SongPond Blog

How to play Your Song by Elton John

The SongPond Team — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 00:20:20 +0000

Elton John is a singer-songwriter, composer and pianist who came to popularity during the singer-songwriter movement of the 1970s.

His songs like his signature song Crocodile Rock and his breakthrough hit Your Song were hugely popular and remain favorites. Nearly all of John’s songs were co-written with songwriting partner Bernie Taupin.

John has garnered several awards and accolades during his career including Grammy Awards and Academy Awards, as well as a Golden Globe and Tony Award. His achievements prompted Rolling Stone magazine to place him at #49 on their list of 100 greatest artists of all time in 2004.John has said that Your Song, is a favorite of his and one of the best romantic songs he’s ever written. He still plays it at most of his live performances.

The ‘‘ full video lesson will show you how to play the song in easy to learn parts.

Song Title:
Artist:
Recorded:	Jan 1970
Tutor:	Ruth Searle
Rating:
Duration:	30 mins(approx.)

Click to visit the Song Lesson

Learn the Chords to

Here are main chords that are used in the song:

Chords:

These chords can be found in the chord viewer on the ‘’ video lesson page.

In this lesson you learn how to play by on the in step-by-step chunks.

Why we think by is a great song

The song is a perfect example of how simple lyrics can beautifully convey a romantic sentiment
It was Elton John’s first pop hit
It’s one of Elton John’s own favorite songs

Why we think by is a great song to learn

Your Song by Elton John is a great song to learn because it’s been hailed as a near perfect love song. Besides the wonderfully simplistic and sincere lyrics it has a terrific melody. The song is a great challenging piece for more advanced pianists offering the challenge of arpeggios, broken and block chords, syncopation, circle of fifths and more.

Why we classed by as ‘’ on

SongPond tutor, Ruth Searle delivers a cut down version of the full song, which makes learning the song as a whole a lot easier.

The main sections are broken down and prepare you for playing the song as a whole. Each video section is about 8-10 minutes long. We recommend you listen to the original piece and really get a feel for the song.

Check out the preview and introduction on the lesson page.

Visit the Video Lesson

Click to visit the lesson page

Learn about and

Elton John, born Reginald Kenneth Dwight, is an English singer-songwriter, composer and pianist. John has more than 30 albums to his credit, most of them produced with co-songwriter Bernie Taupin, with whom he’s collaborated with since 1967.

John is one of the most successful artists of all time having sold more than 250 million records during his career. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked him number 49 on its list of the 100 greatest artists of all time. John was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.

To his credit and as proof of his talent he has had more than 50 top 40 hits, seven consecutive #1 albums in the U.S., six Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award and a Tony Award.

Courtesy of wikipedia.com

Some history about by

Your Song is a ballad composed and performed by English musician Elton John about the innocent and sincere expression of love for someone. John and long-time collaborator Bernie Taupin wrote the lyrics. The song was part of a collection of songs that John and Taupin wrote while living together and was actually written one day over breakfast.

Your Song was originally released as the B-side to Take Me to the Pilot but disc jockeys preferred Your Song and it soon replaced Take Me to the Pilot as the A side. Your Song hit the top ten on the singles charts in the UK and the U.S. John has called the song one of his favorites and performs it at most of his concerts.

What Album came from

The song Your Song is off the album Elton John by English musician Elton John. The album was released in 1970 and it was his first release in the United States.

The album along with his breakthrough hit Your Song helped establish John’s career. The self-titled album is often mistakenly thought of as his debut album, but it was actually just his first released in the United States. The album Elton John was nominated for a Grammy for Album of the Year in 1971.

YouTube user plays by

This cover of Your Song by Elton John is performed by a duo with Jonathan Price on piano and Jordan Keyes providing vocals. It’s a nice performance with Keyes providing a nice accompaniment to Price’s flawless performance. Check out the video and give them a listen.

Can you Play by ?

If you have a video of yourself playing the song and want to share the youtube link with us please do so below!

We would love to hear your comments and thoughts on this blog post, the song in general, the lessons and anything about .

Please use the form below to leave your comments!

Thanks!

How to play Sunshine of Your Love by Cream

shellycone — Mon, 30 May 2011 05:00:30 +0000

Sunshine of Your Love was an excellent song that represented the blues, hard rock and psychedelic sound of the British band Cream.

The song also featured an acclaimed guitar solo by Eric Clapton. The song came to be after an all-night creative session yet it has endured as a 60s classic to this day. The song was Cream’s only gold-selling single in the U.S.

The ‘‘ full video lesson will show you how to play the song in easy to learn parts.

Song Title:
Artist:
Recorded:	May 1967
Tutor:	Mark McKenzie
Rating:
Duration:	19 mins(approx.)

Click to visit the Song Lesson

Learn the Chords to

Here are main chords that are used in the song:

Chords:

These chords can be found in the chord viewer on the ‘’ video lesson page.

In this lesson you learn how to play by on the in step-by-step chunks.

