SO
NGS and S
TORIES
Inclu d 24 So es Guita ng rTuto DVD r
A story book, a song book, a guitar tutor and 24 track DVD for children of all ages
Guitar Clown Songs and Stories “Guitar Clown Songs and Stories” was written by Brian McDade. An O.T.N. production c 2008 Guitar Clown Songs were written by Brian McDade. Track 19 on CD “Circus of Many Colours” based on Traditional song “Will The Circle Be Unbroken” An O.T.N. music production for winternetsongs.com MCPS/PRS c 2008 DVD soundtrack, Storybook songs and stories - All rights reserved Creative Team Credits Voice and Guitar - Brian McDade Illustrations - Erin McGrath Book Artwork, CD Recording and mastering - John Quinn, 11up music Special Thanks To my sisters: Ann Marie, Tricia, Rosemary and Eleanor for all their help and support. To my Mum, Mary, for patience and tea. To my Bonnie Ones for inspiration. To Erin McGrath and John Quinn for their expertise and guidance.
About the Author Guitar set up and tuning
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CONTENTS
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Stories and songs: Once upon a Circus time It’s a boy The wise old lady G.C. Talk of the Circus Mister Entertainment Foam inferno Some banana Halloween The guitar clown Are you happy? Silver screen Man who shaved the baby Lion Starkey’s grandfather clock Balumba Encore encore Daily gazette The dancing queen Circus of many colours The wound up man Carnival Zooney Pump iron Happy goes it GC sign off page
8 and 9 10 and 11 12 and 13 14 and 15 16 and 17 18 and 19 20 and 21 22 and 23 24 and 25 26 and 27 28 and 29 30 and 31 32 and 33 34 and 35 36 and 37 38 and 39 40 and 41 42 and 43 44 and 45 46 and 47 48 and 49 50 and 51 52 and 53 54 and 55 page 56
www.brianmcdade.co.uk/products.html
rian McDade is an internationally acclaimed, Scottish born composer, singer-songwriter, guitarist and harmonica player. Brian is a member of the British Academy of Composers and songwriters and he’s been writing and performing his original songs for more than 30 years. His music is best described as coming within that broad based genre most commonly known as “Americana” . Indeed he has been credited with single handedly establishing a sub-genre that could be called “Scotiana”. To date Brian has recorded and successfully released 4 albums on CD: King of a Moonlit Night (1993) SOBW - Son Of a Beautiful Woman (1997) One True Note (2003) Love Bayou (2006). Brian’s talents as a writer and musician have, quite naturally, led him to perform and record extensively in his own right as a solo artist as well as supporting and sharing the stage with many other well known musicians both in the USA and throughout the UK. From Los Angeles to Nashville and to New York... and from London to his native town of Coatbridge in Scotland, Brian’s songs and music are always well received by discerning and appreciative audiences. The publication of this little book of stories and songs together with the tutorial CD that accompanies it demonstrates, in some measure, Brian’s gratitude for the gift of music that has enriched his life and in his own words “ The best way I know to say thanks to those who went before me and inspired me is to do what I can to pass it on. I do hope you enjoy the Guitar Clown stories and the simple songs that go with them and that they go some way towards inspiring and encouraging you to learn more about music and guitar playing. I honestly don’t know of a better way to enrich anyone’s life than through the gift of song. All the best to you and I hope it’s HAPPY GOES IT from here on for you”
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Sore fingers? You’re doing it right I’m not going to kid you about this....It can’t be avoided, if you going to learn how to play the guitar it’s going to hurt a bit, especially if you are just starting out. The good news is that the more you practice the quicker the painful part will be over. Once you develop callouses on your fingertips it’s all so much easier. The only way to develop them is to play on a regular basis. Every day, every second day or every third day depending on how much time you can dedicate to learning. Once a week probably won’t be enough, so try to play at least every couple of days. Starting out you might only manage to play 5 - 10 minutes before your fingers get sore. Take a break and start again 10, 15 or 20 minutes later... Before you know it, your playing will get longer and the breaks will get shorter. Chances are that if you don’t go through the sore fingers stage...you’re not gonna be a guitar player. But if you practice everyday, it won’t t be long until you’ve mastered all the songs in this little book and you’ll be looking for more ambitious music to tackle. And I guarantee you that what you learn here will stand you in good stead no matter what level of player you eventually become. I’d suggest no more than 30 minute sessions once or twice a day to begin with. When you start to loose your fingerprints, which happens to people who play a lot, you’ll know you’re making progress.
