Chuck Girard: Freedom

Cover of Chuck Girard

 Bio

Chuck Girard is a pioneer of Contemporary Christian music. He was born August 27, 1943 in Los Angeles, California, and moved to Santa Rosa, California in his young teens. He was a founding member of Love Song, the first Christian rock band to become popular in the United States.
wikipedia.org

I have fond memories of listening to Chuck Girard, Barry McGuire and so many sounds from the Jesus days of Calvary Chapel and Maranatha singers in the 70s.  Do you have a favorite tune? Listen to Freedom on YouTube.

FREEDOM

Em7       
Jesus is the One that makes me never
      D9
Ever want to spend another day without Him
Em7
Jesus is the One who shows me everytime
          D9
I turn around that I could never doubt Him
 F7        
Jesus is the One that makes me want to shout the news 
              Ab7
Above the rooftops
Bb7                                C7 
Shout the joyful news and let the people know
                   Db7
That Jesus is the Lord!

Em7
Jesus is the One who changes slowly
           D9
All the evil things that dwell so deep inside me
Em7
Jesus is the One who cares forever
                                      D9
Never let me down and never failed to guide me
F7               
Jesus is the One that makes me want to shout the news 
          Ab7
Above the rooftops
                Bb7            
Come on, let's shout the joyful news
            C7                             F
And let the people know that Jesus is the Lord!
          G     G/F   G/E   G/D
HE'S THE LORD!

      C
He'll do the same for you!
                 F7
(He'll give you freedom)
     C7
He's reaching out for you!
                 F7
(He'll give you freedom)
C7
He's the only One who's true
                 F7
(He'll give you freedom)

               G     Eb7
He'll set you free
               G     Eb7
He'll set you free
               Db7   F7
He'll set you free
               Db7   F7
He'll set you free
               Bb
He'll set you free

Bb                                                 Ab
All He wants to do is to show you His love, and to comfort you
Fm                   Bb              C
All you gotta do is take Him at His word

http://www.christianguitar.org 

Leonard Moss Arrangement

I like to play the song Freedom by Chuck Girard in the Key of Em. It modulates to Db, then to C major. It has a 4/4 time signature played slowly, with feeling. Here's a chord breakdown:

L.H. / R.H.

Em7 = E/GBD

D9 = D/FACE and D/GACE

F7 = F/ACEbF and F/AEbG

Ab7 = Ab/GBAbCEb

Bb7 = Bb/AbBbDF

C7 = C/BbCEG

Db7 = Db/CbDbF and Db/AbCbDbF

F = F/ACF

G = G/DGB

Eb7 = Eb/BbDbEbG

Bb = Bb/DFBbD and Bb/BbDF

Fm = F/FAbC

Bb = Bb/FBbD

C = CE/GCE

How To Learn Chords FAST

 So, what if you could pop a CD into your home or car
stereo and learn everything you needed to know to
start playing beautiful chords on the piano? 

I'm talking about all the same chords used to play
practically every popular song out there! The
ones you grew up listening to... the songs you
now enjoy... classic holiday tunes... even your
kids' favorite songs... and more (like this one!)

What if you could learn all the chords that make
up those songs in just an hour or so? Would you
be excited?

 Hear and Play Music  reveals an approach
that allows you to learn anywhere: at your piano,
in your car, on your ipod while at the gym ---
ANYWHERE!

So, if you have a CD player and two hours to
spare, then you have what it takes to start
mastering chords by ear.

Read the rest of this story at:

Chords Audio 1 & 2

More resources to listen to:

Chuck Girard
Take It Easy
Fire & Light

*some affiliate links in post*

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Warmly,


"The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you." B.B.King

How to Play Merry Christmas, Darling

There's a cool song I like to play that's moderately slow in C.
Merry Christmas, Darling was written by Richard Carpenter and the lyrics by Hank Pooler in 1970. It has a Rubato feel in 4/4 time. Later on, Richard's sister recorded the song with her great vocals that I especially like. You can read more, here.



