Paul Simon & James Taylor Super Pack

Lessons

• Lesson 1: The Boxer Guitar Lesson - Paul Simon

  The last Simon & Garfunkel album, Bridge Over Troubled Water, included The Boxer, a semi-autobiographical Paul Simon song that is one of our most requested. Another classic Simon lick starts this otherwise somewhat generic fingerpicking song. The lesson includes a fingerstyle arrangement of the solo as well.

• Lesson 2: Sweet Baby James

  Here is James Taylor's classic cowboy/campfire song played pretty much the way James did it.

• Lesson 3: Something In The Way She Moves - Guitar Lesson

  Something In The Way She Moves is one of James Taylor’s earliest, and most popular songs. It first appeared on his debut album (on Apple Records) in 1968. It is a great example of his free-form picking style that incorporates arpeggios, Travis patterns, and strumming into a seamless blend of sounds. This lesson explains and demonstrates the techniques in split-screen, slo-mo detail, and encourages you to add them to your toolbox, making them your own.

• Lesson 4: Carolina In My Mind - James Taylor - Guitar Lesson

  In 1968 James Taylor was one of the first young artists signed to the Beatles new label, Apple. He recorded an album that is largely forgotten today, compared to his subsequent success with Warner Brothers. Carolina In My Mind is one of his earliest songs that was resurrected for his 1976 Greatest Hits album, and a classic example of what we love about his songs.
  
  His fingerstyle is free form, making it difficult, and pointless to duplicate, but all guitar players can benefit from the principals if they can adapt the techniques.
  
  This lesson tries to do that in a somewhat structured manner. We look at standard chord shapes as well as James’ unorthodox fingerings, and work on strumming through the progressions before tackling some specific details that define James’ sound.

• Lesson 5: Sunny Skies - Guitar Lesson

  Sunny Skies is one of James Taylor’s least complex songs, on one hand. On the other, it is one of his most complex. It is from his 1970 album Sweet Baby James and basically uses only two chords (the least complex part) but very unusual picking (the most complex part). This lesson goes into great detail on counting and feeling the rhythm for this bouncy tune. There are also some thoughts on singing it, which bumps up the difficulty level a notch or two.

• Lesson 6: Millworker - James Taylor - Guitar Lesson

  James Taylor wrote Millworker for the Broadway musical Working. It was unusual from a couple angles, it was written from a 19th century woman’s perspective, and it came to him very quickly once the story unfolded.
  
  He recorded it on his 1979 album Flag and it uses some of his normal fingerpicking techniques but something he rarely uses as well, chord changes over a constant bass note.
  
  It is done in Dropped D tuning and includes some light strumming along with alternate bass picking and playing the same bass note on the last beats of a measure without hitting it again on the first beat, which is where the chord is played.
  
  The chord shapes are relatively easy but the right hand may be a bit challenging to get it to sound smooth.

• Lesson 7: You’ve Got A Friend - James Taylor - Guitar Lesson

  Carole King’s song, You’ve Got A Friend has been the most requested lesson here at TG for a long time. Of course, we are talking about James Taylor’s definitive version as heard on his album Mud Slide Slim And The Blue Horizon. Like most of James’ arrangements, this showcases his beautiful fingerpicking style at its best.
  
  The lesson goes over the chord progression and the specific way to play many of his embellishments but, as with most of his songs, the variations are endless and really need to be created or recreated every time the song is played. The student must already be comfortable with standard patterns and random altering of them, as well as random arpeggio patterns to get the most out of this lesson.

• Lesson 8: Soldiers by James Taylor - Guitar Lesson

  Soldiers is a very short song from James Taylor’s 1971 album Mud Slide Slim And The Blue Horizon, which also included You’ve Got A Friend.
  
  The tune is in 3/4 time and is mostly strummed in a basic style similar to what he does in Sweet Baby James, but includes a couple of the classic fills he uses on A chords in particular. This is a great starting point for his songs.

