Lesson a week

Lesson A Week 22: Blue Sunny Day

2009-03-11T20:55:00.000-07:00

Lesson a week is back! Sorry about the delay everyone. Life has kept me very busy with working and family obligations. This week's new song is JoCo's latest song "Blue Sunny Day". Enjoy everyone!

Lesson A Week 22: Blue Sunny Day

P.S. Worst screencap ever.

Opening Band

2008-10-29T20:26:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, I've made another lesson for a Paul and Storm song. I put a lot of work into this one plus there's some extra special stuff in this one. You'll have to watch the video to find out. The tab follows below. Sorry for the lack of updates, times have been very busy as anyone who knows me can attest to. Special thanks to Paul and Storm for writing this song and being so supportive. Also thanks to Stephen Poon for filming and editing this lesson on his camera from the future. Next week I'll be getting back to the JoCo tabs, so don't you folks worry.

If Dave Taught Guitar: Opening Band

Capo on second fret, all chords are relative to the capo.

Chords

E       022100
A       x02220
C#m     x46654
Am      x02210
B       x2444x
G#      466544
G7      353433
F#7     242322
B7      797877
F#11/E  044300
G6/E    055400
Aadd9/E 077600
Aadd9   x07657
Am11    x0109810

Chord figure that ends each bridge

F#7          B7
2-2-2-2-2-2--7-7--7-7-7-7-
2-4-5-4-2-4--7-9-10-9-7-9-
2-2-2-2-2-2--8-8--8-8-8-8-
3-3-3-3-3-3--7-7--7-7-7-7-
4-4-4-4-4-4--9-9--9-9-9-9-
2-2-2-2-2-2--7-7--7-7-7-7-

Intro |E  | 4x

A Section

E(let ring)            A
We are the opening band
E                      C#m       A
We are here to do five or six or seven songs
       Am               B                         A B
“Don’t go too long, and get the hell off the stage”
E                      A
We are the opening band
      E                     C#m         A
We’re probably not the band you came to see tonight
    Am                   B          A  E
But it’s alright, ’cause soon we’ll go away

B Section

          A               Am                   E       G#
And we’re wondering, just where the hell’s the sound guy?
   A                Am           E     G#
He disappeared just after we got up here
     A          Am                E            G7         
He’s probably behind the building rolling up a fattie
             F#7(chord figure)   B7
And he’ll be gone until our last song

A Section

E              A
We got a VW van
  E                      C#m          A
I had to sell every Star Wars™ figure that I had
    Am            B                 A B
And ask my Dad to co-sign for the loan
E                               A
We don’t got a whole lot of fans
E                      C#m
Nobody asks for our autograph
     A              Am           B       A               E
And, sad to say, as of today, no panties have been thrown

B Section

          A            Am                 E        G#
And we’re wondering if this was worth the drive here
   A                  Am             E     G#
We spent six hours in traffic on the highway
    A                Am                E
For fifty bucks, and half price on the cheese fries
         G7              F#7(chord figure)
And free Miller® Lite on tap
                   B7
Who can drink that crap?

Bridge
   E                                  F#11/E
My cousin lives in town, and we’ll be crashing at his place
           G6/E                                     Aadd9/E
Unless his girlfriend’s home from college and she’s staying for the weekend
    Aadd9                           Am11
And if she is, then we will have to go and park the van
           E
Behind the IHOP by the Turnpike
                               E(breaK)
And we’ll sleep in the back seat

Bridge 3
          A              Am                 E     G#
And we’re wondering just where the headline act is
        A               Am            E        G#
They’re prob’ly getting wasted in the green room
    A                 Am               E
And they don’t give a rat’s ass who we are
             G7               F#7(chord figure)
So when they start to play up here
                            B7
We’re gonna drink all their beer

A Section

E                      A
We are the opening band
   E                         C#m       A     
We hope that all of you sign up on our mailing list
    Am               B                      A  B
And buy our disc and t-shirts (in black and gray)
E                      A
We are the opening band
    E                  C#m    A
And we only got about 25 more minutes left
       Am            B         A       E
That’s all we get to blow your ass away

Ending
E                      A
We are the opening band
E                     
We are the opening band
A
Hello
Am
Hello
E
Hello

|E  A|E  A|E  A|E  A|

"Live" tab

2008-09-21T05:43:00.000-07:00

Transcribed by Suuuupaadave.

