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We break down the three most popular chord progressions used by Taylor Swift (Based on the prior work by David Bennett) and look for similarities between the three. You'll see how this is a great follow-up to the prior episode where we explored adding a fourth chord to the "three chords and a cloud of dust" songwriting paradigm.

You just need to get those bad ones out of your system! Be intentional! And we take a look at some of the embarrassing songs from my past.

Minor keys and sad sons about relationships. Totally not inspired by how the movie "Titanic" ended. #indiemusic #songwritersunday #acousticguitar #acousticmusic #acousticmusician #singersongwriter #songwriting

You never know where inspiration is going to come from. The song's title suggests that I know more than one mermaid. Well, that will just have to be the secret between Kyle and I... and who makes the best fish sticks. Bm Her hair is blue and green Em Her eyes are always sparkling Bm F#m She rests on a rock there near the beach Bm You know I’m always impressed Em with the look of her perfect…. Teeth Bm F#m But her love for me remains out of reach CHORUS G D A Bm I just want to go for a swim G D A Bm Be caressed by her sexy fins G D A Bm I hope she likes this serenade G F#m Bm Because she is my favorite mermaid Bm You know I only have one wish Em To get away with just one kiss Bm F#m And not be left out there upon her rock Bm I can only hope for the best Em Although some do suggest Bm F#m That I should show her the size of my… conch CHORUS BRIDGE A G F#m Em Bm I just hope we don’t go down too deep A G F#m A Or that I get covered up… Bm in seaweed CHORUS G D A Bm I just want to go for a swim G D A Bm Be caressed by her sexy fins G D A Bm I hope she likes this serenade G F#m Because she is my favorite, favorite, favorite… Bm Mermaid Outro Bm Mermaid… I really like those shiny scales Mermaid…. And the way that she goes down Mermaid… … swimming Mermaid… She sits there on her rock… Mermaid… With baited breath… #acousticguitar #songwriting #mermaid #mermaids #songwritersunday #acousticmusic #acousticmusician #indiemusic #singersongwriter

Getting ready for the Tennessee Songwriter Week - I was going to perform a song from the Songwriter Sunday series... but this twist on a metaphor was calling to me so I wrote this and that's what I'll be performing, Jan 31st at Boyd's Jig&Reel. Lyrics below: | C G C C F C | VERSE 1 Am G She grabs a cup of coffee. C F Tries to clear her bleary eyes. Am G Another long night of lying awake. C F She ain’t found the time to cry. VERSE 2 Am G She wonders how long she’ll be putting this off. C F The things that she has to say. Am G But she’s had her last night of being contrite. F G Wondering why he went astray. CHORUS C You thought this problem. G C Would just go away. C F C Sweep it under the rug with nothing to say. C G C You’re headed for trouble and here’s your first clue. C F She says, “I am the elephant – and this is my C room”. VERSE 3 Am G She hears the front door slammin’ C F It won’t be but a minute of doubt. Am G The blackness she sees in her coffee cup. F G Reflects her feelings now. CHORUS BRIDGE Dm F You took it all for granted. C C/F C You were just showing up. Dm F But there’s gonna be some changes. G Because, she’s had enough. CHORUS OUTRO C F She says, “I am the elephant… and this is my C room”. | C G C C F C |

We're building our first "chunk" of song - we're adding two more lines to our rhyming scheme, but this time using "near rhymes" and repeating our intro line to create a hook.

In episode 2 we build on that very first foundational block (the first line and melody) and add a rhyme and think about the chord progression we're going to use.

Songwriting: Are you stuck and don't know how to get started? Are you looking for new ideas? You've come to the right place. In this episode we talk about the very first foundational block of getting started with songwriting. That first line. How do we take any idea (and we're surrounded by them) and turn it into a song? Literally anything can be turned into a song.

This week, a tribute to Ralph Ferraiuolo, one of the people that inspired me to take up the guitar. He gave me this title. And I swear he was on me to finish when I woke up from a dead sleep at 3 am on the button - with lyrics in my head ready to come out. (Apologies for my stuffed up head).

We thought it would be interesting to take folks behind the scenes as we put this track together - showing the process of starting with a scratch framework, and then how the song evolves as the different parts are layered on it. Slade Adams - Lead Vocals Jake Gray - Acoustic guitar, bass guitar, backing vocals Neal Capps - Piano Michael Bates - Lead Guitar Miah Lajeunesse - engineer Recorded at: The Sound Lair, Knoxville, . This track is available on all major streaming platforms, on 1/6/2022.

The "not teaching you to play guitar" series continues with a walk-through of my song, "Inside My Head" from the "American Poet" album. We cover movable chords, palm muting, some "weird" chords that you may not find in the chord book.