• Lesson 9: Mexico

  Mexico was the lead track on James Taylor's 1975 album Gorilla. It has a happy-go-lucky feel extolling the praises of the country as if he were reliving great memories of times spent there. By the end we realize he is just wishing he could visit sometime in the future. Like many of his tunes, it features a distinctive and catchy intro, which is heavily syncopated and will be a challenge for most guitar students to master. His accompaniment techniques also use some of his signature fingerpicking patterns and percussive playing.

  The song is played with a capo at the second fret and has sections in three different keys. The lesson is very detailed and shows many of the types of variations Taylor plays, particularly in live performances, but the student is encouraged to start with specific examples, experiment with their own variations, and play it freely and slightly different every time.

• Lesson 10: Copperline

  James Taylor's 1991 album New Moon Shine opened up with another one of his songs based on childhood memories in North Carolina. Copperline conjures up images similar to Carolina In My Mind and Sweet Baby James, to name just two. The song includes one of his signature accompaniment styles that we might even consider frailing, to borrow a term from the banjo world. James uses the thumb for bass notes and brushes lightly with the fingers on the middle and higher strings.
  The lesson includes all the parts and goes over some of the unorthodox left hand fingers that he uses commonly. One of these is important to getting the right sound with a hammer-on into the D chord when coming from a Bm7. Otherwise, we find a lot of typical James Taylor moves and chords, as well as a capo at the second fret.

• Lesson 11: You Can Close Your Eyes - Guitar Lesson

  You Can Close Your Eyes is an early James Taylor song, released in 1971 on his album Mud Slide Slim And The Blue Horizon. James’ picking style is fairly free form and this lesson goes over some of his standard techniques and licks, including transitioning from Travis picking into finger-strumming styles. The point is to change it a bit every time but play the fills and bass lines accurately.

• Lesson 12: America - Guitar Lesson

  America is a simple strumming song in 3/4 time fingered in the key of C, although a capo can be used to put it in a more comfortable key for your voice. It was written by Paul Simon and appeared on the 4th Simon & Garfunkel album, Bookends. This lesson looks at descending bass lines and some little embellishments you can add to a few of the chords to dress it up a bit.

• Lesson 13: The Sounds Of Silence - Guitar Lesson

  The 1st Simon & Garfunkel hit, from both of their first two albums, Wednesday Morning 3 AM and The Sounds Of Silence. This tune became a hit after the record label remixed the original recording and talked Paul into coming back to the US to resume their career.

• Lesson 14: April Come She Will

  April Come She Will - This is a very early song of Paul Simon's, from the 2nd Simon & Garfunkel album The Sounds Of Silence. It is unusual in that is one of a few tunes sung solo by Art Garfunkel. It is fairly basic fingerpicking in the key of G, with no barre chords in sight!

• Lesson 15: Homeward Bound Guitar Lesson - Paul Simon

  Homeward Bound was one of the early follow ups to Simon& Garfunkel's 1st hit, The Sounds Of Silence. It opens with a classic Paul Simon intro that establishes the key of G Mixolydian. The accompaniment is mostly a fast but subtle couple of fingerpicking patterns with main emphasis on the bass notes.

• Lesson 16: The Dangling Conversation Guitar Lesson - Simon and Garfunkel

  The Dangling Conversation is one of Paul Simon's most poetic compositions and features a fairly simple fingerpicking accompaniment. The original recording, on their album Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme, was done using a capo at the 3rd fret in the key of G and included some nice bass lines connecting the chords, all of which are covered in the lesson.

• Lesson 17: Mrs. Robinson Guitar Lesson - Simon and Garfunkel

  Mrs. Robinson was originally written for the movie 'The Graduate', starring Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft. Paul Simon later wrote more lyrics and polished the few that he had before they included it on their 4th album, Bookends. This lesson starts with a Campfire Version, then adds the main riff ,a fill and some passing bass notes, before ffinishing up with a flashy instrumental flatpicking arrangement of the intro. The Campfire Version is a level 4, the addition of the riff and such pushes it to a 5 or 6, and the instrumental intro bumps it up into the level 8 range.

