Category Archives: charts

Twist and Shout

Posted on September 5, 2017 by Rosa Conrad

The new term is here! How did that happen? I’d love to share with you what we got up to at our end of term Big Fat Music Party back when the summer holidays were a dream waiting around the … Continue reading →

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The Holly and the Ivy – Two Versions

Posted on December 8, 2016 by Rosa Conrad

We had another lovely Big Fat Christmas Music Party on Monday. We finished with everyone singing ‘The Holly and the Ivy’, in which each verse was sung as a solo by a different student. Five in all. I’m so glad … Continue reading →

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Scarborough Fair

Posted on August 26, 2016 by Rosa Conrad

Chords, modes, feisty lyrics and endless variations Downloadable PDFs of Scarborough Fair: Tune line, chords and full lyrics. Scarborough Fair in Dm (the key in the LCM book) Scarborough Fair Am (our key) Scarborough Fair Em (Simon and Garfunkel’s key) One … Continue reading →

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He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands

Posted on July 13, 2015 by Rosa Conrad

I recently realised that ‘He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands’ would make a wonderful two-chord song for beginners and wondered why I hadn’t thought of it before. It was a song we sang at school right at the … Continue reading →

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Mairi’s Wedding

Posted on July 8, 2015 by Rosa Conrad

Mairi’s Wedding is a gorgeous folk song that is a real delight to sing and play. I chose it as one of the numbers that everyone would play together in my most recent Big Fat Music Party because of its … Continue reading →

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Pick a Bale of Cotton

Posted on July 7, 2015 by Rosa Conrad

The group tunes for this term’s Big Fat Music Party were all tunes recently rediscovered from my past. ‘Pick a Bale of Cotton’, a work song from the deep south made famous by Leadbelly, is a great one that I … Continue reading →

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Oh Christmas Tree: the Form of (Almost) All Music in a Nutshell

Posted on November 30, 2014 by Rosa Conrad

I was asked for this song by two sisters; one a piano student and one on the ukulele. They are big fans of Swiss Family Robinson. ‘Oh Christmas Tree’ turned out to be such a good one for beginners, as … Continue reading →

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Jingle Bells: the Perfect Place to Start Harmonising

Posted on November 25, 2014 by Rosa Conrad

I’m well into Christmas Carol territory with most of my students now. Carols are great tunes to start people off with harmonising, as they are so familiar. The melody is already there, deep in the player’s subconscious. I don’t know … Continue reading →

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Mele Kalikimaka

Posted on October 22, 2014 by Rosa Conrad

For music teachers, Christmas is just around the corner (you have to have time to learn a tune if you want to impress everyone with it at Christmas) and Conrad’s Chords has had a request! A Christmassy duet for piano … Continue reading →

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Hit the Road Jack

Posted on August 9, 2014 by Rosa Conrad

My previous blog was all about songs which have one short chord progression repeated throughout the entire song. But I’ve just realised I missed a real gem: Hit the Road Jack! It’s a joy to teach and jam through. Here’s … Continue reading →

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