WHAT'S NEW AND RECENT:
- Songbook 334 was uploaded on 21 May '25 with 6 new songs: "I Hate You For Loving Me" by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, "Won't Get Fooled Again" by The Who, "Rock and Roll All Nite" by Kiss, "Blueberry Hill" by Fats Domino, and two from Israel Kamakawawi'ole, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World."
- Songbook 333 was uploaded on 13 Jan '25 with 6 new songs: "Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2" by Pink Floyd, "Stuck in the Middle With You" by Stealers Wheel, "Hurt" by Johnny Cash, "Without You" by Harry Nilsson, and two from George Strait, "Arkansas Dave" and "Troubadour."
- Songbook 332 was uploaded on 22 Sep '24 with 5 new songs: "Come Ride With Me" by Dave Stamey, "5000 Candles in the Wind (Bye Bye Li'l Sebastian)" by Mouse Rat, "Taking Care of Business" by Bachman-Turner Overdrive, "Why Not Me" by The Judds, and "Sundown" by Gordon Lightfoot. In addition, Songbook (SAL) was also uploaded with songs through the letter "S".
- Acoustic Guitar Playing 101 was updated on 8 Sep '24 to include a chapter on fingerstyle guitar.
- Songbook 331 was uploaded on 30 Jun '24 with 5 new songs: "Banana Pancakes" by Jack Johnson, "Beer for My Horses" by Toby Keith & Willie Nelson, "Hey Jude" by The Beatles, "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz" and "The Last Time" by The Rolling Stones.
- Songbook 330 was uploaded on 23 May '24 with 7 new songs: "Catch Us if You Can" by The Dave Clark Five, "Down in Mary's Land" by Mary Chapin Carpenter, "Further On Up the Road," one version by Johnny Cash and the original by Bruce Springsteen, "This is Us" by Mark Knopfler & Emmylou Harris, "Uphill All the Way" by Sweethearts of the Rodeo, "When My Fingers Find Your Strings" by Jeff Daniels, and "Where That Came From" by Randy Travis.
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So what's this Songbook all about?
So what's this Songbook all about?
The Amateur Guitar Player's Chord-Strummin' Songbook - or just "Songbook" for short - is a collection of songs, sort of like a digital book of sheet music. And like traditional sheet music each song has lyrics, chords, and chord boxes (diagrams). But unlike sheet music each song in Songbook is mirrored after an original recording and includes the intros, outros, and instrumental passages, along with a YouTube link to the recording that was used, and each song is keyed and capo'd so you can play and sing along with the recording.
I've been working privately on Songbook since 1997 and first made it available to the public in 2010. There is more about how it all came to be in the "Introduction" section of Songbook but it started with an idea to take all the various bits of sheet music I had lying around and consolidate it into something I could take with me on a laptop or tablet without having to be on-line. As Songbook grew and I shared it with friends someone suggested there might be others "out there" who would also find it useful.
I've been working privately on Songbook since 1997 and first made it available to the public in 2010. There is more about how it all came to be in the "Introduction" section of Songbook but it started with an idea to take all the various bits of sheet music I had lying around and consolidate it into something I could take with me on a laptop or tablet without having to be on-line. As Songbook grew and I shared it with friends someone suggested there might be others "out there" who would also find it useful.
In the years since, Songbook has become a collaborative effort with input from guitar players all over the world. Songbook is constantly being tweaked with corrections and suggestions that benefit the greater good so it's always a good idea to stop by from time to time to download a fresh version.
Is it really free to download?
Yep, no strings attached. A long time ago a friend took me aside and taught me my first three chords. I've always been grateful, have never forgotten, and this is my way of giving back. And while I have no plans to take a dirt nap anytime soon I realize I'm not getting any younger and you never know what's waiting around the corner. I'm retired now and for the most part live a quiet, comfortable life and Songbook is a hobby I enjoy working on and sharing with other guitar players. Knowing that something I created is in some small way being enjoyed by others around the world is gratifying and I can think of no greater legacy than the gift of music.
