Gordon Lightfoot - Carefree Highway | Guitar Tutorial

In today's guitar lesson we learn how to play "Carefree Highway" by Gordon Lightfoot. Gordon passed recently and left a tremendous mark on the musical world through his ingenious songwriting. This song is a great lesson in basic strumming patterns and chord progressions. The hook is a great example of major pentatonic.

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Video Chapters:
00:00 Demo
02:01 Lesson Introduction
02:19 Gordon's influence on me
02:43 Gordon Lightfoot's genius
03:34 Arrangement + Strumming
04:28 Brief History
05:19 Intro
06:45 Strumming Patterns
07:52 Verse
09:14 Playthrough of Verse
09:50 Chorus
11:36 Hook
14:02 Song Form

[jasonwonkawich]

So happy you made this. So sad it took such sadness for me to finally motivate myself to learn it. ... Life is short... Thank you so much for sharing.

[patrickkelly]

Another fine interpretation, Mitch! I'm old enough to recall this as a "Top 40" hit on AM radio, and hearing your insightful interpretation brings back some warm memories.

[uberjam-sam]

This song is a true gem. Thanks for unlocking some of its secrets through beautiful chord voicings and chord melody. Aaa non-singer it's a singer-song writer tune I can really get lost in (in a good way haha).

[chrisbergonzi]

Gord was a huge influence on me also....you do him honor with your playing. Excellent tutorial....can't believe I haven't come across your channel prior to today. Anyway, great stuff, scribed up....thanks my man...

[anthonyangelis]

Beautiful demonstration as always thank you. I love this beautiful song.

[Morris]

You did him an incredible justice with this, your emotion tied to this song is very apparent and i look forward to spending as much time re watching this i need. The bass in your voice is an awesome touch! Thank you sir.

[tmo-yb]

Excellent tutorial. I particularly like the fact that you showed some lead parts. Thank you. -Tim

[stevenkarkkainen]

I really like your tutorials! Well done! I was introduced to Lightfoot’s music while visiting relatives in Canada in the early 70’s!

[dankeck]

Yes Gordon Lightfoot was also a great influence on me also. I only met him three times and was never able to sit and have a cup of coffee with this wonderful man. I haven't been to your patreon yet but, cant you teach some of his great fingerstyle songs? One of his simple (?) chord songs is the Pony Man. I believe it's on the Sit Down Young Stranger album. I would be willing to pay to get the picking pattern for that song. Another, song from later in his career: A Painter Passing Through. It would be great if you could teach these. Thanks

[TheAgeofAquariusKeenanPerry]

Don't we all have a 12-string that's... In need of some work.