Here I am playing this popular song on my Motif ES8 on a Chorus Dyno voice setting. You'll find the first arrangement taken from some sheet music I have and the latter charts I found online.

1. Merry Christmas Darling


Dm7                      Em       Am7
     Greeting cards have all been sent


Dm7                G7      C          
     The Christmas rush is through


Am            Am(maj7) Am7      Am6  
But I still have one wish to make


  Dm7              G
A special one for you


Cmaj7                    Dm/C
       Merry Christmas, darling


Cmaj7                       Gm7   C7
        We're apart, that's true

               F        G/F
              But I can dream

        Em       Am
      And in my dreams

Dm            Em      Dm/F G7
I'm Christmas  ing with you

Cmaj              Dm7/F
      Holidays are joyful

Cmaj                          Gm  
      There's always something new


    F      G/F        Em       Am
But every  day's       a holi day

D7/F#             Fm  Bb7
When I'm near to you

    Eb           F/Eb
The lights on my tree

Dm7                   Gm
     I wish you could see

Cm7            F7    Bb
     I wish it every da-A-A-A-ay
                            ( ahh ahh



         Gm          Gm(maj7)
    The  logs on the fire
ahh     ahh

Gm7              G7    
Fill me with de sire

C              F      Em   Dm7
    To see you and to say

G     Cmaj7           Dm/C
That I wish you Merry Christmas

                 
(Merry christmas darling)

Cmaj7               Gm7         C7+7
Happy New Year to-o-o-o
                  ( ahh   ahh      ahh

     F        G/F
I've just one wish 

        Em7       Am7     
On this Christmas Eve
                     
  Em7               Am7
( On this Christmas eve)

  Dm7     G7        Bb7         
I wish I were with you

          
( Ahh ahh ahh



                  
      Dm         Dm(maj7)
               The logs on the fire

Dm7          D7       D7/C
Fill me with desire

G/B             Am7    Bm7  Am7
     To see you and to say

Am7/D   Gmaj9          Am7/G
That  I wish you Merry Christmas

                  Gmaj9
( Merry Christmas Darling )

               Dm9          Fmaj7/G  Db7+11  Cmaj7
Happy New Year to-o-o-o-o-o                  I’ve
                        (ahh   ahhh  ahhh 

 F        G/F
just one wish 

        Em7
On this Christmas Eve

  Em7               Am7
( On this Christmas eve )

       Dm7   G7      C Bb7
I wish I    were with you


Dm7                G7  G   C
     I wish I were with   you
                         (merry Christmas merry Christmas)


      Dm7               Fm7               Cmaj7
Merry Christmas,  merry Christmas         darling

Chord Breakdown

L.H. / R.H.

Dm7 = DC/F
Em = EGB/B
Am7 = AG/CE
Dm7 = DFA/C
G7 = GF/BG
C = C/CE
Am = AE/C
Am(maj7) = AG#/C
Am7 = AG/E
Am6 = AF#/C
Dm7 = DFA/C
G = GDG/B

Cmaj7 = CGB/G
Dm/C = CFA/D
Cmaj7 = CGB/E
Gm7 = GF/BbD
C7 = CE/C
F = FCF/AC
G/F = FDF/GB
Em = EGB/E
Am = AEA/C
Dm = DFA/C
Em = EGB/E
Dm/F = FA/D
G7 = GF/C

Cmaj = CGB/G
F = CFA
Cmaj7 = CGB/E
Gm = GF/BbD
F = FCF/AC
G/F = FDF/GB
Em = EGB/G
Am = AEA/C
D7/F# = F#A/C
Fm = FAb/CD
Bb7 = BbAb/Bb

Eb = EbGBb *
F/Eb = EbAC/A
Dm7 = DAC/F
Gm = GDG/BbG
Cm7 = CG/Bb
F7 = FEb/AF
Bb = BbFBb/D
Gm = GD/Bb
Gm(maj7) = F#D/Bb
Gm7 = FD/GD
G7 = GB/DF
C = CG/E
F = FA/D
Em = EB/EG
Dm7 = DC/
G = GB/G