Yep, no strings attached. A long time ago a friend took me aside and taught me my first three chords. I've always been grateful, have never forgotten, and this is my way of giving back. And while I have no plans to take a dirt nap anytime soon I realize I'm not getting any younger and you never know what's waiting around the corner. I'm retired now and for the most part live a quiet, comfortable life and Songbook is a hobby I enjoy working on and sharing with other guitar players. Knowing that something I created is in some small way being enjoyed by others around the world is gratifying and I can think of no greater legacy than the gift of music.
What can I do with Songbook?
Well, you can download one of the "Big Books" and have over a thousand songs ready to play. All of the songs are indexed by song title, artist, and genre, with extensive use of internal hyperlinks so even though they're pretty large it's still quite easy to move around within the document.
Or you can download individual songsheets.
Or if you're using a guitar software app you can download songs in ChordPro format and import them into your app.
How do I decide which one to try?
- First, decide on a Version:
There are two versions of Songbook, the full version - just titled "Songbook" - and a version called "Songbook Lite." The only difference between the two is Songbook Lite is meant more for the beginning guitarist so the song and chord arrangements are simpler. If you're unsure which version might be a better match for you maybe try each one.
- Second, decide on a Format:
(CIL) -- Chords In-Line with the Lyrics. Songbook was originally written using MS-Word and at the time it was easiest to use this format. Landscape orientation was used in an attempt to have songs fit on one page if possible. They look like this:
Oh (G) give me a home, where the (C) buffalo roam, where the (G) deer and the (A7) antelope (D7) play.
(COL) -- Chords Over the Lyrics. This format is more like traditional sheet music. These are in portrait mode and use a fixed-width font. This is also the default format for ChordPro files. They look like this:
G C G A7 D7
Oh give me a home, where the buffalo roam, where the deer and the antelope play.
(SAL) -- Sing-a-Long . Designed primarily for a group setting, this format is the same as (COL) above but goes a step further and color-codes the lyrics of those songs having more than one singing part so more people can participate. All of the songs, whether a sing-a-long or a solo work, appear in the Big Book and as individual songsheets. ChordPro files are not available in (SAL) format.
- And finally, decide on an Output:
All Big Books (CIL) (COL) (SAL): Available in MS-Word and PDF.
Individual songsheets (CIL) and (COL): Available in MS-Word and PDF.
Individual songsheets (SAL): Available in MS-Word and PDF (but only in (COL) format).
Individual songsheets are also available as ChordPro files.
What's in Songbook?
Songbook contains almost 1100 songs and I'm usually tinkering with more. Since I'm "vintage," my musical taste leans towards folk, classic rock, and classic country but there's a little bit of everything in Songbook and I hope there's something you'll find enjoyable. If you click/tap on the "Contents" tab at the top of this page you'll see a list of all the songs and artists to help you decide if Songbook is something you'd like to explore further.
Anything else?
The numbers after Songbook -- for example Songbook v174.0214 -- is the revision number and date of upload (mmdd). The revision number only changes when new songs are added. If corrections/edits are made in between versions then the date will change but the revision number will not. I have no timetable or schedule regarding how often I might upload a new version. It all depends on how busy I am with Life, the Universe, and Everything.
Also on the Home page you'll find "Acoustic Guitar Playing 101" and like Songbook it's available as both an MS-Word document or a PDF file. Acoustic Guitar Playing 101 is a structured, introductory step-by-step guide designed for the beginning guitarist with little to no experience. I originally wrote it for my sister who had never picked up a guitar before but expressed a desire to learn. I revised it to appeal to beginners of all ages (although my snarky humor remains). The objective of AGP 101 is simply to give the beginning guitarist a solid foundation and the skills needed to play songs primarily using open chords in the first position.
For new visitors to this website: I understand if you're uneasy about downloading files from an unknown site. I'm just a guy with a hobby sharing what I've created over several decades with others having a similar interest. I am the only one who can upload a file and all updates, corrections, additions, etc. I make are done by hand and then scanned for viruses before uploading.
In 2024 the Songbook website had over 7300 visits. To my "regulars," thanks for your continued interest. And to all of my new friends, not just those in the English-speaking nations but from around the world and particularly those in Europe (and especially France) who found Songbook through Forum Guitare.fr, welcome. It's gratifying to see Songbook reach a larger audience and testament that music is truly a universal language.
