Donovan - Donovan Songwriting Master Class

[@nomad1517]

This man has written some of the catchiest songs ever made. So cool to see his way of doing things in real life.

[@MrBullethead63]

I saw him at a small club in 1987, and he signed my “Mellow Yellow” album...THEN, I ran into him at the airport the next day, and he stopped and we had a brief chat...a very warm, genuinely nice man...

[@jaynawilliams8923]

Hi Donovan. I never thought I would get a chance to reach you. But I wanted to thank you for all of the beautiful songs you wrote. In the 60's my father would take me to my job at the Art Gallery. I was very young at the time. I would listen to Hurdy Gurdy Man on the radio on the way to work, almost every morning. It was the favorite part of my journey. OF course, I was high on pot going to work. I can't tell you how much weed I smoked in those days. I would sit and try to play the guitar and sing all of your songs. I can't tell you how much this beautiful music meant, and still means to me. I am so glad I found this as I am re-learning the guitar. And I can now get the chance to thank you so much for the emotional roller coaster and the flights of fancy I took listening to your music. 🥰I only pray that you get a chance to read this so you will know how much joy you brought to me.

[@stefano.b65stef77]

wow! Donovan as a teacher? a dream come true

[@1539Huston]

I am deeply moved to watch Donavan share his gift of music. A Master Teacher🙏💗

[@coolhandluke3223]

I’m 25 and I feel the same way, Donavan’s music is Timeless and so is this lesson.

[@allamaidrissi4133]

I can't believe it my teacher is Donovan ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@markgillmer6524]

Thank you Donovan, have always used G C D G to play Colors on 2nd fret. Thank you for your lesson. I am 70 yrs old and just released my first album complete with 12 songs and at present recording my second album. My song writing is often 3 a week. I am of celtic heritage and your lesson will improve my technique greatly. Thank you !!

[@johnmichelx]

Is it on Apple Music?

[@h.p.dominocus]

The chord changes in the 7th Heaven theme song actually follows most of these rules. I learned it a while ago on guitar for fun and just thought of it while watching this video.

[@IAMDRREMULAKK]

This guy has so many great songs. Clever inventive lyrics, beautiful voice, experimental interesting music, and catchy hooks. I just came across a video of Donovan and Pete Seeger doing some songs in 1966. I had never heard the song Colours before seeing that video, but as soon as i saw it, I knew I had to learn it. And out of the blue, this current video popped up, with Donovan himself teaching a little of that very song. Sometimes it seems like there are no coincidences.

[@JohnDoe-ol3yz]

@@Ashamed.Loser69 "copied" meaning they were both into folk music, yes. But they were both individuals.

[@Ashamed.Loser69]

@@JohnDoe-ol3yz No he completely copied Bob Dylan, stop pretending.

Unfortunately his beautiful singing voice is greatly diminished.

[@ranradd]

Indeed a master class. Thanks Donovan! No bar chords allowed... you've got to have fun. Love it.

[@MichaelWatts-h3v]

Well that made me smile 😊. Great stories and sense of humour. As a teenager in the sixtys enjoyed the music of Donovan and to have a lesson in open d tuning for the song Colours is the best tutorial from the man himself. Master also of double denim in the early years. Still a good look imo. 😅

[@pauagirl1]

Beautiful Heart Donavan- i used to buy and play your albums when i was a young girl. My all time favourite was and still is Turquoise. Universal Soldier taught me about war, try and catch the wind whimsical magic like Turquoise!

[@keithm7276]

Christmas day in bed alone with covid, I wake, look at my phone and this wonderful gift of a lesson pops up. Cannot wait to try it when my voice comes back and I feel better. Many thanks for your beautiful songs over the years, and a special thought for Gypsy Dave who I spent a lovely summers afternoon with in Paros many years ago.

[@thetempleofsound]

I've been a songwriter and lover of Donovan for over 30 years. This is how I write songs as well and I wonder how much I imbibed it from listening to Donovan so much when I was young. To the point that when I began singing I sang with an accent like Donovan's, even though I am from Canada lol. What a joy to see him sharing here.

[@agaricrider]

Hiya Don, you were one of my favourite performers way back in the sixties. I would never have thought that at age seventy one I would be having guitar lessons from you. Thanks and may your colours never fade.

[@rupertthebusdriver8997]

I remember you, good to see you still sharing

[@philipmcgee6869]

This is brilliant. I wish Bert Jansch were still here with us. Light and Peace to Donovan a fellow Celt.

[@richardwedlich1021]

Donovan wrote Catch the Wind and when I heard it at age 14 I told myself I had to learn this one song if nothing else. Now I hear this beautiful guy teaching and I think what a great guy to share with us his understanding and wisdom. Thank you, Donovan.