Lesson One “Learn to be patient” is the most important guitar lesson you will ever learn. Learning to play guitar is
a step by step process. If you keep this in mind and practice you will get there, even if at times it feels like a struggle. In time you’ll even develop your own style of playing. It really is a case of “more hurry - less speed” and as the song goes...”Happy Goes it”
GC’s Playing Style There are quite a few guitar playing styles - all with different names. Some use the fingers and fingernails to pluck or strum the strings and others use a small plastic pick called a “PLECTRUM” . This is what the Guitar Clown uses for his playing style. Listen to the CD - you’ll see what he means when he says “It’s all in the rhythm”
OK...now let’s tune your guitar Ensuring your guitar is always in tune is vital to making good progress as you learn how to play. Here are some simple instructions that explain guitar tuning. Let’s start with the note names for the open strings of a guitar in a standard tuning. Going from the thickest to thinest these note names are as follows: E - the thickest or lowest sounding string is called the 6th string A - is the 5th D - is the 4th G - is the 3rd B - is the 2nd E - the thinest or highest is the 1st You can use an electronic guitar tuner - these days they are relatively inexpexpensive to buy. However if you don’t have one this is the method you can use for tuning your guitar.
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Step 1: The E String Tune the bottom (low) E as accurately as you can. It helps if you have another instrument such as a Piano (which stays in tune for years) you can tune it to ... or someone else’s guitar that’s already in tune for example. Failing that you will need a tuning fork (Key of E) or a set of pitch pipes to get you started. And, of course, you can use one of the electronic guitar tuners that are available. Step 2: The A String Place the first finger of your left hand just behind the fifth fret on the bottom E string. That’s an A note. Keep your finger on that fret. Now pick the fifth and six strings in turn, gently adjusting the fifth string tuning peg until the two notes are the same. Step 3: The D String Place the first finger of your left hand just behind the fifth fret on the A string. That’s a D note. Tune the 4th string (the D note) to that.
Step 4: The G String Place the first finger of your left hand just behind the fifth fret on the D string. That’s a G note. Tune your G string to that note.
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Step 5: The B String Place the first finger of your left hand just behind the forth fret on the G string. That’s a B note. (note the B string is the only one that comes from a different position the forth fret, the rest are from the 5th fret).
Step 6: The top E String Place the first finger of your left hand just behind the fifth fret on the B string. That’s an E note.
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A few extra tips... It’s a good idea to make several passes through the six strings, tuning each just approximately on the first couple of passes, and then becoming more detailed and exact on later passes. Guitar strings and the wood of the guitar itself are a bit “stretchy”. This applies whether you are using an electronic guitar tuner or not. Nylon strings for classical guitars take longer to stretch and settle into tune. If you've just restrung your guitar, grab the middle of each string (around the 12th fret) and give it a few good hard yanks (not too hard), straight up and away from the guitar. Better to stretch them by hand right away than to have them stretch (and detune) gradually over days, which is what new strings do. Old guitar strings get flattened where they contact the fret wire and become dull sounding and difficult to keep in tune. That's when you really need to change them.
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nce Upon a Circus time, one bright starry night, Harry Clark was leaving his caravan in a hurry - for good reason, as his wife, May, was giving birth to their first child at the Circus Maternity Caravan, only twenty yard’s away. Harry was bouncing along on his feet with only one thought in mind, when all of a sudden he saw a great light shoot across the night sky. It was as if a star had come loose and started falling. It was headed straight for him, like a big bright cannonball. He stood there, still as a statue, on that little space of God’s earth, his mouth wide open, caught in a trance, just staring at this shooting star. Then just as quickly as it appeared, it vanished back into the night sky, once upon a Circus time.