Cmaj7 = CGB/B
Dm/C = CFA/D
Cmaj7 = CGB/E
Gm7 = G/FA
C+7 = CBb/EG#C
F = FCF/AC
G/F = FDF/GB
Em7 = EBE/DG
Am7 = AEA/C **  (2nd time to coda)
Dm7 = DFA/C
G7 = GF/BE
C = CEG/C
Bb7 = BbAb (back to*)

Coda

Dm7 = DFA/C
G7 = GF/BE
Em7(b5) = EG/BbEG
A7 = AG/C#
Dm7 = DFA/CFA
G7 = GF/BE
C = CGC/C
Dm7 = DA/FAE
Fm7 = FC/FAbEb
Cmaj7 = CG/EGD

2. Merry Christmas Darling


Am7                      Bm7      Em7
     Greeting cards have all been sent


Am7                D7      G          G  D/F#  Em
     The Christmas rush is through


            Em(maj7) Em7           Em6  
But I still have one wish to make


  Am7              D    Em   D
A special one for you


Gmaj9                   Am7/G
       Merry Christmas, darling


Gmaj9                       Dm9   Fmaj7/G
        We're apart, that's true

Db9+11  Cmaj7            D/C
              But I can dream

Bm7             Em7
      And in my dreams

Am7            Bm7 Cmaj7     D7sus4 D7
I'm Christmas  ing with you

Gmaj9              Am7/G
      Holidays are joyful

Gmaj9                          Dm9  
      There's always something new


    Cmaj7  D/C    Bm7         Em7  D6
But every  day's       a holi day

A/C#             Cm6  F7
When I'm near to you

    Bb           C/Bb
The lights on my tree

Am7                   Dm7
     I wish you could see

Gm7            C7    F
     I wish it every da-A-A-A-ay
                            ( ahh ahh



C/E      Dm          Dm(maj7)
    The  logs on the fire
ahh     ahh

Dm7              D7    D7/C 
Fill me with de sire

G/B            Am7    Bm7   Am7
    To see you and to say

Am7/D  Gmaj9          Am7/G
That I wish you Merry Christmas

                 Gmaj9
(Merry christmas darling)

               Dm9       Fmaj7/G   Db7+11
Happy New Year to-o-o-o
                  ( ahh   ahh      ahh

     Cmaj7    D/C
I've just one wish 

        Bm7         
On this Christmas Eve
                     
  Em7               Am7
( On this Christmas eve)

         Am7/D     G         
I wish I were with you

          G/D
( Ahh ahh ahh


|Bb/F   C/Bb    |Am7     Dm7   |Gm7   C     |

                  
|F        C/E|      Dm         Dm(maj7)
               The logs on the fire

Dm7          D7       D7/C
Fill me with desire

G/B             Am7    Bm7  Am7
     To see you and to say

Am7/D   Gmaj9          Am7/G
That  I wish you Merry Christmas

                  Gmaj9
( Merry Christmas Darling )

               Dm9          Fmaj7/G  Db7+11  Cmaj7
Happy New Year to-o-o-o-o-o                  I’ve
                        (ahh   ahhh  ahhh 

         D/C
just one wish 

        Bm7
On this Christmas Eve

  Em7               Am7
( On this Christmas eve )

       D7   D7/C      Bm7-5   E7+5  E7
I wish I    were with you


Am7                Am7/D  G
     I wish I were with   you
                         (merry Christmas merry Christmas)


      Am9               Cm7       Cm7/F   Gmaj9
Merry Christmas,  merry Christmas         darling
Tabs from ultimate-guitar.com

3. Merry Christmas, Darling

Merry Christmas Darling [Dmaj7 Em7]
We're apart that's true [Dmaj7 Em7 A7]
But I can dream and in my dreams, [G F#m D Bm]
I'm Christmas-ing with you. [Em F#m G A7]

Holidays are joyful [Dmaj7 Em7]
There's always something new [Dmaj7 Em7 A7]
But every day's A holiday [G F♯m D Bm]
When I'm near to you [E7 A7]

