December 22, 2020

James Ashbury

Let It Snow - Playalong

December 22, 2020

James Ashbury

🎄 It’s Christmas!!! I decided to have a go at arranging my own version of Let It Snow!

🎸 Play along with the backing tracks below, and you can even learn the solo. Check it out—I hope you enjoy it!

The Song

Electric Guitar (Rhythm)

Guitar Solo 1

Guitar Solo 2 (Harmony)

Lyrics

Oh, the weather outside is frightful
But the fire is so delightful
And since we've no place to go
Let it snow

Man it doesn't show signs of stoppin'
And I’ve brought me some corn for poppin'
The lights are turned way down low
Let it snow

When we finally kiss good-night
How I hate going out in the storm
But if you really hold me tight
All the way home I'll be warm

ooh ooh ooh

And the fire is slowly dying
And, my dear, we're still good-bye-ing
But as long as you love me so
Let it snow

When we finally kiss good-night
How I hate going out in the storm
But if you really hold me tight
All the way home I'll be warm

ooh ooh ooh

When we finally kiss good-night
How I hate going out in the storm
But if you really hold me tight
All the way home I'll be warm

ooh ooh ooh

Oh the fire is slowly dying
And, my dear, we're still goodbye-ing
and as long as you'd love me so
Let it snow, Let it snow

Essential Listening

Dean Martin - A Winter Romance

Released in 1959.

Features songs such as a winter romance, white christmas, let it snow! Let it Snow! Let it snow! and rudolph the red nose reindeer.

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November 25, 2020

James Ashbury

Eric Clapton - I Shot The Sheriff (Crossroad 2010)

November 25, 2020

James Ashbury

Eric Clapton performs this song effortlessly in chicago in 2010. The first solo has such a great feel to it. If you haven’t heard his album 461 Ocean Blvd, then you have to check it out (links below). Featuring some of my all time favourite songs. Enjoy learning this one!

The Song

Eric Clapton - I Shot The Sheriff (Crossroads 2010)

The Solo

Eric Clapton - I Shot The Sheriff - Crossroads 2010 - First Guitar Solo

Guitar Solo - Eric Clapton Crossroads.jpg

Backing Track

Eric Clapton - I Shot The Sheriff - Chords.jpg

Eric Clapton - I Shot The Sheriff - Chord Progression.jpg

Essential Listening

Eric Clapton - 461 Ocean Blvd.

Released in 1974.

Features songs such as Motherless Children, Give Me Strength, I Shot The Sheriff, Let it Grow and Please Be With ME.

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March 19, 2020

James Ashbury

In the style of... Peg Leg Howell

March 19, 2020

James Ashbury

Atlanta guitarist Peg Leg Howell was one of the first Bluesmen ever to make a ‘Race Record‘, and he was also re-discovered in the 60s when he recorded again. Joshua Barnes Howell of Eatonton GA lost a leg in an argument with a shotgun toting brother-in-law, and he turned to music when he found it hard to find work as a field hand. Playing and singing on the streets of Atlanta, Peg Leg spent some time in jail for bootlegging. When Columbia sent their field unit to Atlanta in 1926, they were pleased to bump into Peg Leg, and his ‘New Prison Blues’ was their first country Blues record. Guitarist Henry Williams and fiddle player Eddie Anthony would play on street corners with Peg Leg, and they often backed him on his records over the next few years. (allaboutblues.com, 2020)

Howell supplemented his income by bootlegging liquor, an offense which led to a one-year prison sentence in 1925. Soon after his release, he signed to Columbia; his first session for the label yielded the menacing "New Prison Blues," a song he'd learned while serving time. Having amassed a huge repertory of songs over the years, Howell recorded prolifically over the following months, his work ranging from traditional ballads ("Skin Game Blues") to dance numbers (the minor hit "Beaver Slide Rag") to even jazz ("New Jelly Roll Blues"); while some of his sides comprised solo performances, others featured the backing of his street group, the Gang (guitarist Henry Williams and fiddler Eddie Anthony).

Columbia pulled the plug in 1929, at which time Howell returned to playing Atlanta's famed Decatur Street district; Williams was himself imprisoned not long after, and following Anthony's 1934 death, Howell gradually disappeared from the area blues circuit. He spent the next several decades clouded in obscurity, with diabetes claiming his other leg in 1952. Howell was 75 when the Testament label sought him out in 1963 to record his first new material in over 40 years; he died in Atlanta on August 11, 1966. (allmusic.com, 2020).

10 Licks

Lick 1. Peg Leg Howell - ‘Tishamingo Blues’

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Lick 2. Peg Leg Howell - ‘Walkin' Blues’

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Lick 3. Peg Leg Howell - ‘Doin' Wrong’

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Lick 4. Peg Leg Howell - ‘Please Ma'am’

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Lick 5. Peg Leg Howell - ‘Fairy Blues’

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Lick 6. Peg Leg Howell - ‘New Prison Blues’

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Lick 7. Peg Leg Howell - ‘Low Down Rounder Blues’

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Lick 8. Peg Leg Howell - ‘Rock and Gravel Blues’

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Lick 9. Peg Leg Howell - ‘Saide Lee Blues’

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Lick 10. Peg Leg Howell - ‘Broke and Hungry Blues’

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Licks Transposed

Lick 1. Peg Leg Howell - Key of F

Lick 2. Peg Leg Howell - Key of F

Lick 3. Peg Leg Howell - Key of F

Lick 4. Peg Leg Howell - Key of F

Lick 5. Peg Leg Howell - Key of F

Lick 6. Peg Leg Howell - Key of F

Lick 7. Peg Leg Howell - Key of F

Lick 8. Peg Leg Howell - Key of F

Lick 9. Peg Leg Howell - Key of F

Lick 10. Peg Leg Howell - Key of F

Backing Track

Peg Leg Howell Backing Track - Key of F

Essential Listening

Peg Leg Howell - The Very Best of Peg Leg Howell

Released in 2014.

Features songs such as Tishamingo Blues, Walkin’ Blues, Doin’ Wrong, Bail and Chain Blues and Saide Lee Blues.

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Get all the Downloads for FREE!

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July 10, 2019

James Ashbury

Glen Campbell - Gentle On My Mind (Guitar Solo)

July 10, 2019

James Ashbury

I discovered this video about 3 or 4 years ago and was immediately impressed. Glen Campbell, if you haven’t heard of him before is an incredible guitarist/songwriter and is a legend in music. He is quite country, but his guitar playing covers all styles. This solo is improvised and difficult to play. I had to really work at it! Check it out and let us know how you get on!

The Song

Glen Campbell - Gentle On My Mind (Live Guitar Solo)

The Solo

Glen Campbell - Gentle On My Mind (Guitar Solo)

Backing Track

Glen Campbell - Gentle on My Mind - Chord Shapes.jpg

Essential Listening

Glen Campbell - Gentle on My Mind

Released in 1967.

Features songs such as Gentle on My Mind, Catch the Wind, Just Another Man and Cryin’.

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June 21, 2019

James Ashbury

John Mayer - I Don't Need No Doctor (Trumpet Solo)

June 21, 2019

James Ashbury

I’m guessing most people know about John Mayer these days! If you don’t, he’s a phenomenal guitarist who has inspired countless players. He released one of my favourite live albums, Where the Light Is, which features three sets: one acoustic, one as a three-piece, and one with a full band.

This song was originally written by Ray Charles, but John truly puts his own stamp on it. There’s a fantastic trumpet solo that I just had to learn—check it out and play along. Enjoy!