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Track 1 on CD
Once Upon a Circus Time
Key of E
Chorus: E A E Once upon a Circus time A E A baby’s born healthy B7 He’s doing fine, E A E Once upon a circus time, Verse: E A E Once upon a circus night, A E A star came calling, B7 He’ll make it alright, E A E Once upon a Circus night.
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t’s a boy! Heavens above, it’s a boy!” said a delighted Mrs Belafonte, the Circus Midwife, as Harry stepped into the caravan. “Congratulations Harry”, said Mrs Belafonte, “and you, May!” By this time May, had a delightfully radiant look on her face. “Have you parents got a name yet for this little bundle of joy?” “Yes,” said Harry, “His name is George.” By this time May had little George wrapped up in her arms. Harry was in a panic. “May, I have to go and tell Mr Starkey, the news.” “Okay,” said May giving “baby George” all her concentration. With his family in good health, Harry dashed off to see Mr. Starky, the owner of “Starkey’s Circus”.....“Mr Starkey sir, it’s a boy “A boy. What’s his name Harry?” “It’s George, sir.” Mr Starkey said, “George Clark. That's got a good ring to it. Congratulations Harry.” “Mr. Starkey, I have to tell you, he’s going to be very musical, sir.” “C'mon, Harry,” said Mr. Starkey, “how could you know so soon?” “Well, sir, when Mrs Belafonte held him and gave him ‘the slap of life’ ... he didn’t start crying, he started singing. He was singing his mama’s favourite song, ‘Mr Tambourine Man’.” “Is that right, Harry,” said Mr. Starkey with a wry smile. “How could he have learned it so fast?” Harry looked with a blank stare. “Well, he’s been listening to his Mama singing it for the last nine months.” They both laughed very loudly. And it’s funny. With all the excitement going on, Harry had completely forgotten about the “shooting star incident”. In later years, Harry may wonder about this. But one thing’s for sure, “little George” had just captured his first audience. And a “star” is surely born.
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Track 2 on CD
It’s a Boy
Key of G
Verse G C G Darling it’s a boy, made our day of joy, C G C G Made us feel so proud, He’ll shine in the crowd, D7 We know he will, someday, He’ll grow big and strong, in a happy home, We’ll be all around him; he’ll never be alone, We’ll keep the world at bay, Until he’s up and gone, we will carry on, He’ll become a man, do the best he can, We know he will, someday, he will,
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he Clark’s lived in one of the players’ draughty old caravans which were in much need of repair. As they didn’t have a maintenance crew, they had to do most of the repairs by themselves. At least it was bright from the outside - with all the colours of the rainbow painted on it - and as they rolled into any town, they instantly brightened up the dullest surroundings. G.C. was a circus favourite long before he became a professional performer. He didn’t waste much time in nappies. He was always romping around in Romper Suits. Just like adults in old ragged jeans. The wise old lady of the Circus claimed she was two hundred and fifty six years old, the oldest woman alive and she looked it. She even had her birth certificate to prove it. She had been in Circus’s for over two hundred years and had never seen a baby grow up as fast as G.C. By the time he was five, he knew the ways of the Circus and was performing with his monkey pals, Zooney and Robbie. In fact, when he was with his pals, he thought he was a monkey himself! Taking many a tumble and fall, but as you know - you can’t out monkey a real monkey? No siree, even the wise old lady will tell you so.
