-04:00

About Paul

Original 1955 recording

How do lessons with Paul work, exactly?

OF COURSE it’s a Tuba.