This is the most comprehensive tab I've ever done, so I apologize for any minor hiccups. Below you will find chord voicings, lyrics and chord symbols, and complete tablature for all of the fingerpicking. Take some time to look over the tabs and the chords before attempting to play through this as it takes a little practice to get the different rhythms down. Feel free to send me a message with any thoughts or comments on this tab. Thank you!

Capo on fifth fret

Chords

Am       x02210
Am7b5    x0554x
G        3x000x
Cmaj7    x3200x
G/B      x2003x
Dsus2    xx0230
Am7/G    3x201x
D7/F#    2x021x
Bm       x24432
Em       022000
Gmaj7/F# 2x000x
G7/F     1x000x
C        x32010
Bb6      x1003x
Eb       x6888x
Bb       x1333x
F        1x321x
Ab       4x654x
D7sus2   xx0210
Am7#11   x05545
Am7b5    x0101x


Intro

|Am |Am7b5 |

Verse Lead In

|G Cmaj7| x2

Verse 1
               G    Cmaj7
I’ve worked so long
      G               Cmaj7 
Every night and every day
             G                  Cmaj7   G/B
Been through hours and hours of research
    Am        Dsus2
And dozens of graves
            G    Cmaj7
The perfect girl
               G                Cmaj7 G/B
Turns out, was just too hard to find
Am           Am7/G
 So I had to make her
        D7/F#
But can I make her mine?

Pre Chorus
Bm
 Will she be friendly?
Em          
 Or will she break free?
         Am            Am7/G
Will she terrorize the villagers?
D7/F#
Will she notice me?

Chorus
G              Gmaj7/F#
 Hard work and science
    G7/F           C
Are what I have to give
Am                       Am7b5
 And all I’m asking in return
            Am7b5(let ring)
Is that you live

Verse Lead In

|G Cmaj7| x2

Verse 2
           G    Cmaj7
I know I’m smart
      G                 Cmaj
But a madman’s all they see
            G         Cmaj7
Now there’s finally a person
    G/B   Am          Dsus2
Who might love me for me
             G    Cmaj7
She holds my heart
         G               cmaj7 G/B
Like the way that I held hers
Am                  Am7/G
 The one from the cadaver
     D7/F#
Igor just disinterred

Pre Chorus
Bm
 Left nothing to chance now
Em
 Double-checked every stitch
    Am              Am7/G
The Tesla coils are charging up
D7/F#
 Igor, throw the switch

Chorus
G              Gmaj7/F#
 Hard work and science
    G7/F           C
Are what I have to give
Am                       Am7b5
 And all I’m asking in return
            Am7b5(let ring)
Is that you live

Bridge Lead In

|G Am|G/B Bb7|

Bridge
Eb              Bb
 They call me a monster
F             Bb
 For making a monster
Eb             Bb      Dsus2
 But what is a monster anyway?
Eb                      Bb
 Someone frightening the mob?
F                Bb
 Someone playing God?
Eb        Bb                    Ab
 Or is it someone too scared to understand
            Dsus2           D7sus2
And so they stand in love’s way?

