Yesterday, I got a call from a CNN producer. They liked my song "Robber Barons" so much, they wanted to use it on the air! Of course I said yes. So it is currently posted on the CNN iReport.com website:
"Robber Barons:" Musical commentary on AIG bonus scandal
I'm not sure if it has been used on the air yet or, if not, when it might air in the future. In any event, if you see it on CNN, shoot me a note and let me know!
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
AIG execs win "Robber Baron of the Year" award
I'm going to go off-topic today because I read something in the Washington Post that just infuriated me. The article is entitled Rage at AIG Swells As Bonuses Go Out, and you can access it at the Post's website (Registration required).
In a nutshell, AIG is using taxpayer bailout money to pay $165 million in bonuses to executives of the AIG Financial Products Division, the same division that came up with the "credit default swaps" racket that basically wrecked our economy. How's that for irony? Apparently, we, the taxpayers, are now in the business of incenting Wall Street executives to lose money, not make money.
Since this is, after all, a music site, I'm going to close with a song called Robber Barons. I wrote this song a few weeks ago after getting my 401k statement in the mail and seeing how much of my hard-earned savings have evaporated. It's tongue-in-cheek, but rings true especially on days like today. Enjoy!
In a nutshell, AIG is using taxpayer bailout money to pay $165 million in bonuses to executives of the AIG Financial Products Division, the same division that came up with the "credit default swaps" racket that basically wrecked our economy. How's that for irony? Apparently, we, the taxpayers, are now in the business of incenting Wall Street executives to lose money, not make money.
Since this is, after all, a music site, I'm going to close with a song called Robber Barons. I wrote this song a few weeks ago after getting my 401k statement in the mail and seeing how much of my hard-earned savings have evaporated. It's tongue-in-cheek, but rings true especially on days like today. Enjoy!
Monday, March 2, 2009
How to play "Who'll Stop The Rain" by CCR on acoustic guitar
This article shows you how to play Who'll Stop the Rain, the classic 1970 protest song. This song was written by John Fogerty and originally recorded by Creedence Clearwater Revival for their 1970 album Cosmo's Factory.
This song is relatively easy to play. It is played in the key of G, using the G, C, D, and Em chords. When I play it, I use the same chord progression, but I capo the guitar at the 5th fret to match my vocal range, thereby playing the song in the key of C. This is what the song sounds like when played by me on acoustic guitar:
Enjoy!
This song is relatively easy to play. It is played in the key of G, using the G, C, D, and Em chords. When I play it, I use the same chord progression, but I capo the guitar at the 5th fret to match my vocal range, thereby playing the song in the key of C. This is what the song sounds like when played by me on acoustic guitar:
Enjoy!
Sunday, March 1, 2009
How to play "Margaritaville" by Jimmy Buffett on acoustic guitar
Today's lesson will show you how to play Jimmy Buffett's classic tune Margaritaville.
I really enjoy Jimmy Buffett's music. Jimmy's known for writing fun, catchy, crowd-pleasing songs, and most of them are relatively simple to play. In the case of Margaritaville, it's very simple to play; your classic "three chord hit."
Margaritaville is usually played in the key of D, using the D, G, and A chords. Alternatively, it can be played using the A, D, and E chords with the capo on the 5th fret. In fact, if you are ever playing this song in a band or ensemble with another guitarist, try having one guitarist play D, G, and A with no capo and the other play A, D, and E with the capo on the 5th fret. This will give the song a much fuller, richer sound.
Here's a short video of me playing Margaritaville. In this video, I'm actually playing it in the key of Eb, with the guitar capo on the 1st fret, which is a better fit for my vocal range:
Enjoy!
I really enjoy Jimmy Buffett's music. Jimmy's known for writing fun, catchy, crowd-pleasing songs, and most of them are relatively simple to play. In the case of Margaritaville, it's very simple to play; your classic "three chord hit."
