This is a 12-bar blues song written by Bo Diddley (who was born Ellas Otha Bates on December 30, 1928, was adopted and changed his name as a child to Ellas McDaniel, and who died on  June 2, 2008). Bo Diddley was recognized as a top blues and R&B artist and was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He is also famous for the Bo Diddley Beat rhythm pattern (which is not used in this song) and his distinctive rectangular cigar box guitars. 

"Before You Accuse Me" is usually the third song I teach to beginner guitar students because it uses a simple rhythmic shuffle pattern on two strings for each chord. The shuffle is easiest if it is played in the key of A (it is somewhat more difficult in the original key of E). In order to emphasize the repeating chord structure of  the song, I sometimes call it "The ADAADDAAEDAA Song" with my students. The swing (triplet rhythm) shuffle pattern is commonly used in blues and (with a more even eighth-note rhythm) in rock and roll. It is easy to learn and sounds cool!

We also use this song for more advanced students to learn to improvise guitar solos using the A minor pentatonic scale.

The video above was made when some of my Group Guitar Lessons students played along with my band, Panther City Rounders. We played the song in A as we do in our lessons.

The video below is Bo Diddley's original recording in the key of E. There are many covers of the song by artists including Eric Clapton, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Delbert McClinton, and others - almost all of which are in the key of E.

"Eleanor Rigby" is usually the second song that I teach beginner guitar students. It is very easy to play because it mostly uses only two chords (C and E minor). The sound in the above video is the traditional 1966 recording (remastered in stereo) featuring the string ensemble accompaniment written by The Beatles producer, George Martin. (The pictures are from the Yellow Submarine animated movie.) When you play along with this version, you are the only guitar! Please note that you may have to click the link to "Watch on YouTube."

I also found this next video of Paul McCartney performing the song live in 2010. Interestingly, Paul plays the guitar using a very simple strumming pattern that is very much like what I teach my beginner students. There is a slight glitch in this video at 1:31 (so it is not a problem with your equipment).

Please play along with these videos and leave me a comment to let me know how it goes for you!

- Mark

I can't stress enough how important it is for you to learn to play along with a good recording of a song! Listening and playing along helps you to learn the song, gives you practice changing the chords, and helps you play in rhythm.  

"Jambalya" is usually the first song that I teach beginning guitar students. I know that a lot of younger people have never heard of Hank Williams, but this is a great first song to learn on the guitar for many reasons:

1. It's really easy - it only has two chords (C and G7) and those chords can be played on the three thin strings of the guitar with only one finger to fret the chords. Nearly anyone can learn to play the chords for this song in the first lesson.

2. It's a real song--one of Hank's greatest hits. It's not a nursery-rhyme song. 

3. After you learn power chords and other rock and blues techniques, we can revisit this song to play it in a more modern style.

The video above is the original recording by Hank Williams. The video below shows a special recital by the Group Guitar Lessons students of all ages ​from all three courses.
Enjoy!

- Mark