Teaching a Song of Friendship

"I've been hearing this really nice song on the radio lately, and I've always wanted to learn to play it."

"Which song?" Misty asked. "Granted, I don't know a word of guitar terminology, but if I have the piano sheet music, I may be able to teach it to you..."

"Yeah--most piano sheet music also has guitar chords." Ash agreed as he kept a watchful eye on Tintri climbing a tree.

"It's the one that goes So keep your head up, don't feel down
Hey, are you listening to me? Brock sang.

Because our friendship will never change! It's gonna be all right! Ash sang the other half of the song's chorus.

"That's the name of it--'Friendship Will Never Change'." Brock grinned as he reached for his guitar case.

"You are in luck--I have the piano sheet music!" Misty smiled as she unzipped her bag and held a music book in the air. "So get tuned and I'll teach you."

"This is why I keep this little guy handy." Brock smiled as he fished a pitch pipe from his pocket and set it to sound an E note. "In case I have no access to something that can produce a fixed E note."

"I don't think a piano fits in a shirt pocket." Ash grinned as Brock blew his first E note to start the tuning process as Misty quickly wrote out the song's lyrics and chords in a guitar friendly key.

Once Brock was ready, Misty commenced her lesson. "Okay..I've transposed this from Ab to G--easy chords for you to play and hopefully easy for all of us to sing. The 'So keep your head up, don't feel down' line has the chords G, C, B minor, and E minor..."

"Okay..." Brock replied, strumming the chords in question.

'Hey, are you listening to me?' has C, D, and G...and the last line has those seven chords all together." Misty went on.

So keep your... head up... don't feel down...
Hey, are you...listening...to me? Brock hesitantly sang while playing the chords at the same time.
Because our friendship... will never change...It's gonna...be all right!

"Very good!" Misty applauded, pleased that Brock made it through the whole progression without making a mistake. "The verse is fairly easy--you only need G, C, B minor, and D for most of it..."

"For someone who's never even picked up a guitar, Misty's doing great!" Ash smiled as Tintri rejoined him on his shoulder.

A few hours and practice sessions later...

"Okay...I think I'm ready to try playing this." Brock began as he re-checked his tuning, than started the chorus of the song as an introduction.

So keep your head up, don't feel down
Hey, are you listening to me? Ash and Misty sang.
Because our friendship will never change! It's gonna be all right!

I understand that you fall in love... Misty sang.
I understand that it's a wonderful thing... Ash echoed.
I hope that no matter what you do...

That you will not let it go! both of them chorused over the guitar.

But if you lose it, you'll understand... Ash went on.
That it is precious and worth more than you know... Misty echoed.
Another chance will soon come your way, and you may try again!

Sadness is just like a cold--so stop and rest till you're feeling fine! they both sang.
So take care of yourself... Misty sang.
And you'll be... Ash echoed.

As good as new!

Brock joined in on the chorus. So keep your head up, don't feel down
Hey, are you listening to me?
Because our friendship will never change! It's gonna be all right!...