Why we think by is a great song

It’s a song that conjures up the psychedelic 60s
It’s a well-known Cream song
It’s made several best of lists

Why we think by is a great song to learn

This song is an excellent rock ‘n’ roll song complete with an aggressive riff, and full chords and single notes. If you want to get a little feel of the 60s this is the song that will get you there. It’s a great song to learn to enjoy a classic rock sound.

Why we classed by as ‘’ on

SongPond tutor, Mark McKenzie delivers a cut down version of the full song, which makes learning the song as a whole a lot easier.

Check out the preview and introduction on the lesson page.

Visit the Video Lesson

Click to visit the lesson page

Learn about and

Cream was a 1960s rock group made up of Jack Bruce, Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker. They were characterized by a sound that was influenced by blues rock, hard rock and psychedelic rock. The group released the world’s first platinum-selling double album when they released their third album, Wheels of Fire.

The group’s songs ranged from traditional blues, modern blues and more eccentric songs. Like Jimi Hendrix at the time, the group helped popularize the use of the wah-wah pedal. Some of their biggest hits included I Feel Free, Sunshine of Your Love and White Room.

Courtesy of wikipedia.com

Some history about by

Sunshine of Your Love is a song by British rock group Cream that features a distinctive guitar/bass riff and a guitar solo by Eric Clapton that has receive lots of acclaim. The song was written by bassist Jack Bruce, lyricist Pete Brown and Clapton. The song’s riff was inspired by a Jimi Hendrix concert, after which Jack Bruce came home and wrote the famous riff.

The lyrics were the product of an all-night creative session between Bruce and Peter Brown. It was Cream’s only gold-selling single in the U.S. The song was ranked #65 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2004 and made the list of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll and in March 2005 Q magazine placed the song at 19 in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks.

What Album came from

The song Sunshine of Your Love by Cream is off the album Disraeli Gears. Disraeli Gears is the second album by Cream and was released November 1967.

Originally the album was to be titled Cream but an inside joke changed that. When the band was discussing Eric Clapton’s thoughts about buying a racing bicycle, roadie Mick Turner commented, “it’s got them Disraeli Gears.” He was referring to “derailleur gears” but instead alluded to 19th Century British Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli. The band thought that was hilarious and decided to make it the title of their next album. In addition to Sunshine of Your Love the song also contains the single Strange Brew. The album reached #5 on the UK Albums Chart and helped the band breakthrough to American audiences. It reached #4 on the American charts.

YouTube user plays by

This duo has a great handle on this cover of Sunshine of Your Love by Cream. Great sounding, rocking solo. Right on.

Can you Play by ?

If you have a video of yourself playing the song and want to share the youtube link with us please do so below!

We would love to hear your comments and thoughts on this blog post, the song in general, the lessons and anything about .

Please use the form below to leave your comments!

Thanks!

How to play Stars by Switchfoot

The SongPond Team — Fri, 27 May 2011 00:14:11 +0000

Switchfoot is an American rock band from San Diego that began as a Christian rock group and later gained mainstream popularity.

After initial success in the Christian rock genre their songs appeared on the movie A Walk to Remember. After that the group released its first major label album, The Beautiful Letdown and released two hit songs.

Their follow up album, Nothing is Sound had a bit of a darker sound and spawned the song Stars which was the most successful song on the album.

According to Jon Foreman, the band’s name comes from a surfing term. Because the band members have been surfers all their lives the term made sense. It refers to switching feet while surfing and taking a new stance facing the opposite direction. For the band, it means change and movement and taking a different approach to life and music.

The ‘‘ full video lesson will show you how to play the song in easy to learn parts.

Song Title:
Artist:
Recorded:	July 5 2005
Tutor:	Moses Robbins
Rating:
Duration:	42 mins. (approx.)

Click to visit the Song Lesson

Learn the Chords to

Here are main chords that are used in the song:

Chords:

These chords can be found in the chord viewer on the ‘’ video lesson page.

In this lesson you learn how to play by on the in step-by-step chunks.

Why we think by is a great song

It has some wonderfully insightful lyrics
There is some incredible guitar playing
It was one of Switchfoot’s more popular songs

Why we think by is a great song to learn

The song Stars by Switchfoot has an amazing signature riff that will impress your friends. Yet it’s not too difficult to learn. Learning the song will give you a variety of new skills like driving rhythms, deceptive seed playing, smooth power to octave chord playing and more.

Why we classed by as ‘’ on

SongPond tutor, Moses Robbins delivers a cut down version of the full song, which makes learning the song as a whole a lot easier.

Check out the preview and introduction on the lesson page.

Visit the Video Lesson

Click to visit the lesson page

Learn about and

Switchfoot is an American rock band that initially gained mainstream recognition with the inclusion of four of their songs in the 2002 movie A Walk to Remember.

Hailing from San Diego the band started out as a Christian rock band prior to their mainstream popularity. The band includes Jon Foreman, (lead vocals, guitar) Tim Foreman (bass guitar, backing vocals), Chad Butler (drums, percussion), Jerome Fontamillas (guitar, keyboards, backing vocals,) and Drew Shirley (guitar, backing vocals).

