Guitar Noise

This an intermediate level lesson for those of you who use only a guitar pick and would rather not work on finger-style playing, but would still like to play a complete song arrangement on your instrument. So here is the classic jazz standard, “Autumn Leaves,” from Peter to you.

Guitar Noise welcomes the long-awaited return of Peter Simms to our pages! Peter’s been very busy with performing and teaching this past year but wanted us to know he’s still thinking of the Guitar Noise readers. So much, in fact, that he wrote this song (and the accompanying lesson) just for us!

This is more of a mini-lesson, taking a song you know with fairly easy chords and coming up with an arrangement that will work for the single guitar. And with a simple strumming pattern and the strategic use of a capo, even beginners can have some fun with it.

Our arrangement for this moody piece uses many of the ideas from our O Tannenbaum! lesson. You’ll find yourself having a lot of fun even though you’re supposed to be blue!

Here’s a simple chord melody arrangement of this holiday classic. And, as a bonus, it’s a great exercise for practicing your chord changes in a timely manner.

Also known as Are You Sleeping Brother John, this has to be one of the best known children’s songs in the world. Doug brings up a fun and thoughtful arrangement of this favorite song.

Doug has come up with a lesson featuring two children’s favorites: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star and London Bridge. Enjoy sharing these with people of all ages!

A hearty welcome back to Allan Abbott, who brings us a beautiful and easy to play chord melody of this classic Gordon Lightfoot masterpiece.

Here’s a wonderful simple and sparse arrangement of this traditional song from the Outer Hebrides. It’s a beautiful song and, like Doug, you’ll be thrilled to add it to your holiday repertoire.

Doug brings us another beautiful Christmas carol, arranged in standard tuning. This one is quite catchy and Doug also gives us a fascinating bit of history concerning the history of Christmas carols in Britain.

Here is a beautiful Christmas hymn, wonderfully arranged in DADGAD tuning for us by Doug Sparling. What a great way to kick off the holiday season!

Here’s an original song from Peter Simms - Key West - a perfect song for lounging on a lazy summer afternoon. Peter wrote this specifically for those of you who want to play chord melodies with a pick, so enjoy!

GN’s favorite Celtic lesson writer returns with a jig in his step. Here’s a sprightly air in 6/8 time to challenge you and delight your ears!

Because he’s been getting several requests for some easy solo guitar arrangements, Peter’s gone and written a song just for his Guitar Noise readers! Enjoy this fun piece, which shouldn’t take long to learn or master and that sounds great as well.

Guitar Noise Forum Member Joe Morgani gives us an easy song lesson on this Roy Orbison classic.

Doug takes a break from finger-style guitar to bring us a few lessons in flatpicking. In addition to a terrific arrangement of a Celtic reel, you’ll learn a little more about timing and ornamentation, specifically the staccato triplet.

Doug Sparling graces the pages of Guitar Noise with another Celtic fingerstyle arrangement. Included in this lesson are some tips on traditional Celtic ornamentation, or articulations, which will add some zest to your playing and arrangements.

Doug kicks off a series of traditional Celtic pieces with one of his favorite Irish songs, Buachaill On Eirne (Boy From Ireland).

It may be after Christmas, but it’s never too late to sing a wish for world peace. Enjoy this lovely arrangement (and a wonderful bit of history) of a favorite American carol, courtesy of Doug Sparling.

Doug Sparling graces our pages once again with this beautifully arranged Polish carol, also known as W Zlobie Lezy (Lying in the Manger). It’s in standard tuning and it’s a delight for the holidays!