New Tracks And Lessons:

Acoustic classics - "Blackbird" by the Beatles & a new Lesson 'Learn To Play Sara' by Fleetwood Mac

The Beatles - The Beatles -The White Album

Cover:   Blackbird Paul McCartney was inspired to write "Blackbird" as a reaction to racial tensions escalating in America ("bird" being British slang for a woman). The music was inspired by Bach's 'Bourree' In E Minor', a well known classical guitar piece, that McCartney and Harrison had learned to play as kids to "show off".

Lesson:   Learn to Play 'Sara' By Fleetwood Mac Fleetwood Mac was one of the biggest bands in the world when they started recording their follow up to "Rumours". Taking a year to record, the album "Tusk" is regarded as an artistic triumph drawing comparisons to The Beatles "White Album". Stevie Nicks' song "Sara" was the biggest hit and ironically the longest track on the record. (The original issue CD has an edited version of Sara.) Clocking in at over 6 minutes, it is a sonic masterpiece and its deceptively simple and linear arrangement is infectious, beautiful and elegant - the ultimate chill-out track.

Lesson:   Causing a Stir - How To Play Bob Marley and the Wailers recorded "Stir It Up" for their debut album entitled "Catch A Fire". Released upon an unsuspecting public in the spring of 1973, "Catch A Fire" launched Bob Marley & the Wailers' career and propelled reggae music itself, into the mainstream. This was not their first record, they already had hits in Jamaica, but it was the record aimed at international success. "Catch A Fire" is a rock oriented record by design - the purist Jamaican reggae mixed with traditional rock instrumentation. This produced a sound that American and UK record buyers could understand and relate to. The song "Stir It Up" is a perfect culmination of these two styles.

In Flames - Come Clarity

Cover:   Come Clarity Swedish metal-rockers In Flames landed on the Billboard Charts for the first time both in the US and Europe with the album 'Come Clarity'. Great electric and acoustic guitar run throughout this melodic metal nugget.