Verse Lead In

|G Cmaj7| x2

Verse 3
              G   Cmaj7
Now here they come
                G                Cmaj7
Sounds like the rabble’s roused again
           G                 Cmaj7     G/B
With their torches and their pitchforks
 Am            Dsus2
About to break in

                G    Cmaj7
There’s just no point
             G         Cmaj7      G/B
In trying to make them understand
Am                     Am7/G
 I’ll wait here by her gurney
        D7/F#
Holding onto her hand

Pre Chorus
Bm
 Her eyes open slowly
Em
 She gives me a smile
Am                 Am7/G
Now we’ve got each other
D7/F#
 At least for a while

Chorus
G              Gmaj7/F#
 Hard work and science
    G7/F           C
Are what I have to give
Am                       Am7b5
 And all I’m asking in return
            Am7#11(let ring)
Is that you live

Outro 

|G Am|G/B Bb6|Am Am7b5|G C|G |

Tabs

Intro
  Am              Am7b5
|--------0------|------------|
|1----1-----3-1-|4----4--4---|
|---2---2-------|---5----5---|
|--2---2---2---2|--5---5-5---|
|0---0---0---0--|0---0---0---|
|---------------|------------|

Verse Lead In

 G       Cmaj7     G       Cmaj7      x2
|-----------------|------------------|
|--3--1--0----0---|--3--1--0----0----|
|-----------0---0-|-----------0---0--|
|--0---0---2---2--|--0---0---2---2---|
|--------3---3----|--------3---3-----|
|3---3------------|3---3-------------|

Verse

 G       Cmaj7     G       Cmaj7      G       Cmaj7     Am       Dsus2
|-----------------|------------------|------------------|------------0------|
|--3--1--0----0---|--3--1--0----0----|--3--1--0---------|1--3-1---3----3----|
|-----------0---0-|-----------0---0--|-----------0-0-0--|-----------2---2---|
|--0---0---2---2--|--0---0---2---2---|--0---0---2-------|--2---2--0---0-----|
|--------3---3----|--------3---3-----|--------3---3-2---|0---0--------------|
|3---3------------|3---3-------------|3---3-------------|-------------------|

 G       Cmaj7     G       Cmaj7      Am       Am7/G     D7/F#
|-----------------|------------------|------------------|--------0----------|
|--3--1--0----0---|--3--1--0---------|1----1--1----1----|1----1-----3-1-----|
|-----------0---0-|-----------0-0-0--|---2---2---0---0--|---2---2-----------|
|--0---0---2---2--|--0---0---2-------|--2---2---2---2---|--0---0---0---0----|
|--------3---3----|--------3---3-2---|0---0-------------|-------------------|
|3---3------------|3---3-------------|--------3---3-----|2---2---2---2------|

Pre Chorus
 Bm                Em                 Am      Am7/G      D7/F#
|--------2--------|--------0---------|------------------|-------------------|
|--3--5-----5-3---|0----0-----3-0----|1----1--1----1----|1----1--1--0-------|
|-----------------|---0---0----------|---2---2---0---0--|---2---2-----2-----|
|--4---4---4---4--|--2---2---2---2---|--2---2---2---2---|--0---0---0---0----|
|2---2---2---2----|------------------|0---0-------------|-------------------|
|-----------------|0---0---0---0-----|--------3---3-----|2---2---2---2------|

Chorus
 G       Gmaj7/F#  G7/F    C          Am                 Am7b5
|-----------------|------------------|------------------|-------------------|
|0----0--0----0---|0----0--1----1----|1----1--1----1----|4----4--4----------|
|---0---0---0---0-|---0---0---0---0--|---2---2---2---2--|---5----5----------|
|--0---0---0---0--|--0---0---2---2---|--2---2---2---2---|--5---5-5----------|
|-----------------|--------3---3-----|0---0---0---0-----|0---0---0----------|
|3---3---2---2----|1---1-------------|------------------|-------------------|

Bridge Lead In
 G       Am        G/B     Bb6
|-----------------|------------------|
|0----0--1----1---|3----3--3----3----|
|---0---0---2---2-|---0---0---0---0--|
|--0---0---2---2--|--0---0---0---0---|
|--------0---0----|2---2---1---1-----|
|3---3------------|------------------|