• Lesson 18: Fire and Rain

  Fire and Rain was James Taylor's break through song from his 1970 album Sweet Baby James. It featured his distinctive fingerpicking style, which is very challenging for intermediate, and even advanced intermediate players. This lesson breaks down the way he plays the verses and choruses, although he varies it quite a bit with every performance.

  We also include an alternate way of playing the first two measures, which are highly embellised and typical of James' style. The alternate Line 1 in the tab is a bit easier and approachable.

• Lesson 19: Bookends - Guitar Lesson

  Bookends is a short song that was the second half of a medley with Old Friends, by Paul Simon and is from the Simon & Garfunkel album called Bookends. The album also included America and a bunch of other great tunes. This is really a guitar instrumental, although there are two short verses sung over the guitar part. It is done with a capo at the fourth fret using pairs of notes a sixth apart, along with a couple of simple chords.

• Lesson 20: At The Zoo

  At The Zoo is a very short, but infectious Paul Simon song that first appeared on Simon & Garfunkel's 1968 album Bookends. It opens with some light fingerpicking before settling in to a basic strumming progression using just a few chords. The lesson goes over the chords, the picking, and particularly transitioning from picking to strumming and back smoothly.

• Lesson 21: Punky's Dilemma

  Punky's Dilemma is a short ditty by Paul Simon that has "no social significance", according to the author. However, it is a fun song to play. It features some jazzy chords and rhythm patterns, even including a couple challenging time signature changes. The studio version was played with a capo at the fourth fret using chord shaoes in the key of C, making it in the absolute key of E.

  The original was released on Simon & Garfunkel's 1968 album Bookends, but there are also some vintage live versions out there that are very entertaining. Most of those have the capo at the fifth fret but anyone playing it should move the capo to the most comfortable key for the singer.

• Lesson 22: A Hazy Shade Of Winter - Simon And Garfunkel - Guitar Lesson

  Simon & Garfunkel’s 1968 album, Bookends included A Hazy Shade Of Winter, as song also released as a single.
  
  It is unusual for Paul Simon songs to start of with a riff but that is what we have here. He plays it very simple in concert, basic strumming on a 2-string guitar.
  
  This lesson covers the Campfire approach, as well as a much more difficult version incorporating multiple guitar parts, and even a little bass.

• Lesson 23: Bridge Over Troubled Water - Intermediate Guitar Lesson

  The title song of the fifth and last studio album by Simon & Garfunkel, Bridge Over Troubled Water featured an iconic piano accompaniment, and no guitar to really speak of. This lesson might be considered a ‘guitar reduction’ of studio musician Larry Knechtel’s piano parts. Much of it can be strummed or grabbed in a fingerstyle technique. There are passing bass lines, some harmonized in thirds, and quite an assortment of chords, although most are pretty standard. This would be a great way to accompany yourself, or another singer, with a guitar accompaniment that is playable by intermediate students.

  There is a bonus segment with a more literal transcription of the piano introduction arranged for the guitar. This is a bit more challenging but worth working on to take the song, and your playing up a notch.

• Lesson 24: The Only Living Boy In New York - Simon & Garfunkel - Guitar Lesson

  The Only Living Boy In New York is a song written by Paul Simon and performed by Simon & Garfunkel. It is the eighth track on their last studio album ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’.
  
  This lesson covers the chords, the strumming, the progression and breaks down the guitar riff, in the 2nd instrumental part.
  
  The arrangement is done in the key of G, where the guitar is capoed on the 4th fret. It includes easy strumming in double time, several passing bass notes and a few hammer-ons.
  
  For vocal reasons, I prefer to play the song in the key of D and I figured that other female vocalists might wanna do the same. For that a segment of playing in that key is included.