After their songs appeared in A Walk to Remember the band debuted The Beautiful Letdown, released in 2003 selling more than 2.6 million copies. That album produced the band’s best-known singles, Meant to Live and Dare You to Move.

Courtesy of wikipedia.com

Some history about by

Stars is the first single off the fifth album by American band Switchfoot. Stars was the most successful song on that album, Nothing is Sound.

The song was written by Jon Foreman, who said it’s about perspective and about stepping back in the midst of chaos and looking at the stars and believing that there must be something keeping the world together. Stars was the most-added song on Modern Rock Radio when it was first released and peaked at number 16 on the U.S. Modern Rock chart. It’s the band’s third successful song behind hits Meant to Live and Dare You to Move.

What Album came from

Nothing is Sound is the fifth studio album by the band Switchfoot. When it was released on Sept. 13, 2005 the album debuted at number three on the Billboard 200. Lead by the single Stars, the album is characterized as being much darker than their other albums.

The songs on the album feature themes of loneliness, the end of the world and the commercialization of sex, however, the band has said the songs are also hopeful as well. The song also featured densely-layered guitar work by the addition of touring guitarist Drew Shirley.

The best-charting song on the album was the song Stars, which reached 16 on the modern rock chart and number 68 on the Billboard Hot 100. The second single, We Are One Tonight received much less success.

YouTube user plays by

YouTube user silentwolf226 offers up a great cover of Stars by Switchfoot. He plays the song with wonderful energy and delivers a super performance. Check it out.

Can you Play by ?

If you have a video of yourself playing the song and want to share the youtube link with us please do so below!

We would love to hear your comments and thoughts on this blog post, the song in general, the lessons and anything about .

Please use the form below to leave your comments!

Thanks!

How to play Whole Lotta Love by Led Zeppelin

The SongPond Team — Fri, 20 May 2011 08:00:54 +0000

Perhaps one of the hardest rocking bands of its era, Led Zeppelin is often considered the predecessor to heavy metal.

With a heavy guitar-driven sound and a strong blues-rock influence the band put out hits like Stairway to Heaven and Whole Lotta Love.

Whole Lotta Love with its freeform middle section which built to a climax of moaning by Robert Plant, was one of the more controversial songs causing many radio stations to release their own edited versions and forcing the record label to release its own edited single.

The ‘‘ full video lesson will show you how to play the song in easy to learn parts.

Song Title:
Artist:
Recorded:	May 1969
Tutor:	Mark McKenzie
Rating:
Duration:	20 mins(approx.)

Click to visit the Song Lesson

Learn the Chords to

Here are main chords that are used in the song:

Chords:

These chords can also be found in the chord viewer on the ‘’ video lesson page.

In this lesson you learn how to play by on the in step-by-step chunks.

Why we think by is a great song

The song features some awesome guitar work by Jimmy Page
The song is classic rock and roll
It features some great guitar solo work

Why we think by is a great song to learn

Whole Lotta Love by Led Zeppelin is a great song to learn for beginning to intermediate guitarists because of its rocking main riff and the use of power chords throughout the song. It’s a great song to tackle some solid rock guitar techniques and meld together lead and rhythm playing.

Why we classed by as ‘’ on

SongPond tutor, Mark McKenzie delivers a cut down version of the full song, which makes learning the song as a whole a lot easier.

Check out the preview and introduction on the lesson page.

Visit the Video Lesson

Click to visit the lesson page

Learn about and

Led Zeppelin was an English rock band that featured a heavy, guitar-driven blues-rock sound. The band consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, drummer John Bonham and bassist John Paul Jones.

One of the best selling artists worldwide, the band is often considered the predecessor to heavy metal and hard rock with songs like Whole Lotta Love and Stairway to Heaven. All of the band’s albums have reached the top 10 of the Billboard album chart with six of them reaching number one.

Courtesy of wikipedia.com

Some history about by

Whole Lotta Love is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin. It was the first U.S. hit single for the band. The song has lyrical influences from the 1962 Muddy Waters song You Need Love written by Willie Dixon and Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant’s phrasing shows similarities to that of Steve Marriott’s in the Small Faces version recorded as You Need Loving.

A freeform middle section to the song, which sometimes is referred to as the “orgasm section” caused many radio stations to create their own edited versions of the song. Atlantic Records quickly responded with a regular release that cut the freeform section and featured an earlier fade-out. The edited version was intended for radio play but some ended up being sold commercially. The edited version was subsequently withdrawn.

The song remained on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 15 weeks and peaked at #4, becoming the band’s only top 10 single on the U.S. Chart at #22 and staying there for 15 weeks.

What Album came from

The song Whole Lotta Love is a release off the second studio album by the English rock band Led Zeppelin II.

The album was released in October 1969. The album was more widely acclaimed and influential than the previous album. It also featured elements of blues and folk music showing the band’s evolution to blues-derived material and a guitar and riff-based sound.It was the first album to reach number one in the U.K. and the U.S.