[@randycapocasale7389]

Ah Donovan, it's a grand old man ye make!

[@stephanieclaire2569]

I’m from New Orleans and never knew that Mello Yello was inspired by Dixieland Jazz. But I can see it now!! Absolutely!

[@michaelhtritter]

Have always loved Donovan. Lucky enough to see him do an acoustic set with Taj Mahal as an opener at a small clubhouse in Mass in about, erm, IDK, about 1986. Donovan taught me it is okay to love life more than others seem to. It really is okay.

[@mimo1767]

I met the sweetest lady in garberville who sang to me your music and reintroduced me to your music. I just fixed my guitar, I'm singing, I'm playing, I have adventures to write about now. Your video is quite serendipitous. All of your music has been serendipitous in my life. Thank you thank you thank you.

[@el0blaino]

I've been looking to improve my technique as a guitarist, and particularly to learn how to play electric guitar with an amplifier, something I never had the chance to do as a youngster. It's been wonderful to have the chance to pursue a dream from forty years ago. Anyway, as part of this new phase I have been watching a lot of great players on KZbin sharing their tips on how to play this or that thing, showing scales, licks, different ways of picking, the whole thing. And so this video came to me. As I watched, I see that all that recent learning has had a curious effect on me. I knew the chords he showed, and found it easy to find the rhythms, so at first I was a bit underwhelmed. Where's the circle of fifths, the add9, the this and the that? So I had to catch myself -- "When did you get so huffy that you can't listen to a master?!?" I said to myself. And so I listened more carefully. And I remembered how I wrote a lot of songs when I was in my twenties and only had that acoustic, and those songs weren't fancy, but they came out when I had something to say, and found whatever chords and rhythms they needed. So I am glad that you emphasized people singing along, and dancing, and feeling connected to traditions rooted in places, and finding melodies, and how the good songs bear repetition - we want to hear them again. So thank you Donovan, you said all the important bits -- and put it together with easy chords so many people can join in. A Greater Vehicle. Thanks for the music and kind wishes to you.

[@bcrater6400]

the Sunshine Superman/Flower to a Garden album pairing is right there with Rubber Soul/Revolver and HIghway 61/Blonde on Blonde. A tour de force of songwriting and musical creativity.

[@juliosanchez95]

I love Donovan too but let's not get carried away

[@lamper2]

@@juliosanchez95 yeah i was just going to type that-i like the guy but REALLY?

[@frankboyd.]

Donovan this is nice. First concert date my wife and I attended together was at your show in the 60's. I used to sing your songs with my party friends, and later to my kids, then grandkids. Nice to see you again. Peace and good health to you.

[@taylor3014]

Donovan what a beautiful soul. Indigo glow and connected to us. We love ya

[@davidpost4216]

Amazing! I am a big fan of Donovan. On my gigs I sing Catch The Wind and Sunshine Superman. His songwriting tips are so simple but make so much sense.

[@donwarnick1089]

Anyone who questions this man’s greatness only needs to listen to Wear Your Love Like Heaven.

[@franciscozurbaran]

wonderful to get insights into a musician's mind. More please! I learned a lot. Importance of keeping good time. discovering the melodies lying within chords. No barre chords in your class--thats fine by me since my hand is just not strong enough to squeeze the strings down. You stress listening to the guitar. I dug the comment about playing the guitar late at night and laying your ear on the box. Do you ever play classical guitar? Sure it doesnt have the nice ringing tone but its so much easier to play. Maybe thats why Leonard Cohen always played classical. One day I hope you can tell me what the firefly platform on Goodge Street was. Peace and love!

[@markpattison127]

I have loved music my entire life, but so much more just because of what this man has brought to it 🎶 the energy just flows through him

[@Light-Shift]

Wow. As precious as diamonds. A creative and musical genius, Lightworker way ahead of his time, and most likely a parallel dimensional soul. 🍃

[@ameliac6194]

What's a parallel dimensional soul?

[@babyinvasion]

@@ameliac6194 They mean that he is otherworldly, while also being relatable. He's one of a kind 💎 👽💛

[@whatabouttheearth]

​@@ameliac6194 Wooey bullshit, I like Donovan, and he's a good songwriter but he is BY FAR not a "musical genius" and the only people that would assert such ridiculousness don't know much about music.

[@ameliac6194]

@@whatabouttheearth Why are you writing to me in response to someone else's comment?!!

[@whatabouttheearth]

@@ameliac6194 Lol, oops, I'm sorry

[@albertromiel]

thank you Donovan and Joolz for making this video! love the different camera angles too! Thanks for the songwriting wisdom, my friend.

