What's this nonsense about Friday the 13th being unlucky. Not for us on this night. Dan, Suzan, Ken, Jen and Ken's brother Howard (what a mega talented family), Anne (3rd time), Patricia (2nd time), Jack, Vin, Larry and Louise will all agree that a good time was had by all and that 3 chords can make a lot of good music.

We started of with U2's STILL HAVEN'T FOUND WHAT I AM LOOKING FOR suggested by Jen. Mellow and pretty come to mind in recalling this number.

The next 4 came from me:

· SURFIN' USA (F G7 C) by The Beachboys. A good rock and roll effort in which we played excellent tacets and Ken sang all the parentheses.

· ANOTHER SATURDAY NIGHT (C D G) by Same Cooke. One we've done several times in the past and always pleasing.

· DA DOO RON RON by The Crystals (C F G). Again, we've done this a time or 2 before and is easy peasy.

· I GOT A FEELING (C G Em) from The Black Eyed Peas.. I thought I was just donating a suggestion of something to play on your own time since I thought it would be tough for the group to follow. But I did include a handy-dandy play-along video and a few brave souls felt we should try it. Not too bad. Ya, never know.

Ken gave us THE ONLY EXCEPTION by Paramore (B F#m Emaj7) Oy! We tried playing with the video in the original key. We gave it our best effort but.... It is a sad but pretty song.

Back to me now: BE-BOP-A-LULA C F G7 a rockabilly song first recorded in 1956 by Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps. I thought we sounded great and Dan added some wonderful harmony.

We did a Tom Petty memorial (Ken): FREE FALLING (F Fsus4 Csus4). How handy that Tom had a 3 chord number for us to play. It's a nice one and Ken taught us to play the whole song leaving one finger on the first fret of the 2nd string (E string). I ALWAYS forget how they are ordered! We also learned a chord I rarely see Fsus4: 0011. It was difficult to concentrate on the strum pattern, sing and play all at the same time. This is a great number for independent study. Now go and learn it.

Louise brought us Simon and Garfunkel's CECELIA (C F G7). We played it well. Is it just me or do others forget which is Simon and which is Garfunkel?

Also from Louise THE FIRST CUT IS THE DEEPEST (G D C) by Cat Stevens. We tried it in D G A and then D G C. I found it difficult to sing without really knowing the tune. The timing on the line "cause if you want to try to love again" was hard to keep up with.

Dan gave us WILD THING by The Trogs (A D E). E7 works just fine, thank goodness. We played A7 and A on only 2 strings. Now, if I have it right, the 3rd and 4th strings. I think we all enjoyed this one.

The undisputed hit of the night, thanks to Vin, was ROCK AND ROLL (A7 D7 E7) by Led Zeppelin. Too bad you missed it Sam. I don't think any of us would mind doing it again some time.

Another fun song we've done before was SQUEEZE BOX (G D C) by The Who presented by Vin. Ken suggested ending it with C G C G D G. Very nice!

In Bill's absence we played his pick, THE LION SLEEPS TONIGHT (C F G7). Otherwise known as the WIMOWEH song from The Lion King. Yes, we just did this in September.

Two more from me: UP AROUND THE BEND by Creedence Clearwater Revival (A D G) and lastly YOU AIN'T NOTHIN BUT A HOUND DOG (C F G) covered by many but originally by Elvis.

We tried to squeeze in DOWN ON THE CORNER also by Creedence Clearwater Revival (C G F) but we got the cue to depart from the library police so, maybe another time.

Our next theme will be honoring Halloween (which is a special day for me), sea shanties and calypso strums. What a mixed bag.

Until then, you keep strumming.

-- Arlene