YouTube user plays by

The song Whole Lotta Love by Led Zeppelin offers a chance to show off some great guitar skills and that’s what Youtube user carlosdomingues81 does. This guy rocks on Ibanez guitar. There is some talent going on in this video, check it out.

Can you Play by ?

If you have a video of yourself playing the song and want to share the youtube link with us please do so below!

We would love to hear your comments and thoughts on this blog post, the song in general, the lessons and anything about .

Please use the form below to leave your comments!

Thanks!

How to play Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton

The SongPond Team — Fri, 20 May 2011 06:00:34 +0000

He’s one of the greatest guitarists in rock and roll history. In fact, Eric Clapton, got his nickname, Slowhand, because of his guitar skill.

He’s been successful in his career with the bands Cream and The Yardbirds as well as in his own solo career. While most musicians are inspired by the relationships around them, two of Clapton’s biggest hits were inspired by love. At the time he wrote Layla, Clapton was in love with Patti Boyd, who was married to George Harrison of The Beatles. Clapton and Boyd would later go on to marry and one night while waiting for Boyd to get ready, Clapton penned Wonderful Tonight.

Clapton has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, three times.

The ‘‘ full video lesson will show you how to play the song in easy to learn parts.

Song Title:
Artist:
Recorded:	May 1977
Tutor:	Mark McKenzie
Rating:
Duration:	38 mins(approx.)

Click to visit the Song Lesson

Learn the Chords to

Here are main chords that are used in the song:

Chords:

These chords can be found in the chord viewer on the ‘’ video lesson page.

In this lesson you learn how to play by on the in step-by-step chunks.

Why we think by is a great song

The song Wonderful Tonight is a sweet ode from Clapton to his wife
It has a mellow feel, which makes it a great song to wind down a set
Clapton’s guitar work in the song is excellent

Why we think by is a great song to learn

The song Wonderful Tonight is a great song to learn because of its beautiful melody and sweet lyrics. The intermediate guitarist will learn the use of picking out chords and open chords in this simply wonderful song.

Why we classed by as ‘’ on

SongPond tutor, Mark McKenzie delivers a cut down version of the full song, which makes learning the song as a whole a lot easier.

Check out the preview and introduction on the lesson page.

Visit the Video Lesson

Click to visit the lesson page

Learn about and

Eric Clapton is an English guitarist, singer and songwriter who has been successful not only in his solo career but also in bands like The Yardbirds and Cream. So much so, he’s been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in each of these capacities.

Clapton’s style has blues influences, but his own influence has extended beyond the blues genre. He’s best known for songs like Tears in Heaven, I Shot the Sheriff, Layla and Wonderful Tonight.

Clapton’s guitar skills are so great, he’d often have to change his guitar strings onstage. While he changed his strings, the audience would perform a slow hand clap. Seeing the irony between the slow hand clap and Clapton’s fast playing style, Clapton’s manager called him Slowhand, which has become his well-known nickname.

Courtesy of wikipedia.com

Some history about by

Wonderful Tonight is a song by musician Eric Clapton written for his love Pattie Boyd. Clapton wrote the song as he was waiting for Boyd to get ready to attend the annual Buddy Holly party given by Paul and Linda McCartney. The song charted at #16 in the U.S. and #30 in the UK.

What Album came from

Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton is off the album Slowhand, which was released in 1977. The album is known for hits like Wonderful Tonight, Lay Down Sally and Cocaine.

The album’s artwork features Clapton playing the G Major chord on his signature guitar Blackie. Slowhand was critically and commercially well-received. It reached #2 on the Billboard Album Charts.

YouTube user plays by

A truly romantic song, it’s hard to hear a cover version of Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton and not like it. YouTube user TheD3629 plays and sings the song with passion on his electric guitar. Good job.

Can you Play by ?

If you have a video of yourself playing the song and want to share the youtube link with us please do so below!

We would love to hear your comments and thoughts on this blog post, the song in general, the lessons and anything about .

Please use the form below to leave your comments!

Thanks!

How to play Wonderwall by Oasis

The SongPond Team — Thu, 19 May 2011 03:43:42 +0000

Wonderwall is a song by the band Oasis. The song was a mega-hit for the band but it wasn’t their first. Oasis found success with the release of their first album, Definitely Maybe. Their second studio album with songs like Wonderwall and Champagne Supernova found even greater success and broke several records.

Though the group’s songs are popular in many countries, they are just as famous for the constant rivalry that would take place between brothers and band mates, Liam and Noel Gallagher. Fights, which sometimes got physical, between the two brothers would often get in the way of the band completing songs or albums. However, the two would manage to reconcile in time to complete their projects.

The band broke up in 2009 when Liam Gallagher and some of the remaining band members went on to form another band. Despite the drama, the song Wonderwall remains one of the band’s most enduring commercial successes. The song and the album still receive wide radio airplay.

The ‘‘ full video lesson will show you how to play the song in easy to learn parts.