[@MrBen58862]

What a genius,honestly I it weren’t for Donovan I would never learned to play guitar, everything starts on acoustic guitar,very true,listened to Fairytale album over and over, I still love this master, specially folk ballads,and that minor chord,plus that banjo style of picking,took me a long time to master this technique,good on you Donovan,may you reign forever and your master class too.

[@cugal1613]

Absolute legend. Thanks very interesting and useful!

[@ButeSound]

Colours is imo the perfect morning wake up song. Survives numerous listens. It inspired my own attempt called tea & toast

[@Moncayowind]

Nearly 1 year had to pass from the time this video was posted until I actually saw it and listened to it all the way through. Thank you, Don! And thanks for mentioning Preservation Hall. You got me interested (among other things), in jazz.

[@caroleyre9144]

Wow,I knew I’d see you a third time haha I saw you when I was 18 yrs Donovan beautiful Minstrel…then my Husban took us for our 50th he loves you too… our daughter is named Saffron bcs I loved you and your Music so much and my husband agreed lol. Our Saffron has yellow hair… our little Sunflower lol. Our Son is 25 he plays the Guitar and sings in a band … I love listening…especially acoustic guitar. Season of the Witch my birthday is Halloween haha one of my favourites…all of them. Wear Your Love like Heaven. 💙🦢💙

[@edwardcoppola1217]

I hope that this continues , as always Donovan is very generous.This is a wonderful lesson .

[@crwydryn]

Donovan's soundtrack of the film Brother Sun Sister Moon was hauntingly beautiful.

[@zyxmyk]

the people around lennon and mccartney said they, also, would play the same song over for hours. lennon would play a song with blank lyric spaces or dummy lyrics and sing it over nd over and, he said, "the right words would come down from above." the people who worked for him said he would play one song over and over for hours. he and donovan and mccartney were buddies, so there you have it. thanks donovan. I was ALWAYS a fan of yours since i heard sunshine superman on the radio in 66. you were the fifth beatle.

[@micosenor3148]

cheers Don , I'm a bit late finding this , but a timely find , now for a song ...many thanks , micky

[@charlesgoldstein4508]

Just discovered this- I can’t believe it! What I’ve always dreamed of watching. I plan to write a song to play at an animal rights benefit with this guidance. I have never written a sign before even though I’ve played guitar for more than 40 years! I wish Donovan would come back to Minnesota USA for a concert. I’m also organizing the concert for animal rights and it would be so wonderful to have Donovan play! Donovan, are you out there?

[@ubobubo6851]

Incredible!

[@MarleneBarr]

Wow! Thank you. I've fallen in love with my guitar. I can put my words and music together at last.

[@earthysteve]

This is awesome, thank you :~)

[@lindareese4579]

Thank you donavan for such a nice lessons..I live in Fresno and I have a really nice guitar I'm trying to teach myself guitar..I am seventy three years and live in Fresno..l

[@InnocentAbyssinianCat-eb7ge]

If the Beatles were prepared to take on his influences in their trip to India in 1968 and then use that on the white album then this is a privilege of the highest order

[@juniorxranger]

This means so much to me.

[@1234waveskier]

I am so happy to have found this! It is a dream come true, thank you Donovan.

[@filofilo1178]

You don't know how much this means, thank you Master!

[@sirpancho]

Master of masters, as a songwriting teacher. What better!

[@joaourso8960]

I am very touched by the magic moments we can watch and enjoy with this genius. Thanks Donovan!

[@pauagirl1]

I Love this video - mayb I can write a song! Please share more Donavan I love the way you incorporate your experiences in this beautiful masterclass;)

[@BluetheRaccoon]

Oh Donovan, thank you so much for this beautiful lesson! I love you so much, and always have!

[@fldrummerman]

How wonderful is this!!!! Thank you so much.

[@potsbox9584]

I love your stuff, your music has gotten me through so much, thank you

[@louis143]

thank you!

[@alowl450]

Wow! I cant believe it, a real master class.

[@jasina99]

I went to Preservation Hall back in the seventies. It was an amazing place back then. I never knew that Mellow Yellow was inspired by the old jazz musicians playing there in the sixties (and seventies). Great story! - Donovan fan since the mid sixties.

[@ericbellerose]

Good tips. Thank you for sharing with us Donovan. Hope to learn more from you. 🌼🌸

[@GrimDuskEntertainment]

Incredible instruction. I've always had good pitch and rhythm, but never played the guitar and Now I really want to.

[@Airwicca72]

Always a fan. Those are the chords that call me as well.The wistful stories on the breeze come and fall around me like butterflies from other times. The soul of a poet can always hear the melodies and stories woven into the sound. Thank you for the inspiration.💛

[@whatabouttheearth]

They're just basic chords, try second and third inversions and variations of those. This is fine and all but it limits your texture arsenal.