Finally, I used to have my personal email address posted here but unfortunately it was misused and I had to remove it. But I enjoy hearing from you and if you have any questions or comments, or would like to read a little more about the thought process behind the song additions you can DM or follow me via Facebook at the link/button below.
Until next time, be safe, stay healthy, play music, and strive to be a good human being.
Alvin Tostig
Alvin Tostig
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The following bit may be of no interest to my friends outside the U.S. :
Have you ever considered teaching beginner guitar? Guitars For Vets (G4V) is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping U.S. military veterans cope with challenges through the healing power of music.
G4V has in-person chapters throughout the country but many veterans don't live near one of these chapters. That's where the G4V Cyber Chapter comes in. Cyber instructors meet with students via a virtual platform (Zoom, Google Meet, ROLL) once a week for 10 weeks for about an hour each time and upon graduation the veteran receives a brand new acoustic guitar with all the goodies.
I'm currently a G4V cyber instructor and have found the experience both worthwhile and rewarding. Thing is, the demand for slots is high and we could use many more instructors. No military affiliation is required -- most instructors are just ordinary men and woman from all walks of life and abilities wanting to help our veterans.
Basic guitar skill and knowledge is all that's needed and most of the veterans signing up for lessons have little to no experience playing guitar. The goal is to teach veterans the fundamentals, mainly through learning chords and a few strumming patterns, enough to get them started on their guitar journey and play simple songs and enjoy the guitar. Nor do you need any sort of formal teaching background. G4V has abundant teaching resources and prepared lesson plans, although you're free to teach whatever topics you feel a beginner needs to know.
If you think this is something you might want to get involved with, or to learn more about G4V in general and the sign-up process in particular, here's a blurb from Paul Lilley, G4V's Director of OnLine Learning:
The following bit may be of no interest to my friends outside the U.S. :
Have you ever considered teaching beginner guitar? Guitars For Vets (G4V) is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping U.S. military veterans cope with challenges through the healing power of music.
G4V has in-person chapters throughout the country but many veterans don't live near one of these chapters. That's where the G4V Cyber Chapter comes in. Cyber instructors meet with students via a virtual platform (Zoom, Google Meet, ROLL) once a week for 10 weeks for about an hour each time and upon graduation the veteran receives a brand new acoustic guitar with all the goodies.
I'm currently a G4V cyber instructor and have found the experience both worthwhile and rewarding. Thing is, the demand for slots is high and we could use many more instructors. No military affiliation is required -- most instructors are just ordinary men and woman from all walks of life and abilities wanting to help our veterans.
Basic guitar skill and knowledge is all that's needed and most of the veterans signing up for lessons have little to no experience playing guitar. The goal is to teach veterans the fundamentals, mainly through learning chords and a few strumming patterns, enough to get them started on their guitar journey and play simple songs and enjoy the guitar. Nor do you need any sort of formal teaching background. G4V has abundant teaching resources and prepared lesson plans, although you're free to teach whatever topics you feel a beginner needs to know.
If you think this is something you might want to get involved with, or to learn more about G4V in general and the sign-up process in particular, here's a blurb from Paul Lilley, G4V's Director of OnLine Learning:
"G4V is looking for volunteers who are over 18 and have a flexible, patient approach to teaching the guitar. Volunteers would commit to teach at least one veteran individually for one hour each week for 10 weeks. Volunteers must be comfortable using the technology (Zoom, Google Meet, etc.) and for those who are new to teaching, we provide many resources, including a comprehensive lesson plan and video/pdf resources for instructors. Finally, volunteers must pass a background check and participate in an interview with the Director of OnLine Learning."
For more information about Guitars for vets tap/click the button below. If you have questions or want to learn more about volunteering with the cyber chapter, and teach guitar online, email Paul at cyberwaitlist@guitarsforvets.org
For more information about Guitars for vets tap/click the button below. If you have questions or want to learn more about volunteering with the cyber chapter, and teach guitar online, email Paul at cyberwaitlist@guitarsforvets.org