Song Title:
Artist:
Recorded:	May 1995
Tutor:	Moses Robbins
Rating:
Duration:	41 mins(approx.)

Click to visit the Song Lesson

Learn the Chords to

Here are main chords that are used in the song:

Chords:

These chords can be found in the chord viewer on the ‘’ video lesson page.

In this lesson you learn how to play by on the in step-by-step chunks.

Why we think by is a great song

The song has a great driving rhythm
The song was a worldwide hit that continues to get airplay
It has a chorus that is catchy and memorable

Why we think by is a great song to learn

The song Wonderwall by Oasis uses basic open chords so it’s an easy one for beginning guitarists. The rhythm is pretty basic so it’s not hard to catch the feel of the song. Overall it’s a great one to start building on current skill.

Why we classed by as ‘’ on

SongPond tutor, Moses Robbins delivers a cut down version of the full song, which makes learning the song as a whole a lot easier.

Check out the preview and introduction on the lesson page.

Visit the Video Lesson

Click to visit the lesson page

Learn about and

Oasis is an English rock band formed in 1991 in Manchester. Original members included Liam Gallagher, Paul Arthurs, Paul McGuigan and Tony McCarroll. With that lineup the band was known as The Rain. Later the group was joined by Gallagher’s older brother Liam and the band became known as Oasis. The band found success with their debut album Definitely Maybe in 1994. Their follow up album (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? was an even bigger hit.

The band is known as much for their music as for the in-fighting between the brothers Gallagher. However, the band continued to produce hits for years despite the bickering.

The band was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records in 2010 for “Longest Top 10 UK Chart Run By A Group” after a run of 22 successive Top 10 hits in the UK. They also hold the Guinness World Record for being the “Most Successful Act of the Last Decade.”

Courtesy of wikipedia.com

Some history about by

Wonderall is a song by English rock band Oasis that became their defining hit in both the United States, the U.K. and Australia. Written by the band’s guitarist and main songwriter Noel Gallagher, the song has been said to be about a girl Gallagher met at a concert while touring with the band. However, it was later claimed to be about his wife.

Despite the discrepancy about who exactly the song is about, the concept explores the idea of a friend who helps the writer save himself. It was the band’s breakthrough hit in the United States and their only top ten hit there. It reached number one in Australia and sold more than a million copies in single and download sales in the UK where it went platinum.

What Album came from

Wonderwall is the third release from the Oasis album (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? The album is the second studio album by the band released on Oct. 2, 1995. It has been an enduring commercial success for Oasis, staying at number one in the UK for 10 weeks and selling 14 million copies worldwide.

Album singles such as Champagne Supernova, Don’t Look Back in Anger and Wonderwall were hits helping to make the album one of the biggest selling albums of the decade.

YouTube user plays by

YouTube user WerkingItOut plays the first song he ever learned on guitar, Wonderwall by Oasis. He plays a head-nodding, toe-tapping version of the song transitioning smoothly into a verse of Champagne Supernova by Oasis and then back into Wonderwall. It’s a really enjoyable performance, check it out.

Can you Play by ?

If you have a video of yourself playing the song and want to share the youtube link with us please do so below!

We would love to hear your comments and thoughts on this blog post, the song in general, the lessons and anything about .

Please use the form below to leave your comments!

Thanks!

How to play My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion

The SongPond Team — Tue, 17 May 2011 12:00:09 +0000

Who could forget the epic song My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion? Not many people, considering the song went to #1 all over the world. With beautiful music marked by emotive, progressive chords and the incredible vocals of Celine Dion the song broke sales records the world over.

The song combines powerful music with powerful vocals making this song the ultimate power ballad and really setting the mood of the movie Titanic, of which it was the theme.

The ‘’ full video lesson will show you how to play the song in easy to learn parts.

Song Title:
Artist:
Recorded:	May 1997
Tutor:	Ruth Searle
Rating:
Duration:	34 mins (approx.)

Click to visit the Song Lesson

Learn the Chords to

Here are main chords that are used in the song:

Chords:

These chords can also be found in the chord viewer on the ‘’ video lesson page.

In this lesson you learn how to play by on the in step-by-step chunks.

Why we think by is a great song

It’s a powerful love song
It has a beautiful vocal melody
It was a hit all over the world

Why we think by is a great song to learn

The song My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion is a difficult song to learn but is so beautiful it’s worth it. It features some powerful chords and key changes at the climax point. It has some recognizable piano riffs and a beautiful chord progression and is instantly recognizable as the Titanic theme song.

Why we classed by as ‘’ on

SongPond tutor, Ruth Searle delivers a cut down version of the full song, which makes learning the song as a whole a lot easier.

Check out the preview and introduction on the lesson page.

Visit the Video Lesson

Click to visit the lesson page

Learn about and

Celine Dion is a French Canadian singer born in Repentigny, Quebec. Her musical influence is marked by rock, R&B, gospel and classical genres. When Dion was a teen, her manager and future husband Rene Angelil mortgaged his home to finance her first record.

