Category: lessons

Happy Birthday

Over the years I have played HAPPY BIRTHDAY in all kinds of styles and whatever key was needed at the time. I always had a hankering to work it out finger style with a walking bass line. So here it is! It’s one time through so very short- 10 measures in all. HAPPY BIRTHDAY is usually in 3/4 but I like it in 4/4. I just think it swings a little better. I feel this is certainly a good one to get under your belt. It can certainly be useful on the special days of our loved ones.

So below you will find the link to the PDF of the notation and tab as well as the YouTube video.

Happy Birthday finger style PDF

Billy Joel’s Don’t Ask Me Why piano break

Don’t Ask Me Why is a tune I never paid that much attention to. A student requested this a while back just for the basic chords and the chordy intro. So while listening I could not help thinking how well the piano solo would work on the guitar. It uses a lot of double stops that are thirds. It also uses arpeggios and a chromatic run. So double stops, arpeggios and chromatics- all great learning takeaways.

Below is the link to the notation/tab PDF and the YouTube video.

Don’t Ask Me Why Piano Solo

Peg guitar solo

I jam with some other “old dudes” one night a week just for haha’s and we decided to learn PEG by Steely Dan. It is usually my inclination to improvise a guitar solo. The solo in PEG, though, is one of those that are so unique that it is just really a part of the song… so says me, anyway. So I thought was important to actually learn it as best as I could. I have to say, “It’s challenging!”. I listened to it, looked at other transcriptions, saw Jay Graydon (the guy who played it) teach it to Tim Pierce, slowed it way down with my DAW and listened even more, etc…. So this is how I do it and thought it would be a good one to share via tab/ notation PDF and a video.

While going over it in the tutorial part of this video, I realized I took some liberties with the exact timing in a phrase or two when I actually played it. I also probably added or left out a grace note once or twice. This happens sometimes when you’ve been playing something for a while. It morphs into your own thing a bit. So apologies in advance to those who are sticklers for every 16th rest and approach note.

Though I do not think of Steely Dan as a country band, there is a bit of what is often considered country guitar technique in this solo such as double stop bends and hybrid picking. Click below for the PDF with standard notation and tablature. And of course, have a look at the YouTube video.

Peg guitar solo PDF

Open String Licks – Key of C

Using open strings combined with fretted notes is a “guitar move” often associated with Telecasters and country guitar. It’s also a staple of classical guitar. “Leyenda” comes to mind with that statement. This isn’t about playing open strings while in open or first position but while fretting notes in higher positions.

These are meant to be played fingerstyle or using pick and fingers. I imagine you could use a cross picking technique if you just use a flat pick. Tough though! There are 4 phrases worked out here. They can be used over any C major chord (maj7, maj9, 6th, etc.) or G dominant chord (G7,9,11,13) that resolve to C. The suggested left and right hand fingering is also indicated.

Below is link to the notation/tab PDF. Check out the video below for further explanation and to give it a listen, if you like.

Open String Lick PDF

The Irish Washerwoman Flat Picked Chord Melody

The last post and video was a finger style version of this old Irish melody. Some people are just not interested in using their fingers, so this is for you. This is in the key of G and is fairly simple. The melody uses the open strings quite a bit and the chord shapes are very undemanding. Download the PDF and have a look at the video.

Happy St. Paddy’s! Click for the PDF

Jingle Bell Rock Intro

Scroll down for YouTube video

Learn the guitar intro to Jingle Bell Rock. Most of the sheet music for this tune does not include this, so here ya go!

Included is the original recording key of D and the key of C. The key of C is what you will usually find on the published sheet music for this tune.

Check out the video and the tab/notation PDF.

Jingle Bell Rock Intro PDF

Arpeggio Exercise

Arpeggios are a big part of playing guitar and probably any instrument. They are great to use in improvised solos and fills. Learning these also help you learn the neck a bit better and understand what’s inside each chord better. I’ve written out an exercise using the chords in the key of C.

It simply follows the harmonized C scale using appropriate 7ths, as well. So that means each arpeggiated chord is some kind of 7th chord.

Cmaj7 Dm7 Em7 Fmaj7 G7 Am7 Bm7(b5)

Scroll down for the video related to this exercise…

Arpeggio PDF

Below are the chords that go with each arpeggio. They follow each arpeggio right up the neck. One practice suggestion – play the chord then play the corresponding arpeggio right after it. Listen to how the strummed chord and the single note arpeggio connect sonically.

Chord PDF

I – IV – V ( one, four, five)

The one I IV V in music refers to chord changes. Know that everything in music is relative.

If you are playing a I IV V in the key of A the chords would be A, D, and E.

A is 1. B is 2. C is 3. D is 4. E is 5. It’s fairly simple. You just have to count from the established “one” chord.

Sometimes though, you have to know when to apply a sharp or flat.

A I IV V in the key of F, for example, is not F B and C but F B flat and C.


Your average blues tune is a I IV V pattern. Because the dominant 7th chord sound is the essence of blues, the chords would be I7 – IV7 – V7. So, for example, in the key of A the chords used are A7, D7, and E7.


Here is a chart of each key’s I IV V pattern starting in the key of C and moving up in fifths.
This is good to know for any musician and a must know for blues players.

I IV V
C F G
G C D
D G A
A D E
E A B
B E F#
F# B C#
Db Gb Ab
Ab Db Eb
Eb Ab Bb
Bb Eb F
F Bb C