Bridge
 Eb          Bb    F       Bb         Eb      Bb        Dsus2
|-----------------|------------------|-----------------|0--0---0---0------|
|8----8--3----3---|1----1--3----3----|8----8--3----3---|-3---3---3---3----|
|---8---8---3---3-|---2---2---3---3--|---8---8---3---3-|--2---2---2---2---|
|--8---8---3---3--|--3---3---3---3---|--8---8---3---3--|0---0---0---0-----|
|6---6---1---1----|--------1---1-----|6---6---1---1----|------------------|
|-----------------|1---1-------------|-----------------|------------------|

 Eb          Bb    F       Bb         Eb      Bb        Ab
|-----------------|------------------|-----------------|------------------|
|8----8--3----3---|1----1--3----3----|8----8--3----3---|4----4--4----4----|
|---8---8---3---3-|---2---2---3---3--|---8---8---3---3-|---5---5---5---5--|
|--8---8---3---3--|--3---3---3---3---|--8---8---3---3--|--6---6---6---6---|
|6---6---1---1----|--------1---1-----|6---6---1---1----|------------------|
|-----------------|1---1-------------|-----------------|4---4---4---4-----|

 Dsus2   D7sus2
|---0----0--------|
|3----3--1--------|
|--2---2-2--------|
|0---0---0--------|
|-----------------|
|-----------------|

Final Chorus

Chorus
 G       Gmaj7/F#  G7/F    C          Am                 Am7b5   Am7#11
|-----------------|------------------|------------------|--------5-----------|
|0----0--0----0---|0----0--1----1----|1----1--1----1----|4----4--4----------|
|---0---0---0---0-|---0---0---0---0--|---2---2---2---2--|---5----5----------|
|--0---0---0---0--|--0---0---2---2---|--2---2---2---2---|--5---5-5----------|
|-----------------|--------3---3-----|0---0---0---0-----|0---0---0----------|
|3---3---2---2----|1---1-------------|------------------|-------------------|

Outro

 G       Am        G/B     Bb6        Am      Am7b5                          [harmonics]
|-----------------|------------------|-----------------|-----------------------|
|0----0--1----1---|3----3--3----3----|1----1--1----1---|0-----------------0-[5]|
|---0---0---2---2-|---0---0---0---0--|---2-------0---0-|0-0---0---0---0---0-[5]|
|--0---0---2---2--|--0---0---0---0---|--2---2---1---1--|0-0h2-0h2-0h2-0h2-0-[5]|
|--------0---0----|2---2---1---1-----|0---0---0---0----|--3---3---3---3--------|
|3---3------------|------------------|-----------------|3-----------------3--3-|

Lesson A Week Returns!

2008-09-21T05:39:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyone who has continued to support me even after an absence of 2 months. Big thanks to Jonathan, Paul and Storm, and of course Alora for getting me the new camera. This week I present to you a double header with a new lesson for "A Laptop Like You" and the Paul & Storm song "Live" which is in the style of JoCo. "Live" is posted in two parts, one with just the lesson, the other with just the play through. Please let me know if there's anything I can do to help with anything I've posted.

I'm going to post a the tab for "Live" in another post until I can find a better place for it. Sorry if it clutters up the page, it'll likely be just a temporary place until I find somewhere good to host it.

Lesson a Week 21: A Laptop Like You

If Dave Taught Guitar: Live (Part 1)

If Dave Taught Guitar: Live (Part 2)

Returning soon!

2008-08-15T09:13:00.001-07:00

In an unexpected turn of events, the amazing and wonderful Alora has saved the day and will be replacing my camera. When she's here in about 2 weeks I'll have recording capabilities and I can start cranking some lessons out. I truly appreciate all of your support and concern everyone. Let me know what songs you've all had in mind and I'll start brushing up on the ones I don't know as well so I can give you all a great lesson when the time comes.

Lesson a Week update

2008-08-05T08:03:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, bad news. On my return trip from Boston yesterday, I put my camera down for a second in the airport and it was snatched when I wasn't looking. It's now gone and I'm missing all sorts of great stuff from this past weekend which saddens me greatly. The biggest way this affects everyone here is that I have no means to record videos without it. I'll do my best to borrow a camera from a friend to film at some point, but I can't promise when this will happen. Until then I will do my best to put some time into the Mandelbrot Set or just the tab revision project. Sorry to everyone for the delays and thanks to everyone who's supported me this far.