In 1990 she released the album Unison establishing herself as a viable pop artist outside the French speaking world. She gained worldwide fame in the 1990s and in 1997 her song My Heart Will Go On, from the blockbuster movie Titanic became a hit around the world.

Still, in 1999 at the height of her success, she announced a hiatus from the entertainment industry to start a family and spend time with her husband, who had been diagnosed with cancer. She returned to the top of pop music in 2001 and signed a three-year contract to perform nightly in a five-star theatrical show in Las Vegas.

Courtesy of wikipedia.com

Some history about by

My Heart Will Go On was recorded by Celine Dion and originally released on Dion’s album Let’s Talk About Love. With music by James Horner, lyrics by Will Jennings and production by Walter Afanasieff, the song was recorded by Celine Dion in May 1997.

The song was originally composed as an instrumental but later Horner decided to add vocals. Dion was Horner’s first choice but she didn’t want to record it at first. Her manager and husband, Rene Angelil convinced her to record a demo version which Horner played for director James Cameron. Cameron, after listening to the demo several times, approved of it. The song became Dion’s biggest hit, and one of the world’s best selling singles in 1998.

What Album came from

My Heart Will Go On was released off the album Let’s Talk About Love by Canadian singer Celine Dion. The album was released Nov. 18, 1997 and was her fifth English-language album and 23rd album in all. It remains one of the best-selling albums in history with more than 31 million copies sold worldwide. The album’s success was propelled largely by the megahit song My Heart Will Go On, which was the theme song to the blockbuster motion picture Titanic.

The album smashed sales records in many countries and has sold more than 31 million copies worldwide. The album stayed at #2 on the Billboard 200 for 17 weeks reaching #1 only once. It debuted at #1 in Dion’s native Canada and spent 10 weeks at the top of the European Top 100 Albums charts.

The album was recorded in London, New York and Los Angeles and features guests like Barbra Streisand (Tell Him), the Bee Gees (Immortality) and Luciano Pavarotti (I Hate You then I Love You).

YouTube user plays by

The song My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion was originally meant to be an instrumental but then the decision was made to add Dion’s stunning vocals. YouTube user yoursoul85 however, brought the song back to its instrumental roots and plays it flawlessly on the piano. It’s a beautiful cover.

Can you Play by ?

If you have a video of yourself playing the song and want to share the youtube link with us please do so below!

We would love to hear your comments and thoughts on this blog post, the song in general, the lessons and anything about .

Please use the form below to leave your comments!

Thanks!

How to play Hero by Mariah Carey

The SongPond Team — Tue, 17 May 2011 11:00:12 +0000

Hero is a song by Mariah Carey about self-empowerment. It explores the concept that everyone is a hero if they just look inside and search for the inner strength to find the way.

The song is from Carey’s fourth album, the 1993 Music Box. It was the second single release off the album and it became a worldwide commercial success. The song is considered one of Carey’s signature songs and it’s one she performs frequently in concert.

The song was originally intended for Gloria Estefan to sing for the movie Hero but when Tommy Mottola, CEO of Sony Music and Carey’s fiancé, heard the song he persuaded Carey to perform the song herself. Estefan never knew the song was originally intended for her and an alternate song, Heart of a Hero, by Luther Vandross was used for the soundtrack.

The ‘’ full video lesson will show you how to play the song in easy to learn parts.

Song Title:
Artist:
Recorded:	1992
Tutor:	Ruth Searle
Rating:
Duration:	35 mins (approx.)

Click to visit the Song Lesson

Learn the Chords to

Here are main chords that are used in the song:

Chords:

These chords can also be found in the chord viewer on the ‘’ video lesson page.

In this lesson you learn how to play by on the in step-by-step chunks.

Why we think by is a great song

It’s a song with great passion and emotion
The lyrics are inspiring
Mariah Carey’s vocals are simply impressive

Why we think by is a great song to learn

The song Hero by Mariah Carey is great for beginners to learn because it has a lot of repetition, simple chords and rhythms and some beautiful melodies. The main riff is instantly recognizable and a lot of fun to play and sing along with friends and family.

Why we classed by as ‘’ on

SongPond tutor, Ruth Searle delivers a cut down version of the full song, which makes learning the song as a whole a lot easier.

Check out the preview and introduction on the lesson page.

Visit the Video Lesson

Click to visit the lesson page

Learn about and

Mariah Carey is a American R& B singer-songwriter who made her debut in 1990 and became the first recording artist to have her first five singles top the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. Carey was born in Huntington, Long Island, New York, the third child of Patricia Hickey, a former opera singer and vocal coach, and Alfred Roy Carey, an aeronautical engineer.

Carey began a career as a vocalist at a young age and eventually became a backup singer for Brenda K. Starr. In 1988 at a party Carey met Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, when Starr gave Carey’s demo tape to him.

In a Cinderella-like story Mottola listented to the tape after he left the party, became interested and returned to the party to find Carey, but she had left. He subsequently tracked her down and signed her to Columbia Records. She co-wrote the tracks on her 1990 debut album Mariah Carey and has co-written most of her songs since. Her song Hero off the album Music Box is considered one of her signature songs.

