Free Color Coded Sheet Music for Guitar Notes
The songs presented here are color coded for use with our Don't Fret Note Map™
Order Don't Fret Note Maps here.
Library of color coded sheet music for guitar.
San Francisco Bay Blues | C.C. Rider | Sloop John B | House of the Rising Sun | Blues in G | Amazing Grace | Scarborough Fair
"C C Rider" color coded sheet music for guitar notes.
Originally known as "See See Rider", this song is also known as "C.C. Rider", "See See Rider Blues", "Easy Rider" and "Easy Rider Blues". The song is most likely traditional in its origin and has no known author. The first recorded version in 1925 was done by the great blues singer Ma Rainey. Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels took their version to number one in the US in 1965. The next year the Animals topped the chart with their version.
"Sloop John B" color coded sheet music for guitar notes.
"The John B. Sails" is a Bahamian folk song of unknown origin that first appeared in a 1917 American novel, Pieces of Eight, written by Richard Le Gallienne. Alan Lomax made a field recording of the song in Nassau, Bahama in 1935, under the title "Histe Up the John B. Sail". The song was first recorded in the United States by the Weavers in 1950 and titled “Wreck of the John B”. The Kingston Trio recorded the song under the title “Sloop John B” in 1958 and then saw the Beach Boys make it a hit in 1966.
"House of the Rising Sun" color coded sheet music for guitar notes.
This version is the traditional Blues version and inspiration for the rendition that Eric Burdon and the Animals made famous in the sixties, (pay special attention to the first, third, fourth and fifth verses). This song sounds great when played slowly and evenly in 2/4 time, like a ballad. If you're wondering why the reference is mainly female, it is because the Rising Sun was a brothel as well as a gambling house.
This video from Justin Sandercoe provides an excellent lesson on how to play "House of the Rising Sun".
Additional lyrics for House of the Rising Sun
If I had listened to what mama said,
I'd be at home today.
But being so young and foolish poor girl,
let a gambler lead me astray.
My husband is a gambling man,
he goes from town to town.
And the only time he's satisfied,
is when he drinks his liquour down.
The only thing a gambling man needs,
is a suitcase and a trunk.
And the only time he's satisfied,
is when he's on a drunk.
Go tell my baby sister,
never do like I have done.
To shun that house in New Orleans,
they call the Rising Sun.
It's one foot on the platform,
and the other on the train.
I'm going back to New Orleans,
to wear the ball and chain.
"Blues in G" color coded sheet music for guitar notes
This version of "Blues in G" is an excellent introduction to beginner Blues guitar. The color coded sheet music contains no sharps or flats and is easy to follow. There are four beats to each measure, so the “G” half notes in the fourth, eighth and twelfth measures each get two beats. Each of the quarter notes in the rest of the measures equal one beat. Start slow, get your natural metronome (your foot) tapping out four beats per measure and have fun learning a great beginning Blues guitar song.
"Amazing Grace" color coded sheet music for guitar notes.
This easy beginner guitar song has no sharps or flats and contains three beats per measure. Go slow at first, tap out the beats with your foot and have fun with this easy guitar song.
"Scarborough Fair" color coded sheet music for guitar notes.
This easy beginner guitar version of Scarborough Fair contains one sharp, has three beats per measure and contains "dotted" notes. The dot adds one-half of the duration value of the note to itself. For instance, one half the value of a half note is a quarter note. Therefore, a dotted half note equals the time value of a half note plus a quarter note.