[@Airwicca72]

​@@whatabouttheearth I'm primarily a writer and a singer and have no training in playing music, so I take what I can get friend 😉

[@Dutcharmytent]

Enjoyed this lesson immensely , syncopated rhythm is the key linked to the drum beat.

[@bobcorbin2569]

Thank you for all you have given to us, Donovan.

[@dazknight9326]

Wow. You are amazing.... I think I just found my answer to a lot of questions in trying my own music. 😃

[@94cruicky]

Thanks for this! So insightful!

[@QCart-ic9ql]

Thank you for sharing your deep knowledge

[@Sparklfoot]

A minor chord? Always my favorite!

[@AndrewNeilMusic]

Thank you Donovan. I am also a songwriter. I began writing songs after a head injury in 2009. I have never played a cover song ….. I taught myself to play guitar by writing songs. To this day I do not know how to play standard chords. I make up my own shapes. I normally begin to write a song after finding a melody. Then I determine what the melody means and the lyrics come to me. I guess I am unique in that I don’t know any standard chords but have written over 400 songs. I would love to sit down and talk with you about songwriting. Peace to you.

[@frankboyd.]

Music is a great healer. What you're playing is good for your brain.

[@AndrewNeilMusic]

@@frankboyd. thank you. Peace to you

[@atomictraveller]

me too.. i was in some ways an obstinate gen x aquarian iconoclast intent on reinventing the wheel without influence. went through computational procedural synthesis and composition, variable temperaments. i think it took a quarter century or so before i admitted that most of my objectives would have been better satisfied if i'd done otherwise. but of course my way has been thorough. but 400 songs.. i get machines to write my songs hehe ;) (..weed writes a whole lot as well)

[@whatabouttheearth]

Lol, you are probably playing "standard" chords. Not learning chords or other people's songs are not bragging rights and you are already psychologically conditioned by whatever music you grew up listening to and currently listen to.

[@ionlyemergeafterdark]

Great stuff, Donovan. I'm a total beginner, or even pre-beginner. So I didn't understand all of the class. But I can see that there is a lot of good information in your class. I hope you continue teaching and perhaps write a book on playing guitar and writing songs. Just an idea. All the best.

[@Majenye]

I love your music, and this video wich was very instructive and cool to heard. Love from Venezuela :D!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@kungfuman78]

that was awesome. thank you Donovan.

[@peermusic]

GREAT video for all songwriters!

[@philippa5004]

Wonderful 🙏🌟💚🕊

[@backbeat44]

love Donovan - listened and bought his albums as a young lad but it's a tad disconcerting to see him teaching in a contrived fashion from a prompter to his left. still i love him, none the less.

[@julieannemichelle]

Thank you for your amazing gift of songs that I cherish. One of my favorite songs that you sang was The Balled of Geraldine.

[@roryconroy3701]

Don, your a legend, love you man❤

[@josephcarbone8996]

Truly Awesome Lesson

[@Graywyck]

"Atlantis" helped me get a girlfriend, so I'm definitely interested in this :-)

[@siggesaltens2663]

SO GOOD TO SEE AND HEAR YOU, MAESTRO.

When I took guitar lessons the guy showed me a sheet of music and guitar tabs, he played the song like an expert would, then he handed me the sheets and told me to learn it by next week. That was it.

[@rikki139]

Thanks for your being ❤️

[@dwaynewladyka577]

Very in depth and informative. Cheers! ✌️

[@Sundancer2020]

As a songwriter, this is a wonderful insight into your process 🙏🏻

[@rick.d]

Fascinating. What a gift.

[@dinkaboutit4228]

If you would like to see a songwriting masterclass featuring Donovan, I recommend this one right here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/baTUcpt8a85sfpY

[@JMBaule]

Fuistes, has sido...y eres, Fantástico!

[@AmberCrowley]

Thanks Donovan, wonderful video!

[@craigaults4994]

Awsome!!!

[@stevehamilton5430]

Love this guy

[@rolandmousaa3110]

GREAT!

[@alanbstard4]

Brilliant "D". Thank you

[@MellowWind]

I love this. Thank you so much. More please! (Now I just have to get me a guitar. :D)

[@OC44K]

Fantastic. Thank you Don!

[@ohtravo997]

thank you thank you!

[@mim3295]

Don is the music.

[@jasoncarrasco7682]

This was awesome! Thanks for doing this!

[@tyronerodgers]

What a wizard!

[@lamper2]

NO BAR CHORDS ALLOWED! HA HA. REALLY great camera angles starting at 3:13 other teachers should do this! 17:26 That "quite rightly" in Mellow Yellow i doubt anyone heard or could decipher back then.

[@davidpotsdam]

Thank You Donavan .very hip bro.

Donovan.