The lights on my tree I wish you could see [Em7 A7 F#m Bm]
I wish it every day [G A D]
The logs on the fire fill me with desire [Bm Bm+7 Bm7 Bm6]
To see you and to say [Em F#m G A]

That I wish you a merry Christmas [Dmaj7 Em7]
Happy New Year, too [Dmaj7 Em7 A7]
I've just one wish on this Christmas Eve [G A7 F#m Bm]
I wish I were with you [G A7 F#m B7]
I wish I were with you [Em A7 D]

A wonderful resource to help your playing along, ChristmasKeys1

Have a wonderful Christmas season!



"The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you." B.B.King

Always and Forever: Rod Temperton

Orange Elephants Buy From Art.com

I found a chord chart online for the chords, Always and Forever. This will give you an idea for the progressions in the Key of D. The time signature is 6/8 and the tempo moderately flows. The song was written in 1976 by Rod Temperton, who was Heatwave's keyboard player,

D             Dmaj7 
Always and forever, 

Bm               
Each moment with you

G                D 
Is just a like a dream to me

Em7               A7sus,A7 
that somehow came true

D              Dmaj7 
  And I know tomorrow

Bm 
will still be the same,

G                  D 
'Cause we've got a life of love

Em7              A7sus,A7 
That won't ever change

(..chorus..)

They'll always be sunshine
When I look at you
Its something I can't explain
Just the things that you do.
And if you get lonely 
call me and take
a second to give to me
that magic you make

(..chorus..)



CHORUS

Dmaj7
Everyday 

             G   D       Em7  
love me your own special way.

            Asus7  A7 
Melt all my heart away

       Dmaj7,F#m 
With a smile.

G    Bm      Em7 
Take time to tell me

F#m        F#m7 
you really care

    G     Bm    Asus7, A7 
And we'll share tomorrow

Dmaj7, F#m7 
together....

G    Bm     Asus7, A7 
I'll always love you

Dmaj7 
forever ...

                     Cmaj7 Asus7 A7 
(always forever love you

Here's Luther singing Rod's all time hit son, Always and Forever.

Now, I have the sheet music in my library. It's in the same key but the chords are a bit different. Here are the chord changes to the song, Always and Forever.

The Intro:

Dmaj7 = D/AC#F#
G9 = G/DFAB
G/A = A/GBD
A7 = A/GC#E
Dmaj7 = D/AC#F#
G9 = G/FACE
Em7 = E/BDEG
A6 = A/C#EF#A

Verse:

Dmaj7 = D/AC#F#
Bm7 = B/ADF#
Gmaj7 = G/BDF#
Dmaj7 = D/C#F#A
Em7 = E/BDEG
G/A = A/GBD
A7 = A/GC#E
Dmaj7 = D/AC#F#
Bm7 = B/ADF#
Gmaj7 = G/BDF#
Dmaj7 = D/C#F#A
Em7 = E/BDEG
A/GBD
D/C#F#A
G/DF#B
Em7 = E/BDG
G/A = A/bDA
Dmaj7 = D/AC#F#
F#m7 = F#/AC#F#
Gmaj7 = G/DF#B
D/F# = F#/F#AE
Em7 = E/DGBB
F#m7 = F#/EAC#
Gmaj7 = G/F#BD
D/F# = F#/ADG
Em7 = E/GBE and A/GBE
Dmaj7 = D/AC#E, AC#F#
F#m7 = F#/AC#E
Em7 = E/GBE
G/A = A/GBD
A(9) = AA/BC#EA (repeat)

Outro:

Dmaj7 = D/AC#F#
G9 = G/DFAB, then D/BDF#A
G/A = A/GBD
A7 = A/GC#E
Dmaj7 = D/AC#F#
G9 = G/FACE, then G/EGBD
G/A = A/GBD, then A/GC#E
Dmaj9 = D/AC#EF#, then D/AC#EF#

