Folk Music and the Acoustic Guitar

John Ulrich (JK)

jkulrich@uic.edu.hk
www.uic.edu.hk/~jkulrich
BLOWIN IN THE WIND [by Bob Dylan] (D Harp)
D G D G D G A
How many roads must a man walk down before you call him a man?
D G D G D G A
How many seas must a white dove sail before she can sleep in the sand?
D G D G D G A
How 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.
GD A D
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

D G D G D G A
How many years can a mountain exist before it's washed to the sea?
D G D G D G A
How many years can some people exist before they're allowed to be free?
D G D G D G A
How many times can a man turn his head and pretend that he just doesn't see?

D G D G D G A
How many times must a man look up before he can see the sky?
D G D G D G A
How many ears must one man have before he can hear people cry?
D G D G D G A
How many deaths will it take till he knows that too many people have died?
 INTRODUCTION
Outline 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 GUITARS
Acoustic Guitars Electric Guitars
Classical (i.e. nylon string)
Acoustic (i.e. steel string)
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
FATHER AND SON [by Cat Stevens](G Harp)
G D C Am7
It's not time to make a change, just relax and take it easy
G Em Am D
You're still young that's your fault, there's so much you have to know
G D C Am7
Find a girl, settle down, if you want to you can marry
G Em Am C D
Look at me, I am old, but I'm happy
G Bm7 C Am7
I was once like you are now, and I know that its not easy
G Em Am C D
to be calm, when you've found something going on
G Bm7 C Am7
But take your time, think a lot, why think of everything you've got
G Em D G G-C G-C
For you will still be here tomorrow, but your dreams may not

G Bm C Am7
How can I try to explain? when I do he turns away again
G Em Am C D
it's always been the same, same old story
G Bm C Am7
From the moment I could talk I was ordered to listen
G Em D G D C G G-C G-C
now there's a way and I know that I have to go away; and I know I have to go
 WRITTEN MUSIC
Sheet Music
Indicates pitch and rhythm
Tabs
Indicates fingering
Chords (or Fake Books)
Names of the notes with lyrics
 Sheet Music
Treble Clef

Bass Clef
the grand staff
sample score
Easter
Guitar Tablature (Tabs)
Bunnies
Get
the fret board
Drunk
At
Easter ABCDEFG / A Bb B C Db D Eb E F Gb G
sample tabs
My Girl
JUST MY IMAGINATION [by Temptations]

C F C C F C
Each day through my window, I watch up as she passes by; I say to myself, You're such a lucky guy
C F C G~ F C F C G~
To have a girl like her, is truly a dream come true; Out of all the fellas in the world, she belongs to
you

C F C F
But it was just my 'magination; runnin' away with me

C F C C F C
Soon we'll be married and raise a family; A cozy little home out in the country, with two children,
maybe three
C F C C F C G~ F
I tell you, I-------I can visualize it all; This couldn't be a dream, I tell you how real it all seems

[Chorus]

C F C F
Every night, on my knees, I pray; Dear Lord, hear my plea
C F G7
Don't ever let another take her love from me; Or I would surely die
C F
Her love is heavenly; When her arms enfold me
C F C F
I feel a tender love, so deep; But in reality, she doesn't even know me
Guitar Chords & Fake Books
Demonstrations

changing key:
www.chordie.com
SOUND OF SILENCE [by Simon & Garfunkel] (Capo 5th fret)
Am G Am
Hello darkness, my old friend, I've come to talk with you again,
F C F C
Because a vision softly creeping, Left it's seeds while I was sleeping,
F F/C C Am
And the vision that was planted in my brain, Still remains
G Am
Within the sound of silence.

Am G Am
In restless dreams I walked alone, Narrow streets of cobblestone,
F C F C
'Neath the halo of a street lamp, I turned my collar to the cold and damp
F F/C C Am
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light, That split the night
G Am
And touched the sound of silence.

Am G Am
And in the naked light I saw, Ten thousand people, maybe more.
F C F C
People talking without speaking, People hearing without listening,
F F/C C Am
People writing songs that voices never share, And no one dare
G Am
Disturb the sound of silence.
AS TEARS GO BY [by Rolling Stones] (D Harp)

D E7 G A7 D E7 G A7
It is the evening of the day; I sit and watch the children play
G A7 D Bm G F#m Em7 A7
Smiling faces I can see, but not for me; I sit and watch as tears go by

D E7 G A7 D E7 G A7
My riches can't buy ev'rything; I want to hear the children sing
G A7 D Bm G F#m Em7 A7
All 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 A7
It is the evening of the day; I sit and watch the children play
G A7 D Bm G F#m Em7 A7
Doin' things I used to do they think are new; I sit and watch as tears go by

G F#m Em7 A7
I sit and watch as tears go by
G F#m Em7 A7
I sit and watch as tears go by
COUNTRY HONK [by Rolling Stones]
G C
I'm sittin' in a bar tippling a jar in Jackson
G A D
And on the street the summer sun it shines
G C
There's many a bar-room queen I've had in Jackson
G D G
But I just can't seem to drink you off my mind

