Hey there, friends! Here's a few lesson updates from the past week, along with a roundup of member song requests from the past month. Be sure to reply if you'd like to see lessons for any of these songs! Thanks and happy strumming ✌️ –David

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FIRST UP....

Much-Requested Lesson Updates!

Let's start with Bob Dylan's Blowin' in the Wind, which I taught in lesson #493. My original lesson looked at the 'bouncing" bass-notes Dylan incorporates into things. My new updates show how to play the verse and chorus with and without this technique. Practice notes and play-along videos included!

I also made some additions to The Year That Clayton Delaney Died by Tom T Hall. This is a country classic from 1971 that features a killer 4-measure intro sequence. My original lesson #132 holds up – but I added some new zoomed play-along videos along with updates to my step-by-step practice notes. New strumming tips are also included if you want to sing the verse sections.

I should add, both lessons above make solid use walking bass lines — a topic I updated my website organization for just last week. If you want more, check out my Walk-Up & Walk-Down topic page for all my lessons featuring this technique 👍

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HELP ME PICK WHAT'S NEXT!

Member Requests from January 2025

Each month I get a ton of song requests from members of Song Notes Premium – and want to share some of my favorites from the prior month.

For each song I'll include a YouTube link – give a quick listen as you please and let me know if any of 'em grab your ear! I'm always excited to know which songs everyone would like to see in an upcoming lesson.

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"Ain't No Tellin'" by Mississippi John Hurt

Love the bluesy fingerstyle! (via Terry)

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"Windy & Warm" by Tommy Emmanuel / Chet Atkins

And some more bluesy fingerstyle. I actually started learning this a few weeks back... would love to come back to it sometime. (via Alan)

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"The Freshman" by The Verve Pipe

I always love to hear requests for songs from the 1990s, given my musical memories from my middle & high school days. I really dig the acoustic cover below — the creative chord voicings he's using here remind me of my lesson for How I Go by Yellowcard. (via Tom)

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"Locomotive Breath" by Jethro Tull

​Here's the original Jethro Tull version... but what I'd like to share is this lesson from Angela Petrilli (below). What she shows for around ten seconds at 7:57 helped jump-start my plans for a beginner lead guitar course... which is coming in a few weeks! (via Rich)

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And speaking of Jethro Tull,

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​"I Ain't Waitin'" by Justin Townes Earle

"His guitar sounds like a carnival" said Cody, who requested this one – totally agree. This is one I fully learned but never wrote up notes for or recorded... alas! Want me to make a lesson? Let me know!

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"Ohh La La" by Faces

This one has been requested pretty steadily over the last few years... it's one I've always wanted to get to! I dig this cover – specifically the way he layers the second guitar and ukulele in there. (via Paul)

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Again this is just the tip of the iceberg of requests — but wanted to share these in case any of 'em strike a chord with youse guys. If so –just reply to this email and let me know!

Until next time my friends – take good care 👍👍

–David

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