Lesson A Week 19 + 20

2008-07-27T06:10:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! Sorry I disappeared for a few weeks there. Here are the episodes of Lesson a Week you may have missed since I've been rather busy.

Lesson A Week 19: A Talk With George

I'm sorry this one cuts off so abruptly as I was short on time.

Lesson A Week 20: Over There

Lesson a Week 18: Creepy Doll

2008-07-09T19:10:00.001-07:00

I'm sorry about all of the delays guys. Life's been pretty busy and it's been hard to get these out every week. I'll do my best to get caught up and stay on top of things when I'm able to. Either way, it's time to get Creepy...

Lesson a Week 18: Creepy Doll

Lesson A Week 17: Shop Vac

2008-06-28T21:35:00.000-07:00

I fell asleep last night before I could post this link, haha. I guess I missed it. I'll try to post two videos this week as a result. Sorry again if this lesson feels rushed, but it's been busy busy in my world, hopefully nothing is too screwed up.

Lesson a Week 17: Shop Vac

Lesson A Week 16: You Ruined Everything

2008-06-21T20:33:00.000-07:00

Another close call, but there's still 90 minutes left in this week. As with any song that is fingerpicked, you can check out my video about fingerpicking technique. Enjoy!

Lesson a Week 16: You Ruined Everything

Lesson A Week 15: Dance, Soterios Johnson, Dance

2008-06-14T17:03:00.000-07:00

Has it really been 15 weeks? Wow! Either way, here's this week's lesson. I skipped explaining the bridge because I did the mini lesson for this one.

Enjoy!

Lesson a week 15: Dance, Soterios Johnson, Dance

Lesson A Week 14: I'm Your Moon

2008-06-07T09:55:00.000-07:00

This week you get the beautiful love song "I'm Your Moon". If you know any planets, here's your chance to seduce them.

Lesson a Week 14: I'm Your Moon

Lesson A Week 13: I Crush Everything

2008-05-31T08:13:00.000-07:00

Whoa, I almost didn't get this posted by the end of the week. It's been a little hectic around here, but I'm glad I still get the lesson up before week's end. I'm running out of hard drive space quickly. I'll probably just buy another one soon, but as usual, I need the money for other things. Either way, this week's lesson is one of the hardest ones yet, but that's mostly because there are just a lot of things to explain. Once you get some of these patterns under your fingers, you'll see that's it's not as hard as it sounds. Next week will be "I'm Your Moon"

Lesson a Week 13: I Crush Everything

Lesson A Week 12: I Hate California

2008-05-22T13:32:00.000-07:00

This week we explore why JoCo hates California. Make sure that you follow along with the alternate tuning to avoid confusion.

Lesson a Week 12: I Hate California

Lesson A Week 11: Better

2008-05-15T21:37:00.001-07:00

I'm a little pressed for time this week so I apologize for the blurry out of focus stuff. I've got 2 shows with my band the next few days so that's been keeping me busy. Next week I'll be doing I Hate California. Enjoy!

Lesson a Week 11: Better

Re Your Brains + Important Technique Lesson

2008-05-07T16:32:00.001-07:00

This week you get another double whammy. I've made a video explaining some technique for fingerpicking. This is going to be very important for upcoming videos as many JoCo songs use some things that I explain in this video, so please make sure you give it a watch. Otherwise, enjoy the zombie goodness.

Lesson a Week 10: Re Your Brains

Guitar Technique: Fingerpicking

Lesson A Week 9: Code Monkey

2008-04-30T23:26:00.000-07:00

It's week 9 at lesson a week! I've survived this far and I hope to continue on as long as my schedule. This week's song is the live version of Code Monkey. Since it's based on a few different performances, some chords or rhythms may vary between versions. Enjoy!