Courtesy of wikipedia.com

Some history about by

Hero is a song written and produced by American singer Mariah Carey along with Walter Afanasieff in 1992. The song explores the concept that everyone is a hero inside. Hero is considered one of Carey’s signature songs and she regularly performs it at events and closes most concerts with the song.

The song was nominated for the 1995 Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance but won two ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards, one ASCAP Pop Music Award and a BMI Pop Award for the Songwriter Award.

What Album came from

Music Box is an album by Mariah Carey which features the song Hero. The album features ballads primarily co-written by Carey and Walter Afanasieff.

The album has a more pop-oriented sound meant to help Carey find a broader audience.

YouTube user plays by

YouTube user thegodofevil performs a superb version of Hero by Mariah Carey. The song carries such emotion and this performance is right on with timing, feel and just overall performance. Excellent job.

Can you Play by ?

If you have a video of yourself playing the song and want to share the youtube link with us please do so below!

We would love to hear your comments and thoughts on this blog post, the song in general, the lessons and anything about .

Please use the form below to leave your comments!

Thanks!

How to play Never Had a Dream Come True by S Club 7

The SongPond Team — Tue, 17 May 2011 10:00:42 +0000

The song Never Had a Dream Come True was a song by manufactured pop group S Club 7. The group enjoyed several successful songs during their time as S Club 7.

The group rose to fame after starring in the BBC series Miami 7. When they released the song Never Had a Dream Come True it became the official song of the BBC 2000 Children in Need.

The song became wildly popular for the group and hit the charts in the United States. The song’s popularity earned the group a spot on MTV network’s show TRL. The group now tours as S Club 3.

The ‘’ full video lesson will show you how to play the song in easy to learn parts.

Song Title:
Artist:
Recorded:	2000
Tutor:	Ruth Searle
Rating:
Duration:	64 mins(approx.)

Click to visit the Song Lesson

Learn the Chords to

Here are main chords that are used in the song:

Chords:

These chords can also be found in the chord viewer on the ‘’ video lesson page.

In this lesson you learn how to play by on the in step-by-step chunks.

Why we think by is a great song

The song has a memorable melody and a catchy chorus
It is a song that was inspirational for many
It features an exciting, climactic key change and breathtaking bridge

Why we think by is a great song to learn

Never Had a Dream Come True is a song suited for intermediate or advanced pianists but it’s a wonderful song to learn. The song was an inspirational anthem to many and is a great way to take your skills to the next level.

Why we classed by as ‘’ on

SongPond tutor, Ruth Searle delivers a cut down version of the full song, which makes learning the song as a whole a lot easier.

Check out the preview and introduction on the lesson page.

Visit the Video Lesson

Click to visit the lesson page

Learn about and

S Club 7 was a UK pop group formed by former Spice Girls manager Simon Fuller. The group rose to fame on the BBC television series Miami 7 in 1999. The group was together as S Club 7 for five years producing a total of four studio albums and releasing eleven singles including the hit song Never Had a Dream Come True. The band later became known as S Club and now tours as S Club 3.

Courtesy of wikipedia.com

Some history about by

Never Had a Dream Come True is a song by S Club 7 that deals with the aftermath of a breakup. The song was adopted as the official 2000 BBC Children in Need song. The song became a hit in the UK, where it was the group’s second #1 single. The success of the song prompted executives at MTV to bring the group for an appearance on the station’s show TRL in early 2001. It peaked at #10 on the Billboard 100 and was the group’s only song to chart. The song was added to the track list of the U.S. compilation series Now That’s What I Call Music Vol. 7.

What Album came from

by the British pop group is off the album 7. The album received mixed reception by critics but still became the group’s most popular release. It reached #1 in the UK where it was certified triple platinum.

The album peaked at #69 on the Billboard album charts in the United States and was certified gold. The album released the song Never Had a Dream Come True which was greatly successful and was the official song for the 2000 BBC Children in Need.

YouTube user plays by

YouTube user thejamesaxophone takes the song Never Had a Dream Come True by S Club 7 to a new level in this cover. He plays it wonderfully with the addition of beat boxing. Totally cool and groovy. Check it out.

Can you Play by ?

If you have a video of yourself playing the song and want to share the youtube link with us please do so below!

We would love to hear your comments and thoughts on this blog post, the song in general, the lessons and anything about .

Please use the form below to leave your comments!

Thanks!

How to play Under the Bridge by Red Hot Chili Peppers

The SongPond Team — Tue, 17 May 2011 06:11:32 +0000

The song Under the Bridge by the Red Hot Chili Peppers is the song that almost wasn’t. An intensely personal song, the lyrics were written by Anthony Kiedis to express his feelings about the impact drugs had on his life and his feelings during that time.

After some convincing, Kiedis presented the song to the rest of the band. The band was receptive and wrote the music to accompany the lyrics. The song became a critical success. That success was strengthened by an oft-played video on music television. The song allowed the band to break into the mainstream.