Margaritaville is usually played in the key of D, using the D, G, and A chords. Alternatively, it can be played using the A, D, and E chords with the capo on the 5th fret. In fact, if you are ever playing this song in a band or ensemble with another guitarist, try having one guitarist play D, G, and A with no capo and the other play A, D, and E with the capo on the 5th fret. This will give the song a much fuller, richer sound.
Here's a short video of me playing Margaritaville. In this video, I'm actually playing it in the key of Eb, with the guitar capo on the 1st fret, which is a better fit for my vocal range:
Enjoy!
Guitar key chart
In many of my lessons, I talk about how you can change the key in which you are playing your guitar by putting a capo on a given fret. The capo accomplishes this by essentially shortening the strings, thereby changing the pitch of the guitar.
To help you determine where to place the capo and which chords to finger to play a particular key, I have prepared a guitar key chart. This chart will tell you which key you are playing in depending on where the capo is and what chords you are playing. Most of the chords used in this chart are easy-to-play "open position" chords.
This chart can come in handy if you are playing with other musicians and you need to play a favorite song in a different key (e.g., to accommodate a singer's voice range), or if you want to play a popular song in the correct key but use a different set of chords that are easier for you to play:
To help you determine where to place the capo and which chords to finger to play a particular key, I have prepared a guitar key chart. This chart will tell you which key you are playing in depending on where the capo is and what chords you are playing. Most of the chords used in this chart are easy-to-play "open position" chords.
This chart can come in handy if you are playing with other musicians and you need to play a favorite song in a different key (e.g., to accommodate a singer's voice range), or if you want to play a popular song in the correct key but use a different set of chords that are easier for you to play:
| Relative minor chords | |||
| A | No capo | A-D-E | F#m-Bm-Dbm |
| A | 2 | G-C-D | Em-Am-Bm |
| A | 7 | D-G-A | Bm-Em-F#m |
| Ab | 1 | G-C-D | Em-Am-Bm |
| Ab | 6 | D-G-A | Bm-Em-F#m |
| Ab | 8 | C-F-G | Am-Dm-Em |
| B | 2 | A-D-E | F#m-Bm-Dbm |
| B | 4 | G-C-D | Em-Am-Bm |
| Bb | 1 | A-D-E | F#m-Bm-Dbm |
| Bb | 3 | G-C-D | Em-Am-Bm |
| Bb | 8 | D-G-A | Bm-Em-F#m |
| C | No capo | C-F-G | Am-Dm-Em |
| C | 3 | A-D-E | F#m-Bm-Dbm |
| C | 5 | G-C-D | Em-Am-Bm |
| C# | 1 | C-F-G | Am-Dm-Em |
| C# | 4 | A-D-E | F#m-Bm-Dbm |
| C# | 6 | G-C-D | Em-Am-Bm |
| D | No capo | D-G-A | Bm-Em-F#m |
| D | 2 | C-F-G | Am-Dm-Em |
| D | 5 | A-D-E | F#m-Bm-Dbm |
| D | 7 | G-C-D | Em-Am-Bm |
| E | 2 | D-G-A | Bm-Em-F#m |
| E | 4 | C-F-G | Am-Dm-Em |
| E | 7 | A-D-E | F#m-Bm-Dbm |
| Eb | 1 | D-G-A | Bm-Em-F#m |
| Eb | 3 | C-F-G | Am-Dm-Em |
| Eb | 6 | A-D-E | F#m-Bm-Dbm |
| Eb | 8 | G-C-D | Em-Am-Bm |
| F | 3 | D-G-A | Bm-Em-F#m |
| F | 5 | C-F-G | Am-Dm-Em |
| F | 8 | A-D-E | F#m-Bm-Dbm |
| F# | 4 | D-G-A | Bm-Em-F#m |
| F# | 6 | C-F-G | Am-Dm-Em |
| G | No capo | G-C-D | Em-Am-Bm |
| G | 5 | D-G-A | Bm-Em-F#m |
| G | 7 | C-F-G | Am-Dm-Em |
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