GD G
It's the honky tonk women
G D G
Gimme, gimme, gimme the honky tonk blues

G C
I laid a divorcee in New York City
G A D
I had to put up some kind of a fight
G C
The lady she all dressed me up in roses
G D G
She blew my nose and then she blew my mind
FRIDAY IM IN LOVE [by the Cure]
D G D A
I don't care if Monday's blue; Tuesday's gray and Wednesday too
Bm G D A
Thursday, I don't care about you; It's Friday, I'm in love
D G D A
Monday you can fall apart; Tuesday, Wednesday break my heart
Bm G D A
Or Thursday doesn't even start; It's Friday I'm in love

G A Bm G D A
Saturday waits; Sunday always comes too late; But Friday never hesitates

D G D A
I don't care if Monday's black; Tuesday, Wednesday heart attack
Bm G D A
Thursday never looking back; It's Friday I'm in love

D G D A
Monday you can hold your head; Tuesday, Wednesday stay in bed
Bm G D A
Or Thursday watch the walls instead; It's Friday I'm in love

[Chorus]
500 MILES [by Hedy West]
C Am Dm F
If you miss the train Im on, you will know that I am gone
F G7 C
You can hear the whistle blow a hundred miles,
C Am Dm F
A hundred miles, a hundred miles, a hundred miles, a hundred miles,
F G7 C
You can hear the whistle blow a hundred miles.

C Am Dm F
Lord Im one, lord Im two, lord Im three, lord Im four,
F G7
Lord Im five hundred miles away from home.
C Am Dm F
Away from home, away from home, away from home, away from home,
F G7 C
Lord Im five hundred miles away from home.

C Am Dm F
Not a shirt on my back, not a penny to my name
F G7
Lord I cant go back home this a way
C Am Dm F F G7 C
This a way, this a way, this a way, this a way, Lord I cant go a home this a way.
COMFORTABLY NUMB [by Pink Floyd]

Bm A G F# Em Bm
Hello, Is there any body in there? Just nod if you can hear me, Is there anyone at home?
Bm A G F# Em Bm
Come on, now, I hear your feeling down; I can ease your pain, get you on your feet again.
A G F# Em Bm
Relax, I need some information, first; just the basic facts, Can you show me where it hurts

D A D A BC
There is no pain you are receding; A distant ships smoke on the horizon,
C G C G
You are only coming through in waves; Your lips move, but I can't hear what your saying,
D A D A B
When I was a child, I had a fever; my hands felt just like, two balloons,
C G C
Now I've got that feeling once again; I can't explain, you would not understand,
G
This is not how I am,

A BC G D
I... have become, comfortably numb.
SO SAD ABOUT US [by The Who]
A D A Asus2 A Asus4 A D A Asus2 A Asus4
So sad bout us; So sad bout us
F#m Bm
Sad that the news is out now; Sad 'spose we can't turn back now
DE A Asus2 A Asus4 A Asus2 Asus4
Sad 'bout us

A D A Asus2 Asus4 A D A Asus2 Asus4

So bad 'bout us; So bad 'bout us
F#m Bm
Bad, never meant to break up; Bad, 'spose we'll never make up
DE A Asus2 Asus4 A Asus2 Asus4
Bad 'bout us

F#m Bm
Apologies mean nothing when the damage is done
D E
But you can't switch off my lovin' like you can't switch off the sun

A F#m D Bm A
Ohhhh; Ohhhh; Ohhhh; Ohhhh; Ohhhh
 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
IM A BELIEVER [by Neil Diamond]
Bm7 E

E B E E B E
I thought love was only true infairy tales, Meant for someone else but not for me.
A E A E A
Love was out to get me (da-da da-da); That's the way it seemed (da-da da-da),
E B7
Disappointment haunted all my dreams.

E A E A
Then I saw her face, now I'm a believer.
E A E A
Not a traceof doubt in mymind,
E A E D Bm7
I'm in love, I'm a believer, I couldn't leave her if I tried.

E B E E B E
I thought love was more or less agiven thing, It seems the more Igave the less I got.
A E A E A
What's the use in trying (da-da da-da); All you get is pain (da-da da-da),
E B7
When I needed sunshine I got rain.
[Chorus]
COME TOGETHER [by the Beatles]
Dm
Here come old flat top, He come grooving up slowly,
Dm
He got Joo Joo eyeball, He one holy roller
A7 G7
He got hair down to his knee; Got to be a joker, he just do what he please

Dm
He wear no shoe shine, He got toe jam football
Dm
He got monkey finger, He shoot co-ca cola
A7 G7
He say, "I know you, you know me"; One thing I can tell you is you got to be free

Bm G A Dm~
Come Together, Right now ...over me

Dm
He bag production, He got wal-rus gumboot
Dm
He got O-no sideboard, He one spinal cracker
A7 G7
He got feet down below his knee; Hold you in his armchair, you can feel his disease

[Chorus] [Verse 4] [Chorus]

Thank You!

Music Recommendations:
Neil Diamond
Bob Dylan
Tom Petty
Neil Young
CHILDRENS FAIRY TALE
G Em C D
Forgot how long its been, since I last heard you; telling me, that your favorite story
G Em C D
But for a long time, I began to worry, is it me who did something wrong
Bridge:
Bm Em
You cried and said to me, that fairy tales are all just lies
C D
I couldnt be, your fairy tale prince
Bm Em
But you dont understand, since you gave me your hand
C D
Stars in my sky, began to shine
Chorus:
G(A) Em(F#m)
Im 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 G
And admit happiness and love

A F#m
I 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)

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