Folk Music and the Acoustic GuitarJohn Ulrich (JK)John Ulrich (JK)

jkulrich@uic.edu.hkjkulrich@uic.edu.hkwww.uic.edu.hk/~jkulrichwww.uic.edu.hk/~jkulrich

BLOWIN IN THE WIND [by Bob Dylan] (D Harp) D G D G D G AHow many roads must a man walk down before you call him a man?D G D G D G AHow many seas must a white dove sail before she can sleep in the sand?D G D G D G AHow many times must the cannon balls fly before they are forever banned?

G A D G The answer my friend, is blowin' in the wind. G D A DThe answer is blowin' in the wind. D G D G D G AHow many years can a mountain exist before it's washed to the sea?D G D G D G AHow many years can some people exist before they're allowed to be free? D G D G D G AHow many times can a man turn his head and pretend that he just doesn't see? D G D G D G AHow many times must a man look up before he can see the sky? D G D G D G AHow many ears must one man have before he can hear people cry?D G D G D G AHow many deaths will it take till he knows that too many people have died?

INTRODUCTIONOutline of presentation:– 3 Types of modern guitars• Vocabulary of acoustic guitar• Accessories

– Written Music• Sheet music• Tabs• Chords

– Demonstrations• Fake Books• Changing Key

– Conclusion• Summary of key concepts• Web resources• Questions

TYPES OF MODERN GUITARSAcoustic Guitars• Classical (i.e. ‘nylon string’)• Acoustic (i.e. ‘steel string’)

Electric Guitars

Vocabulary of Acoustic Guitar• Head– Tuning pegs

• Neck– Frets– Strings

• Body– Cut away– Pick guard– Bridge– Pick-up

Guitar Accessories

• Pick (plectrum)• Capo

• Slides• Pick-up

AS TEARS GO BY [by Rolling Stones] (D Harp)

D E7 G A7 D E7 G A7It is the evening of the day; I sit and watch the children playG A7 D Bm G F#m Em7 A7Smiling faces I can see, but not for me; I sit and watch as tears go by D E7 G A7 D E7 G A7My riches can't buy ev'rything; I want to hear the children singG A7 D Bm G F#m Em7 A7All I hear is the sound of rain falling on the ground; I sit and watch as tears go by D E7 G A7 D E7 G A7It is the evening of the day; I sit and watch the children playG A7 D Bm G F#m Em7 A7Doin' things I used to do they think are new; I sit and watch as tears go by G F#m Em7 A7I sit and watch as tears go byG F#m Em7 A7I sit and watch as tears go by

WRITTEN MUSIC• Sheet Music– Indicates pitch and rhythm

• Tabs– Indicates fingering

• Chords (or ‘Fake Books’)– Names of the notes with lyrics

Sheet MusicTreble Clef

Bass Clef

the grand staff

sample score

Guitar Tablature (Tabs)the fret board

•Easter•Bunnies•Get•Drunk•At•Easter ABCDEFG / A Bb B C Db D Eb E F Gb G

sample tabsMy Girl

FARE THEE WELL [by Libby Holman]

G C G Em C D If I had wings like Noah's dove, I'd fly up the river to the one I love G Em C D G Em G EmSo fare thee well, oh honey, fare thee well G C G Em C DThe woman I love is long and tall. She moves her body, like a cannon ball G Em C D G Em G EmSo fare thee well, oh honey, fare thee well

G C G Em C D Early one mornin', in the pouring rain, and in my heart I felt an aching pain G Em C D G Em G EmSo fare thee well, oh honey, fare thee well G C G Em C D One of these mornin's it won't be long. You'll call my name and I'll be gone G Em C D G Em G EmSo fare thee well, oh honey, fare thee well

G C G Em C D So show us a bird flyin' high above. Life ain't worth livin' without the one you love G Em C D GSo fare thee well, oh honey, fare thee well

Guitar Chords & ‘Fake’ Books

Demonstrations

changing “key”:www.chordie.com

MRS ROBINSON [by Simon & Garfunkel] G Em G Em C DAnd here's to you Mrs Robinson, Jesus loves you more than you will know G Em G Em C Am E7God bless you please, Mrs Robinson, heaven holds a place for those who pray E AWe'd like to know a little bit about you for our files; Like to help you learn to help yourselfD G C Am E DLook around you all you see are sympathetic eyes; Stroll around the grounds until you feel at home

E AHide it in a hidin' place where no one ever goes; Put it in your pantry with your cupcakesD G C Am E DIt's a little secret just a Robinson's affair; Most of all you've got to hide it from the kids

E ASittin' on a sofa on a Sunday afternoon; Goin' to the candidates debateD G C Am E DLaugh about it, shout about it, when you've got to choose; Any way you look at it you lose

G Em G Em C DWhere have you gone Joe DiMaggio, our nation turns its lonely eyes to you G Em G Em C Am E7What's that you say Mrs Robinson, Jolton Joe has left and gone away

FATHER AND SON [by Cat Stevens] (G Harp) G D C Am7It's not time to make a change, just relax and take it easy G Em Am DYou're still young that's your fault, there's so much you have to know G D C Am7Find a girl, settle down, if you want to you can marry G Em Am C DLook at me, I am old, but I'm happy G Bm7 C Am7I was once like you are now, and I know that its not easy G Em Am C Dto be calm, when you've found something going on G Bm7 C Am7But take your time, think a lot, why think of everything you've got G Em D G G-C G-CFor you will still be here tomorrow, but your dreams may not G Bm C Am7How can I try to explain? when I do he turns away again G Em Am C Dit's always been the same, same old story G Bm C Am7From the moment I could talk I was ordered to listen G Em D G D C G G-C G-Cnow there's a way and I know that I have to go away; and I know I have to go

500 MILES [by Hedy West] C Am Dm FIf you miss the train I’m on, you will know that I am gone F G7 CYou can hear the whistle blow a hundred miles, C Am Dm FA hundred miles, a hundred miles, a hundred miles, a hundred miles, F G7 CYou can hear the whistle blow a hundred miles.

