March 12, 2010 Song Swap

Hi - My name is Michael Harris and I have been a member of the Old York Song  Swap for the last year.  This group was started by Scott Stevens, the Executive Director of the Museums of Old York.  With Scott's guidance we have had some wonderful and enjoyable evenings playing music together.

All acoustic instruments are welcome!  We have had dulcimers, mandolins, cello, banjo, tin whistle, acoustic bass, squeeze box, and of course some wonderful acoustic guitars!

How it works:  We sit in a circle and go around, giving each player the chance to either: (1) play a piece solo, (2) play a piece with the group joining in, or (3) pass.  We go around the circle as many times as the night allows.  It's pretty simple and a lot of fun.

**We are trying a little something different this month and asking players if they would like to learn a few Elverly Brother's songs to share with the group.  If there is a particular song that you know you are bringing, and would like others to play along with, please email me the link and I will post it for all players.  Don't worry if you don't want to,

My hope for this blog is to provide a spot to inform players of our upcoming "Song Swaps," and give a forum for players to inform others of what songs that they will play on an upcoming night.  We can use this site to post "Song Tabs" and "Video Links" of songs that we will be sharing during an upcoming night.  Hopefully this will help those who want to play along with all in the group.

This is our site - so any suggestions would be helpful.

Our next meeting is the second Friday in March: 

March 12, 2010, from 7:00 - 9:00 pm.

February 12, Song Swap Night!

Hi - My name is Michael Harris and I have been a member of the Old York Song  Swap for the last year.  This group was started by Scott Stevens, the Executive Director of the Museums of Old York.  With Scott's guidance we have had some wonderful and enjoyable evenings playing music together.

All acoustic instruments are welcome!  We have had dulcimers, mandolins, cello, banjo, tin whistle, acoustic bass, squeeze box, and of course some wonderful acoustic guitars!

How it works:  We sit in a circle and go around, giving each player the chance to either: (1) play a piece solo, (2) play a piece with the group joining in, or (3) pass.  We go around the circle as many times as the night allows.  It's pretty simple and a lot of fun.

Sorry no group song this week.

My hope for this blog is to provide a spot to inform players of our upcoming "Song Swaps," and give a forum for players to inform others of what songs that they will play on an upcoming night.  We can use this site to post "Song Tabs" and "Video Links" of songs that we will be sharing during an upcoming night.  Hopefully this will help those who want to play along with all in the group.

This is our site - so any suggestions would be helpful.

November 13th Meeting

Hi - My name is Michael Harris and I have been a member of the Old York Song  Swap for the last year.  This group was started by Scott Stevens, the Executive Director of the Museums of Old York.  With Scott's guidance we have had some wonderful and enjoyable evenings playing music together.

All acoustic instruments are welcome!  We have had dulcimers, mandolins, cello, banjo, tin whistle, acoustic bass, squeeze box, and of course some wonderful acoustic guitars!

How it works:  We sit in a circle and go around, giving each player the chance to either: (1) play a piece solo, (2) play a piece with the group joining in, or (3) pass.  We go around the circle as many times as the night allows.  It's pretty simple and a lot of fun.

We're also hoping to start doing a group song (see below for the next gathering's group song).  If you want to give players a heads-up on a song that you would like others to join in on, please write in the comments section below, noting any links to tabs/chords or any other helpful information.

My hope for this blog is to provide a spot to inform players of our upcoming "Song Swaps," and give a forum for players to inform others of what songs that they will play on an upcoming night.  We can use this site to post "Song Tabs" and "Video Links" of songs that we will be sharing during an upcoming night.  Hopefully this will help those who want to play along with all in the group.

This is our site - so any suggestions would be helpful.

Our next meeting is the second Friday in November: 

November 13, 2009, from 7:00 - 9:00 pm.

The group song for our November meeting will be "Will the Circle, Be Unbroken"

	G	G7
	I was standin' by my	window

	C	G
on a	dark and cloudy	day

	G	Em
	when I saw that hearse come	rollin'

	G	D	G
to	carry my	mother a	way

	G	G7
	will the circle be un	broken

	C	G
by and	by, Lord, by and	by

	G	Em
	there's a better home a	waitin'

	G	D	G
in the	sky, Lord	in the	sky

oh, I told the undertaker

undertaker, please drive slow

for this body you are haulin'

Lord, I hate to see her go

will the circle be unbroken

by and by, Lord, by and by

there's a better home awaitin'

in the sky, Lord in the sky

well, I followed close behind her

I tried to hold up and be brave

but I could not hide my sorrow

when they laid her in the grave

will the circle be unbroken

by and by, Lord, by and by

there's a better home awaitin'

in the sky, Lord in the sky

I went home, my home was lonely

Now my mother she was gone

all my brothers, sisters crying

What home so sad and alone

will the circle be unbroken

by and by, Lord, by and by

there's a better home awaitin'

in the sky, Lord in the sky

Welcome to the Old York Song Swap Blog!

Hi - My name is Michael Harris and I have been a member of the Old York Song  Swap for the last year.  This group was started by Scott Stevens, an avid guitar player and the Executive Director of the Museums of Old York.  With Scott's guidance we have had some wonderful and enjoyable evenings playing music together.

All acoustic instruments are welcome!  We have had dulcimers, mandolins, cello, banjo, tin whistle, acoustic bass, squeeze box, and of course some wonderful acoustic guitars!

How it works:  We sit in a circle and go around, giving each player the chance to either: (1) play a piece solo, (2) play a piece with the group joining in, or (3) pass.  We go around the circle as many times as the night allows.  It's pretty simple and a lot of fun.

We're also hoping to start doing a group song (see below for the next gathering's group song).  If you want to give players a heads-up on a song that you would like others to join in on, please write in the comments section below, noting any links to tabs/chords or any other helpful information.

My hope for this blog is to provide a spot to inform players of our upcoming "Song Swaps," and give a forum for players to inform others of what songs that they will play on an upcoming night.  We can use this site to post "Song Tabs" and "Video Links" of songs that we will be sharing during an upcoming night.  Hopefully this will help those who want to play along with all in the group.

This is our site - so any suggestions would be helpful.

Our next meeting is the second Friday in October: 

October 9, 2009, from 7:00 - 9:00 pm.

The group song for our October meeting will be a Traditional song done by many, but well known as a "Doc Watson" song "Sitting On Top of the World".



(You may want to highlight the song below, copy and paste it into a new Word document, and then print it out for easy practicing.)

Sitting on Top of the World

It was in the [G]spring, one sunny day
My good gal [C]left me, Lord she went [G]away

Chorus

Now she's gone and I don't [Em]worry
Cause I'm [G]sitting on [D]top of the [G]world

She called me up from El Paso
Said, "Come back, Daddy, Lord I need you so."

Chorus

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust
Show me a woman a man can trust

Chorus

Mississippi River long, deep and wide
The woman I'm loving is on the other side

Chorus

You don't like my peaches, don't you shake my tree
Get out of my orchard, let my peaches be

Chorus

Don't you come here running, poking out your hand
I'll get me a woman like you got your man

Chorus