James Taylor Up On The Roof - guitar tutorial

[@gym_bob]

Makes it so much easier when you show the chord diagram as you play it. I have not seen anyone else do it that way. Thankyou!

[@DOBacousticguitar]

Glad it was helpful!

[@coreycameron244]

What a beautiful voice you have and I love the chord diagrams showing up.

[@DOBacousticguitar]

Thanks very much!

[@MrNgcovelli]

One of the simplest (and best) teaching approaches on the Tube. Thank you!

[@DOBacousticguitar]

You are very welcome Nick C, and Thanks for the positive feedback!

[@kevinbarry7055]

Most excellent Sir! Your a great instructor. I’ve learned enough to play that song on JT’s style. Thank you.

[@DOBacousticguitar]

Thanks very much!

[@davidlennox4734]

Thanks!

[@DOBacousticguitar]

You're welcome, and thank YOU David! Very kind and generous!!

[@garryallanjoyce]

What the....i actually thought you were playing along with a james taylor recording...wow man

[@DOBacousticguitar]

Thanks!

[@Dakota.Covers]

Excellent lesson! So easy to follow and sounds great

[@DOBacousticguitar]

Thanks very much!

[@bh8365]

DOB. Voice and playing are so good. And thanks for the corresponding chord graphics.

[@DOBacousticguitar]

Thanks, and glad you like it!

[@MichaelMolli]

Good playing, good voice, good everything!

[@DOBacousticguitar]

Thanks very much!

[@timdaniel9904]

Beautiful. I can't wait to learn this one. Good singing too!

[@DOBacousticguitar]

Thanks!

[@fortunatonartates2598]

Thanks for the lesson.I really learn something..More power sir..Be safe God Bless.

[@DOBacousticguitar]

Thank you too!

[@AlanStransman]

Beautifully done....

[@DOBacousticguitar]

Thanks!

[@yuencheungchow1338]

Verygood/verygood,I very like this teaching thankyou somuch,非常多謝,多謝你的教學🙏🙏

[@DOBacousticguitar]

Thank you!

[@anthonyciriglo3677]

Beautiful, Great lesson, playing and singing 👍✌️

[@DOBacousticguitar]

Thank you kindly!

[@themaxmah4552]

Thank you so much for this! Great lesson.

[@DOBacousticguitar]

You're very welcome!

[@Steve-yk7iu]

Really good lesson. Thank you. I noticed that you keep your forefinger free for chord embellishments like JT does. I need to work on that.

[@DOBacousticguitar]

Thanks very much!

[@joq702]

I'll take your voice as a subsitute for James any day. Excellence, not excellent, excellence. Really great.

[@DOBacousticguitar]

Thank you very kindly!

[@roberterdman7268]

Nice, thanks man. Gorgeous song, huh? JT and Carole King....

[@DOBacousticguitar]

Thanks, and agreed, it is a gorgeous song, and yes great collaborators!

[@jeromekovacik1198]

Great teaching style...I am a "pick using" guy who has played in bands for 40 + years. I'm not near as good as I should be but I sure have had fun! And the way you teach has helped me as I start to finally learn finger picking,,,,at least more that Thumb and Index! Thanks DOB...we need at least to call you by your first name ?

[@DOBacousticguitar]

Thanks for that, and you are very welcome Jerome! Glad this helps.

[@deschutesmaple4520]

Wow awesome tutorial. Kudos! :-))

[@DOBacousticguitar]

Thanks a lot!

[@mikehuffman5460]

that's really good

[@DOBacousticguitar]

Thanks!

[@luxurylinr56]

Great sounding guitar. What is the make and model if you don’t mind sharing? I have owned Martins, Gibson’s, Guilds, Yamaha & currently a Doug Fairbanks copy of a Gibson J-185 maple body, but none seem to satisfy. Been playing and searching for 45 years. I just found your site tonight when searching for “Song from half mountain” by Dan Fogelberg. Great instruction. Thx! Have always loved Folgelberg music. Too bad he passed so young at 56. JT’s music is incredible as well and thankfully he’s still going strong. Seen both many times live. Cheers & thx for sharing.

[@DOBacousticguitar]

Hello there! Thanks, and my guitar is a Larrivee, model L-09. Its about 40 yrs. old now and was hand-made in Victoria, B.C. I am just using my phone to record these videos, so great that you picked up on its sound quality. Ever since I got this guitar, several friends and relatives have gone out and got a Larrivee for themselves. I have no links to the company, but have to say that Larrivee is an excellent guitar brand and rivals the best in its price range. Also, thanks for the positive feedback, much appreciated. Its always great to hear from another Fogelberg/JT fan!

[@luxurylinr56]

​@@DOBacousticguitar Thanks so much for sharing the make and model of your wonderful sounding guitar. I have not looked into the Larrivee brand, but will be doing so. Guitars are such a personal thing and always a joy to explore, while in pursuit of the optimal acoustic. Meanwhile there's great songs to be learning and playing, with the encouragement of great instructors like yourself. BTW, I mentioned a fabulous guitar maker, who's name is actually Dale Fairbanks not Doug. Just wanted to set the record straight. I do love his guitar but I am coming to the conclusion that a serious acoustic guitar player must own several guitars to find complete satisfaction. Rosewood seems to be the warmest wood, than there's Mohagany for a little more brightness and than Maple for that crystal clear sound. Been without a rosewood guitar, so its time to secure the third guitar. Cheers!

[@NickFinn-kh5bd]

Awesome love your voice both vocal and your incredible guitar sounds rich and full of overtones and harmonics who made it ?

[@DOBacousticguitar]

Thanks very much! It was hand made by Jean Larrivee here in Canada late 1970's.

[@davidlennox4734]

Might you have the Tabs for the entire song. Created tabs for Intro and T's but still having trouble with the first few measures getting started.

[@DOBacousticguitar]

Sorry to say, I don't have anything more for this song.

[@pedaphelps]

sounds great do you have a tab for it????

[@DOBacousticguitar]

Thanks! I don't have tab for this, sorry.

[@joepetrosky3411]

Damm dude so gooood

[@DOBacousticguitar]

Thanks again!

[@danielfitzpatrick5696]

How do you play the chorus?

[@DOBacousticguitar]

Here is the chord sequence to help fill it out. Referencing the JT Flag album version, starting at the 1:50 mark, i.e. right after "let's go up on the roof" and before "and at night the stars....", play the following chord sequence: D (4 beats), Bm (4 beats), Em (2 beats), D/F#bass (2 beats), G (2 beats), A7sus4 (2 beats), and then "Transition 2" as shown in my lesson. The long outro, starting at 2:53 in the JT Flag version, uses the same chord sequence (D, Bm, Em, D/F#, G, A7sus4) seven times in a row; then the song ends on a D.

[@louiesalinas4720]

i thought it wss James

[@kevinmoulton2480]

Dude, thank you. I love JT, so I wanted to add some of his songs to my live solo act, but I struggled with Fire and Rain and others. They're tough! Then I decided to try his covers, and it worked. First I learned Handyman, and then How Sweet It is, and the crowd loves 'em. Now this one. It will be a great addition. Thanks again. facebook.com/kevinsguitar

[@DOBacousticguitar]

Glad I could help! Using the link you provided, I checked out some of your live performances; great singing! Especially enjoyed "If I Fell".

[@kevinmoulton2480]

@@DOBacousticguitar Thank you. I love singing Beatles harmony.