Back to the top

Lyrics & Chords

Great Big Beautiful World guitar tutorials

Jazz Guitar tutorial

One of my favorite songs on the new album is Great Big Beautiful World, a bossa nova inspired mellow ballad that I really like playing. I like playing it so much I want to teach people how to do it!

This is the jazz/electric guitar version, which is the featured instrument on the recording. I also made a tutorial for an acoustic guitar version, which is a little simpler and has more open chords that sound good on acoustic. That’s below.

To help with the chords I made lead sheets that have guitar chord diagrams, here’s the jazz guitar lead sheet, and the acoustic lead sheet.

This is my first attempt at a legit guitar tutorial, let me know what you think!

Acoustic Guitar tutorial

Children’s Song

Songs From The Second Floor cover thumbnailChildren’s Song
from Songs From the Second Floor
(see below for chords)

words & music by Rob Paravonian
©2009 Paravonian, all rights reserved, administered by BMI

Hello my friend, how are you
Good evening, day or morning.
I’m as excited to see you as the last time you were here
Because this is a recording
I’ll always be here for you
I’ll never get tired of you
You just must push play
I’m here to distract you with colorful things
To help Mommy get through her day.

Because Mommy needs some time to herself
That’s why you’re here right now with me
Sometimes she gets a little overwhelmed
So she puts you in front of the t.v.

It’s not your fault, you’re a normal kid
Full of energy and life
Believe it or not, Mommy was just like you
Before she became some a-hole’s wife
Now she’s stuck in the house
She can’t work or get out
Because she never has the time
That’s why I’m here to distract you
So she can get back to
Working on her degree online

I think she’s studying psychology!

Chorus

Don’t worry, just because Mommy’s lying on her bed with a cold towel on her head doesn’t mean she doesn’t love you.  Mommies always scream into their pillows when they’re happy.
Would you like to try to cheer her up? You would? Then sing after me:

I love you Mommy—
You’re the prettiest Mommy—
And even though you’ve had kids—
and your body’s stretched out—
you still have value as a woman—

Excellent job, I think that worked
But now we must sit still
We have to be quiet for the next little while
So Mommy won’t need her pills
Now I’ve got to go
but I want you to know
I’ll be back again soon my friend
When Daddy gets home tonight and he and Mommy have a fight
You’ll be back with me again

All together now!
Chorus

Louder! Drown our the screaming!
Chorus

Verse: G D/E- D/C D/G/ 2x
D7/D7/G  C/G/  2x

Chorus: G/A-/G/D
G/A-/G D/G C G

Verse 2

Chorus 2

Singalong: D7/D7/G/G/
D7/D7/D7/D7/D7/D7/D7/D7/D7/D7

Verse 3

Chorus 3

Wasting My Minutes–Lyrics

living it down cover thumbnailWasting My Minutes
from Living It Down

words & music by Rob Paravonian
©2001 Paravonian, All Rights Reserved, administered by BMI

My cell phone rings, I check the I.D.
I see that it’s you calling me,
I’m busy so I let it go but you don’t leave a message.
You call right back so I guess I better get it.
I pick up the phone and say, “what’s wrong?”
You say “nothing” then go into a long
Story about your new boss man.
I don’t think you understand that
Girl, I got my cell phone for emergencies,
Not to talk about your day.  Can’t you see

You’re wasting my minutes
You’re wasting my minutes
My plan does not have much time in it
And you’re wasting my minutes

Now the cell phone is a great innovation
But it wasn’t made for idle conversation
It’s for information that just can’t wait
So let me relate so you can get it straight
If you’re running late for a date that would be a great
Time.  Or if I’m in line and you need to remind me
To buy some items of personal hygiene
These are the kinds of things I mean
As long as you’ve got something urgent to say
Not to tell me you’re having a bad hair day

Chorus

Rap

Just because I don’t pick up
doesn’t mean I’m not in love
We should be above this, don’t shove this
in my face, there’s a time and place for everything
you know what I mean?
Like sometimes I’m drivin’
I want to get home alive and well
So I can tell you I love you in person
Instead of cursin’ my luck stuck in a ditch
‘cause I was talkin to my [bleep] on a car phone

And when I say you’re wasting my battery
you get mad at me and say what’s the matter with me
And when you hear my call waiting beeping
you think I’m sleepin’ around and cheatin’
But it’s all in your mind you’re calling me time and time again when’s this trend gonna end?
You say if I don’t spend more time with you we’re through?
Well, what are you gonna do?

Do you think you can leave me
for another man with a better plan?
One who answers his phone and one who won’t
Get upset when you don’t have anything to say, hey!
Believe me girl he will promise you the world
But everyone’s got limits, especially with minutes
And if you’re in it for the long haul
You don’t need to call every second of the day
Sure the new guy will start out fine but I don’t have any doubt
As soon as he gets his bill he’ll say, “you know things aren’t working out.”

Particle Board–Lyrics

living it down cover thumbnailParticle Board
from Living It Down
words & music by Rob Paravonian
©2001 Paravonian, All Rights Reserved, administered by BMI

I took a good look at my life
and what I saw I didn’t like
‘cause there was nothing that was built to last

Underneath all the cheap veneers
there’s nothing that can stand the years
It all falls apart so fast

Particle Board,
all the furniture I own is made of particle board
It’s all I can afford, particle board
Particle Board
is this what I’ve been working my whole life for?
For walls and a door and particle board

I have to live my life alone
‘cause if I ever bring a woman home
She’ll take one look at my place and any chance is blown
I guess that I’d have to admit
a guy looks like he can’t commit
when a hex wrench can dismantle everything he owns

Particle board
if I ever move I’ll leave it here on the floor
‘cause the move would cost more than the particle board
Particle board
my life sucks and it can’t be ignored
‘all I can afford is particle board

I’ve tried to live my life without things to tie me down
That’s why I only buy things I won’t miss if I skip town
But now I see that I can’t live my life like this forever
I’d like to own some furniture I don’t have to put together

Guitar Solo

I took a good look at my life
What I saw I didn’t like
It made me want to run away and hide
Just one look around my home
Shows that everything I own
Is all leaning to one side

Chorus

Chords:
Verse G/D/A-/F D/
G/D/A-/D

Chorus: G/D/C/E-/G/D/G/D/
G/D/C/E-/G/D/G

Verse

Chorus

Bridge: A-/A-/F/G/ 2x
E-/E-/C/D/ 2x

Solo (chorus progression)

Verse

Chorus

© Paravonian