You may be interested in a free download, Musician Transformation 44 Page Guide







"The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you." B.B.King

Piano -U2 -With or Without You

I've always loved this song and my students do, too. The guys like to play this song because of its driving bass and just a few chords...
D D/A Bm7 G/D

http://www.guitaretab.com/u/u2/20002.html
U2, the only band to have had an official iPod model made in its honor, wow!
http://blog.wired.com/music/2008/o7/u2-goes-drm-fre.html
On November 22,2004 U2 performed at Empire Fulton Ferry State Park in Brooklyn, N.Y. and yes, MTV was filming the performance. U2 was one of my favorite bands of the 70's. When you visit this site, be sure and check out the E cards with their songs:
http://www.u2rockband.com/

You'll find music resources here:
Digital Download:

http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0041564
14 of their finest from this decade: All I Want Is You + Angel of Harlem + Bad + Desire + I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For + I Will Follow + New Year's Day + Pride (In the Name of Love) + Sunday Bloody Sunday + Sweetest Thing + Unforgettable Fire + When Love Comes to Town + Where the Streets Have No Name + With or Without You. Includes photos of the band. (Hal Leonard Corporation)

U2 - The Best of 1980-1990 By U2. Songbook for voice, piano and guitar (chords only). 104 pages. Published by Hal Leonard. (HL.306650) See more info...

And if you have the time, you'll find all the sites listed here for U2... have fun!

http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/music/artist/webs/0,,504137,00.html

http://www.LadyDpiano.com

The Eagle- The Eagles

The Eagle is famous as the USCG training ship, based at the Coast Guard Academy on the Thames River in New London, CT. No, the above photo is not The Eagle.(photo copyrighted) Directly across the river is the US Naval Submarine Base. Friday morning, The Eagle came into the LA harbor main channel as part of the big tall ships parade. The ‘Eagle’ was built in 1936. She is operated as a training ship by the US Coast Guard Academy. Eagle is a very large vessel which accommodates approx. 175 cadets and instructors. She is almost 300 feet long and has a sail area in excess of 21,000 square feet.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tall_ship
The Eagle moored between the Love Boat Terminal and the fire boat station. They would sail the next morning to San Diego, the next and last Tall Ships stop. The Tall Ship fleet has been working down the coast all summer, starting in Tacoma.
http://www.tallshipstacoma.com I was thrilled to have my Cousin share with me his account of boarding The Eagle!
The Eagles are an American rock band that was formed in Los Angeles, California in the early 1970s. With five Number 1 singles and six Number 1 albums, the Eagles were one of the most successful recording artists of the 1970s. At the end of the 20th century, two of their albums, Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) and Hotel California, ranked among the ten best-selling albums according to the Recording Industry Association of America.
http://www.last.fm/music/Eagles/_/Hotel+California
Take a peek, if you like. Go on because millions have already:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkD-Mrg1BOQ
I discovered a piano tutorial for Hotel California. The explanation on pattern playing is great! And you'll sound pretty much like the song:

Plus, here's a little bit of a chord chart:
Verse
Bm F#
On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair
A E
Warm smell of colitas, rising up through the air
G D
Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light
Em
My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim
F#
I had to stop for the night
Bm F#
There she stood in the doorway, I heard the mission bell
A E
And I was thinking to myself this could be heaven or this could be hell
G D
Then she lit up a candle, and she showed me the way
Em F#
There were voices down the corridor, I thought I heard them say: Chorus
G D [Fill 1]
Welcome to the Hotel California
F# Bm [Fill 2]
Such a lovely place... such a lovely place... such a lovely face
G D [Fill 3]
Plenty of room at the Hotel California
Em F#
Any time of year... any time of year... you can find it here
http://www.911tabs.com/link/?4451070
For those who are beginners and would like Easy Piano Versions, here you go:

The Best Of The Eagles - Easy Piano By The Eagles, arranged by Dan Coates. Songbook for voice and easy piano. Easy piano. 60 pages. Published by Alfred Publishing. (AP.AF9556) See more info...

http://www.LadyDpiano.com