Lesson a Week 9: Code Monkey

The poll is back so vote for next week's lesson now on the JoCo forums!

Lesson a Week 8: Mandelbrot Set + Paul and Storm Goodie

2008-04-21T14:53:00.001-07:00

This week we get mathematical on Lesson a Week! As I'm getting closer to graduating, I'm glad to present a song that has an educational ring to it, but avoids being called "edutainmant" *shudder*. In addition, I decided to do a lesson for one of my favorite Paul and Storm songs "A Better Version of You". If there's enough response I can do more P&S, but at this point, I've got a lot on my plate with the JoCo lessons and the tab editing project. Enjoy!

Lesson a Week 8: Mandelbrot Set

If Dave Taught Guitar: A Better Version of You

I also want to mention that next week's video for Code Monkey (live version) may be the last video I do for a few weeks because I'll be even busier with graduation and stuff. I'll post a poll when I know my schedule a bit better. I definitely want to continue doing these lessons though, so don't worry about that. :)

Lesson a Week 7: Still Alive (Live Version)

2008-04-16T18:37:00.000-07:00

I've got a new lesson for you today for Still Alive, the live version. The one that most people know is direct from Portal, that's not this one. This is just the way JoCo plays the song live. Also, I've been so crunched for time with the whole, graduating from college thing, so I didn't have time to edit out an error I made during the final play-through where I play the Bm chord too early. The verses all have the same number of measures. Sorry for the confusion. As always, drop me a line if you need any clarification.

Lesson A Week 7: Still Alive(Live Version)

Lesson a Week 6: First of May + Mini Lesson 2

2008-04-07T19:07:00.000-07:00

The first of may is only a few weeks away, so now you'll all be able to have time to practice this one and sing it for all your friends when the time comes. In addition to this lesson I did a mini lesson last week for the bridge of Dance, Soterios Johnson, Dance. I made it because I heard that JoCo was having trouble remembering the chords, so in good fun I made this short video. I will have another mini lesson that deals specifically with finger picking sometime in the next week or so. Enjoy!

Lesson a Week 6: First of May

Mini Lesson: Dance Soterios Johnson, Dance Bridge

Lesson a Week 5: Big Bad World One

2008-04-01T16:32:00.000-07:00

Despite all of the school stuff and gigs I've had lately, I managed to whip this one up in one take, no editing. I hope you all can get something out it.

Big Bad World One

Lesson a Week 4: Ikea

2008-03-25T09:48:00.000-07:00

This week I've prepared for this guitar lesson for the song "Ikea". You may drastically improve by eating some Swedish meatballs prior to attempting this song. Let me know if anything needs clarification. Next week I'll be doing "Big Bad World One". If you want to vote for the week after that, make sure you make your way to the forums at JoCo's website.

Lesson a Week 4: Ikea

Lesson A Week 3: I Feel Fantastic

2008-03-17T22:19:00.001-07:00

This week I take you through I Feel Fantastic. This song doesn't have too many hard chords, but playing it up to speed can take a lot out of you so make sure that you work your way up to something comfortable. Next week I'll be cover the song Ikea. Enjoy!

L esson a Week 3 : I Feel Fantastic

Welcome to Lesson a Week!

2008-03-13T15:28:00.000-07:00

Welcome all to Lesson a Week. Every week I plan on releasing a now guitar lesson for a Jonathan Coulton song of your choice. All you have to do is go to the forums on JoCo's website and vote for the song you want me to do in the Lesson a Week thread. Every week around Tuesday, I will be uploading a new lesson. I plan on doing these at least for 2 months, but if I have the time and energy I'll continue beyond that. Every once in awhile I may throw up a mini lesson for some small element of a JoCo song, like a guitar solo. Please feel free to subscribe to my feed to automatically have your videos added when I post new ones.

Here's what's available so far:

Lesson a Week 1: Skullcrusher Mountain

Lesson a Week 2:Future Soon

Mini Lesson: Shop Vac guitar solo