The ‘‘ full video lesson will show you how to play the song in easy to learn parts.

Song Title:
Artist:
Recorded:	Apr – Jun, 1991
Tutor:	Mark McKenzie
Rating:
Duration:	46 mins(approx.)

Click to visit the Song Lesson

Learn the Chords to

Here are main chords that are used in the song:

Chords:

These chords can also be found in the chord viewer on the ‘’ video lesson page.

In this lesson you learn how to play by on the in step-by-step chunks.

Why we think by is a great song

The song’s lyrics are incredibly poignant
The epic outtro which includes a choir singing is a great addition to the song
It was one of the songs that helped the band enter the mainstream

Why we think by is a great song to learn

The song Under the Bridge by Red Hot Chili Peppers is a great song to learn because it’s one of the band’s best known songs. It will offer the intermediate guitarist the opportunity to make use of picked out chords, hammer ons, pull offs and memorable melodic lines.

Why we classed by as ‘’ on

SongPond tutor, Mark McKenzie delivers a cut down version of the full song, which makes learning the song as a whole a lot easier.

The main sections are broken down and prepare you for playing the song as a whole. Each video section is about 6-8 minutes long. We recommend you listen to the original piece and really get a feel for the song.

Check out the preview and introduction on the lesson page.

Visit the Video Lesson

Click to visit the lesson page

Learn about and

The Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American alternative rock band. The band earned popularity early on playing the band circuit and catching the attention of EMI. However, their early albums didn’t catch much attention. It wasn’t until the album Blood Sugar Sex Magik that the band gained commercial success.

Along the way, the band was also faced with overcoming obstacles with the drug addictions of several of its members. Lead singer Anthony Kiedis’ drug problems lead to one of the band’s most successful songs Under the Bridge. To date the band has won seven Grammy Awards, sold more than 60 million albums worldwide and a record 11 number one singles on the Modern Rock charts.

Courtesy of wikipedia.com

Some history about by

Under the Bridge is a song by American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers written by vocalist Anthony Kiedis to express the loneliness and despondency he felt and to reflect on the impact drugs had on his life.

Initially Kiedis didn’t feel the song would fit with the band’s repertoire but producer Rick Rubin, who had stumbled upon the lyrics in Kiedis’ notebook, convinced him to show the lyrics to the band. He did and the rest of the band was receptive to the lyrics and subsequently wrote the music. The song peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

What Album came from

The song Under the Bridge is off the fifth studio album by American alternative rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers called Blood Sugar Sex Magik.

The album, produced by Rick Rubin, was released Sept. 24, 1991 and marked a different sound for the band featuring little use of heavy metal guitar riffs. The album peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200 and produced a number of hits including Under the Bridge, Give It Away, Suck My Kiss and Breaking the Girl.

YouTube user plays by

Check out this amazing performance posted by Youtube user stevo873, It is amazing!

Can you Play by ?

If you have a video of yourself playing the song and want to share the youtube link with us please do so below!

We would love to hear your comments and thoughts on this blog post, the song in general, the lessons and anything about .

Please use the form below to leave your comments!

Thanks!

SongPond Blog

How to play Your Song by Elton John

Lesson Quick Facts

Contents:

Learn the Chords to

Chords:

Why we think by is a great song

Why we think by is a great song to learn

Why we classed by as ‘’ on

Visit the Video Lesson

Learn about and

Some history about by

What Album came from

YouTube user plays by

Can you Play by ?

How to play Sunshine of Your Love by Cream

Lesson Quick Facts

Contents:

Learn the Chords to

Chords:

Why we think by is a great song

Why we think by is a great song to learn

Why we classed by as ‘’ on

Visit the Video Lesson

Learn about and

Some history about by

What Album came from

YouTube user plays by

Can you Play by ?

How to play Stars by Switchfoot

Lesson Quick Facts

Contents:

Learn the Chords to

Chords:

Why we think by is a great song

Why we think by is a great song to learn

Why we classed by as ‘’ on

Visit the Video Lesson

Learn about and

Some history about by

What Album came from

YouTube user plays by

Can you Play by ?

How to play Whole Lotta Love by Led Zeppelin

Lesson Quick Facts

Contents:

Learn the Chords to

Chords:

Why we think by is a great song

Why we think by is a great song to learn

Why we classed by as ‘’ on

Visit the Video Lesson

Learn about and

Some history about by

What Album came from

YouTube user plays by

Can you Play by ?

How to play Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton

Lesson Quick Facts

Contents:

Learn the Chords to

Chords:

Why we think by is a great song

Why we think by is a great song to learn

Why we classed by as ‘’ on

Visit the Video Lesson

Learn about and

Some history about by

What Album came from

YouTube user plays by

Can you Play by ?

How to play Wonderwall by Oasis

Lesson Quick Facts

Contents:

Learn the Chords to

Chords:

Why we think by is a great song

Why we think by is a great song to learn

Why we classed by as ‘’ on

Visit the Video Lesson