C Am Dm FLord I’m one, lord I’m two, lord I’m three, lord I’m four, F G7Lord I’m five hundred miles away from home. C Am Dm FAway from home, away from home, away from home, away from home, F G7 CLord I’m five hundred miles away from home. C Am Dm FNot a shirt on my back, not a penny to my name F G7Lord I can’t go back home this a way C Am Dm F F G7 CThis a way, this a way, this a way, this a way, Lord I can’t go a home this a way.

BRAIN DAMAGE [by Pink Floyd]D G7 D G7The lunatics are on the grass. The lunatics are on the grass.D E A7 DRemembering games, and daisy chains and laughs. Got to keep the loonies on the path.D G7 D G7The lunatics are in the hall. The lunatics are in my hall.D E A7 DThe paper holds their folded faces to the floor. And every day the paper boy brings more. G A C GAnd if the damn breaks open many years too soon. And if there is no room upon the hill.G A7 C GAnd if your head explodes with dark forbodings too. I'll see you on the dark side of the moon.

D G7 D G7The lunatic is in my head. The lunatics are in my head.D E A7 DYou raise the blade, you make the change. You rearrange me till I'm sane.D E A7 DYou lock the door, and throw away the key. There's someone in my head, but it's not me.

G A C GAnd if the cloud bursts thunder in your ear. You shout and no one seems to hear.G A7 C GAnd if the band you're in starts playing different tunes. I'll see you on the dark side of the moon.

COUNTRY HONK [by Rolling Stones] G CI'm sittin' in a bar tippling a jar in Jackson G A D And on the street the summer sun it shines G CThere's many a bar-room queen I've had in Jackson G D GBut I just can't seem to drink you off my mind G D GIt's the honky tonk womenG D GGimme, gimme, gimme the honky tonk blues G CI laid a divorcee in New York City G A D I had to put up some kind of a fight G CThe lady she all dressed me up in roses G D GShe blew my nose and then she blew my mind

CONCLUSION• Acoustic Guitar & Vocabulary– Classical vs. Acoustic

• classical: nylon strings• acoustic: steel strings

– Accessories (picks & capos)• Written Music– Sheet Music– Tabs– Chords

• Breakdown of song– verse, chorus, bridge– key

Web Resources

www.chordie.com www.azchords.com

www.harmonicatunes.com

www.uic.edu.hk/~jkulrich

I’M A BELIEVER [by Neil Diamond]Bm7 E E B E E B EI thought love was only true in fairy tales, Meant for someone else but not for me.A E A E ALove was out to get me (da-da da-da); That's the way it seemed (da-da da-da), E B7Disappointment haunted all my dreams. E A E AThen I saw her face, now I'm a believer. E A E ANot a trace of doubt in my mind, E A E D Bm7I'm in love, I'm a believer, I couldn't leave her if I tried. E B E E B EI thought love was more or less a given thing, It seems the more I gave the less I got.A E A E AWhat's the use in trying (da-da da-da); All you get is pain (da-da da-da), E B7When I needed sunshine I got rain.[Chorus]

ME & JULIO [by Paul Simon]A DMama pajama rolled outta bed, she ran to the police station E AWhen the papa found out he began to shout, and he started the investigation E AAnd it's against the law, it was against the law E AWhat the mama saw, it was against the law

A DMama looked down and spit on the ground every time that her name gets mentionedE APapa said oye if I catch that boy, I'm gonna stick him in the house of detention

D AWell I'm on my way, I don't know where I'm goin' D A D E I'm on my way, I'm takin' my time but I don't know where D A A D A E A D A EGoodbye to Rosie, Queen of Corona; Seein' me and Julio down by the schoolyard

A DIn a couple of days they're gonna take me away, when the press lets the story leak E AWhen the radical breach comes to get me released, appears all on the cover of Newsweek

Thank You!Thank You!

Music Recommendations:•Neil Diamond•Bob Dylan•Tom Petty•Neil Young

CHILDREN’S FAIRY TALE G Em C DForgot how long it’s been, since I last heard you; telling me, that your favorite story G Em C DBut for a long time, I began to worry, is it me who did something wrongBridge: Bm EmYou cried and said to me, that fairy tales are all just lies C DI couldn’t be, your fairy tale prince Bm EmBut you don’t understand, since you gave me your hand C DStars in my sky, began to shineChorus: G(A) Em(F#m)I’m willing to, change into the angel in those fairy tales C(D) D(E) G(A)Just turn my arms, into wings and hold you near C(D) D(E) G(A) Bm(C#m)Em(F#m)You must believe, believe that we will be a fairy tale C(D) D(E) G(A) G C Bm D GAnd admit happiness and love A F#mI want to be your fantasy, the angel that you used to love C(D) D(E) G(A)And admit happiness and love

Folk Music and the Acoustic Guitar

John Ulrich (JK)John Ulrich (JK)jkulrich@uic.edu.hkjkulrich@uic.edu.hk

www.uic.edu.hk/~jkulrichwww.uic.edu.hk/~jkulrich