I love my guitar!

John Denver expresses this better than anyone I have known.  Only a guitarist can really understand how this feels.   Enjoy, compliments of YouTube.

ABC Song again

I've posted another ABC song of the 3 boys, this time alone.  I placed it with the other ABC song, to keep things simpler for the future.
They are cute!

ABC Song Again

Jingle Bells

I've always loved our arrangement of Jingle Bells.  I'm not sure where this arrangement came from, but this is how we sang it as a child with my family, while in our car driving home from church or anytime we went up and down the mountain.

The main reason I loved Christmas time, was for the Christmas Carols that we sung together.  When we sang, it was always a time I could count on feeling peace, with beautiful harmonies.  No arguing on quarreling, just great music.   I now sing it with my daughters and their families.

I'll be putting a group of Christmas songs together on one You Tube video, so that if you want to listen and learn them all, you can play them without having recheck and find to play a song.  Watch for the group to come soon.

As always, have fun listening and learning!

Jingle Bells with all 3 parts,  Key of D



Jingle Bells, high part.  Thanks Janelle Rachelle!


Jingle Bells, low part.  Thanks April!

The ABC Song with 3 grandsons

Three of my young grandsons, Cooper, Taivan and Kael wanted to sing.  I placed them on my lap (Kael had to have his OWN chair), and we got in front of Photo Booth on my Mac Computer.

Taivan has played on my Mac computer before, and knows that the Photo Booth App can make you have very funny faces if you place a special effect on the video.  The grandkids love to play with this App.

Watch and see how Taivan is somehow convinced that this computer is making his face funny. Hilarious!





ABC Song Again

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (practice), by The Singing Grandma

This is my favorite fast Christmas song when performed with my version.  Have fun!

What Child Is This (practice)

This is my arrangement of What Child Is This, same melody as "Greensleeves".  We've started with the 3 part arrangement, then you can choose "Melody Only", "Low Harmony", or "High Harmony" to learn the part you desire.

This is how I've learned much of the music I know and perform.  A lot of arrangements are spontaneously made up, and there isn't any sheet music or recordings of them.  It is also the way I have always taught any my "Youth Choirs".  Kids and adults alike that don't know how to read music find learning this way non intimidating, and they can be very successful at learning by listening

3 Part Arrangement



Melody Only



High Part



Low Part


What Child Is This,   Key of Dm 


Dm                              C                     Bb              A    

What child is this, who laid to rest, on Mary’s lap is sleeping?

           Dm                     C                               Bb             A              Dm

Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, while Shepherds watch are keeping?

Chorus

F                C                               Bb                           A

This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing

F                     C                           Bb           A        Dm

Haste, haste to bring him laud, the Babe the Son of Mary

2nd verse

Dm                            C                               Bb                   A  

So bring him incense, gold and myrrh, come peasant king to join Him

      Dm                     C                        Bb      A           Dm          

The King of kings, salvation brings, let loving hearts enthrone Him

Chorus

F                C                               Bb                           A

This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing

F                     C                           Bb           A        Dm

Haste, haste to bring him laud, the Babe the Son of Mary



An alternative to the 2nd Chorus is:
    Raise, raise the song on high, The Virgin sings her lullaby
    Joy, joy for Christ is born, the Babe, the Son of Mary

Also, an optional verse, usually replaces the 2nd verse and moves the 2nd verse (above) to the 3rd verse:
   
   Why lies He in such mean estate, Where ox and lamb are feeding?
   Good Christian, fear, for sinners here, the silent Word is pleading.
   Nails, spear shall pierce Him through, the cross be borne, for me, for you,
   Joy, joy for Christ is born, the babe the Son of Mary

Silent Night, practice

Silent Night - a classic.
We are a little rusty singing this.  Sorry for the "off" notes.  The kids were running around, and we were trying to show the arrangement.  Hope it helps.

3 Part Arrangement for practice


High Harmony (1st verse only)

O Holy Night, 3 and 2 part harmonies (for practice), Chords and Lyrics

This is probably my favorite Christmas song.  I heard it sung with guitar by 2 sisters - I think the Shipley? sisters (it was a LONG time ago) - at a church Christmas gathering when I was about 14 years old.  I was so impressed with their beauty and talent that I wanted to grow up and be just like them!  After I learned to play the guitar at around age 16, I figured out the cords.  Initially, I would sing it with my sisters and brothers while driving in the car (they were the ones that would always make up the harmony).  We sang it in the car with 2 part harmony, and I added in the third part later.  I love singing it with my daughters (though we are missing one in this clip).

Also, as almost always, remember that this is a Practice clip - just for learning, not for show.  Lots of kids and distractions!  I'm a very lucky grandma.

3 Part Harmony (Practice)



Low Harmony (1st verse/chorus only)



Low Harmony (2nd chorus only)



3rd Part (mostly high, skips around some).  All harmonies are there, but you can hear this part a little louder than the other. 
The 3rd part is in unison for the first two sections, and then breaks off to a 3rd part on, "Fall on you knees…", and then again in the second verse on, "Christ is our Lord….".  Listen carefully, you will hear me come in overdubbing on those sections. 

1st Chorus



2nd Chorus



Words and Cords
KEY OF A

A                           D                         A                                           E                  A
O Holy Night, the stars are brightly shining,  It is the night of our dear Savior's birth

A                                  D                  A                         C#m                Ab              C#m
Long lay the world, in sin and error pinning, 'til He appeared and the soul felt his worth

     E                         A                                         E                      A            
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, while yonder waits a new and glorious morn

F#m             C#m           Bm                    F#m
Fall on your knees!  Oh hear, the angel's voices

       A  E      A   D       A     E                           A
Oh  night  divine,  Oh night,  when Christ was born

      E     E7     A D   A       E           A
Oh night,   O Ho-ly Night, O night divine

2nd verse

A                                D             A                                               E            A
Truly He taught us to love one another, His law is love and His gospel is peace

A                                            D             A                          C#m        Ab                      C#m
Chains shall He break for the slave our brother, and in His name all oppressions shall cease

           E                            A                                             E                   A            
Sweet hymns of praise in grateful chorus praise Thee, let all within us praise His holy name

F#m             C#m          Bm                    F#m
Christ is our Lord!  Oh praise His name forever

       A  E          A  D     A E                  A
His power and glo - ry ev - er more proclaim

       E       E7          A  D  A    E                        A
His power       and glo  -  ry,   ev - er more, proclaim