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Track 3 on CD
The Wise Old Lady
Key of G
Chorus: G C, D7 G C D7 Light up these eyes, fill me up inside, oh, oh, G C, D7 G C D7 Light up these eyes, fill me up inside, oh, oh, Verse: G C D7,G C D7 The wise old lady tells me stories, knows every story ever told G C D7, G C D7 More than a hundred Jack ’n ’Ore’s, that a trunk could ever hold. Chorus: Light up these eyes, fill me up inside, oh, oh. (rep) The wise old lady tells me stories, greatest stories ever told, A girl was young in all her glory, days when knights were always bold Chorus: Light up these eyes, fill me up inside, oh, oh. (rep) The wise old lady tells me stories, fills me up and fascinates, Woke in the the early morning glory, Now the Moon is out it’s getting late. Chorus: Light up these eyes, fill me up inside, oh, oh. (rep)
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ittle George was a good boy, but he could also be a bundle of mischief. As soon as he got his hands on a pen or pencil, he would scribble on anything. One day he got hold of a felt pen and left his mark all over the Caravan, until his Mum saw the mess. “Give me the pen right now you little toe rag”, said his Mum. Attending circus school, he continued his scribbling career, only this time he had learned to write his initials. ‘G’ for George and ‘C’ for Clark. G.C. was scribbled everywhere. He couldn’t understand how they knew it was him. For a time, G.C. was written all over the circus, until Mr Starky - the circus owner - found out who it was. One word to Harry, George’s Dad, and it was stopped. Harry apologized for his son and cleaned up the mess – but not before everyone started to call little George “G. C”. Even his Mum and Dad got into the habit ...“G.C., your dinner’s ready”....It had stuck. Little did they know - or did G.C. himself realise - these initials would mean a lot more in later life. But he was already making a name for himself, so to speak.
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Track 4 on CD
G.C.
Key of G
Verse: G Em C D7 Outside the world is cruel I ‘m nobody G Em C D7 The Circus is my home and family, Chorus: C D7 G Em C D7 In the Circus I’m a star, I can play my guitar so everyone can hear G Em C D7 You won’t find another fool like me, G Em C D7 I can play the big top melody, Chorus: In the Circus I’m a star, I can play my guitar, (etc) C Bridge: This could be so nice for you, G Look’s like paradise to you, I’m flying away, C See it in your eyes, it show’s The look of sweet surprise, you know, D7 I’m flying away. Outside the world is cruel I’m nobody, The Circus is my home and family, Chorus: In the Circus I’m a star, I can play my guitar, (etc)
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loved all the Circus animals On one occasion when he was three, he scared the life out of his Mum and Dad, who had woken up during the night. When his Mum went to check up on him, he was gone. Nowhere to be found in the caravan, the alarm was raised in no time. The wise old Lady shouted out, “I’ve found him, but we have to keep quiet, and be very careful”. The wise old Lady led the crowd down to the lions’ cage. There was G.C. sitting in the cage with Tom and Lulu, the Circus lions who could weigh a quarter of a ton each. Their paws were the size of a grown man’s head and they could take off a man’s head with one swipe. “Don’t scare the cats” said the wise old Lady. G.C. was sitting in the middle of the cage, Tom and Lulu lying down on each side of him. He was stroking Lulu’s nose and babbling away to them. They seemed to know what he was saying. It was a mystery how he got inside the cage. The door was open. His dad whispered, “G.C.” G.C. turned around. “Come to Daddy, son.” He held out his arms. Much to the relief of the silent crowd, G.C. started to crawl to the cage door and into his Dad’s arms. Then the door was locked. The big cats seemed to know G.C. was going where he belonged - just like a little cub going back to its own. G.C. went back home safely. His little escapade was the “talk o’ the Circus” for weeks to come.
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Track 5 on CD
Talk O’ the Circus
Key of E
Verse: E B7 We are lions in the ring, working for the circus, E B7 E We can do most anything we’re pride O’ the circus now, E B7 We are Lion’s in the ring, roaring for the Circus, E B7 E We can do most anything; we’re talk O’ the Circus now Chorus: E B7 Talk of the circus now we’re, talk O’ the circus now, E B7 E We can do most anything; we’re talk O’ the circus now Verse: Early morning we were running ‘round in circles, The Lion Tamer knows our trick’s we’re talk O’ the Circus now, We were lying in our cage, one evening after show time, A baby appeared before my face, talk O’ the Circus now,
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Chorus: Talk O’ the Circus now, we’re talk O’ the Circus, A baby appeared before my face, we’re talk O’ the Circus now Verse: Little one you’ve lost your way, but Tom and Lulu’s found you, All our Friend’s came out to play; we’re talk O’ the Circus now, The Circus, is our odyssey, spellbinding us, with colour, All our friend’s came out to play; we’re talk O’ the Circus now, Chorus: Talk O’ the Circus now, we’re talk O’ the Circus, All our friend’s came out to play we’re talk O’ the Circus now.
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