• Lesson 25: El Condor Pasa - Simon and Garfunkel - Guitar Lesson

  El Cóndor Pasa is an orchestral musical piece by the Peruvian composer Daniel Alomía Robles, written in 1913.
  
  It was covered by Simon & Garfunkel in 1970, with Simon adding some English lyrics, and appears on their 1970 Bridge Over Troubled Water.
  
  This lesson takes a look at their version. It features relatively easy chords and progression in Em.
  
  It shows how to strum this with your fingers, while alternating bass notes with your thumb.
  
  It also covers an easy way to play the intro both in first position and an octave up.

• Lesson 26: Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard Guitar Lesson - Paul Simon

  Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard came out in 1971 on Paul Simon's 1st solo album, after the breakup of Simon & Garfunkel. It is a pretty straightforward chord progression in the key of A but has a very distinctive intro using specific voicings of the main chords (I, IV & V). Otherwise, a simple strumming song using only open chords.

• Lesson 27: Duncan Guitar Lesson - Paul Simon

  Duncan is a typical Paul Simon fingerpicking song with a story about the coming of age of a young man who enjoys playing the guitar. The verse is done with standard fingerpicking patterns but the lesson also includes a solo arrangement of the instrumental section, which could really be considered a chorus, as it occurs between each 2 verses.

• Lesson 28: American Tune

  American Tune is an intriguing look at our country from Paul Simon's 2nd solo album There Goes Rhymin' Simon. This lesson includes a simplified, almost Campfire version, as well as a more intricate look at some of the fingerpicking fills and bass lines Paul used.

• Lesson 29: Father And Daughter - Paul Simon - Guitar Lesson

  Paul Simon wrote Father And Daughter for his then 7-year old, Lulu. It was first released in 2002 as part of the soundtrack for The Wild Thornberries Movie.
  
  It was remixed for his 2006 album Surprise. The song opens with a cascading descent of notes from the pentatonic scale, then settles in to a nice, percussive groove.
  
  This lesson does not go over what Paul usually plays, which is basic and usually inaudible in the mix. Instead it combines the progression with the bass part and percussive fingerpicking to be a solid solo accompaniment, although somewhat challenging.
  
  The lesson also includes a short solo section, based on the way it is played live.

• Lesson 30: Slip Slidin' Away

  Slip Slidin' Away is a song Paul Simon wrote and recorded in 1975 for his third solo album Still Crazy After All These Years, although it was cut from the album and held until 1977 when it was added to his Greatest Hits, Etc. It has become one of his favorites with audiences at many of his live performances.

  The song is strummed with a swing feel and uses just a few chords in the key of G, making it quite accessible to beginning guitar players. The short lesson goes over the chords, progression, and arrangement, as well as going into the few embellishments that have evolved in Paul's solo performances over the years.

• Lesson 31: 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover - Paul Simon - Guitar Lesson

  Paul Simon is an American treasure who has added so much to our musical landscape. After the breakup with lifetime partner, Art Garfunkel, he put out a series of more groundbreaking albums. His third solo album, Still Crazy After All These Years, was the most diverse thing he had done, until the next albums were released and kept raising the bar.

  50 Ways To Leave Your Lover features a jazzy progression and had two guitar parts, which are both covered in this lesson. The way Paul played it live over the years was a bit of a hybrid version, which is also addressed.

• Lesson 32: Scarborough Fair

  Scarborough Fair by Simon & Garfunkel. Neil goes through the entire verse of the Paul Simon arrangement.

• Lesson 33: Kodachrome Guitar Lesson

  Kodachrome by Paul Simon. A basic lesson on the strumming and chords.

• Lesson 34: 59th Street Bridge Song

  Paul Simon is the author of dozens of great songs ranging from complicated masterpieces to simple campfire songs. This lesson falls into the latter category and is definitely one of his easiest- The 59th Street Bridge Song, also known as 'Feelin' Groovy'. It is a 2 measure progression using only 3 chords, with a repetitive fingerpicking pattern.