49 Comments
User's avatar
Colin Meloy's avatar

Reminder: I'm playing this capo'd at the 2nd fret, so all the chords are two steps up. In the video, I'm calling out chord *positions* not the actual chords as they fall in the key of the song. But you can move it around to wherever you like, using a capo. The chord positions will work anywhere on the fretboard, really. Also: feel free to make it your own! There's no right or wrong way about it!

Expand full comment
Sing Show! LIVE!'s avatar

Capos are the bomb dot com!

Expand full comment
Carson Ellis's avatar

Ur cute

Expand full comment
Colin Meloy's avatar

❤️

Expand full comment
PXB's avatar

This might be enough to make me drag that guitar out again and try to convince myself that I can play it. 🙂

Expand full comment
John Olson's avatar

Same, lol

Expand full comment
Julia's avatar

SAMe same, LOL

Expand full comment
Julia's avatar

And to continue, it makes me want to buy a guitar first and then just sing, sing, sing

Expand full comment
Tracy Grammer's avatar

Do it, do it, do it! :)

Expand full comment
ghost's avatar

same :D

Expand full comment
Eddie Moffett's avatar

You're a GD mind reader. Learned most of it yesterday from a dude on youtube. This may be a bit better... Thanks!

Expand full comment
Alexander Ryan's avatar

ooh was i that dude?? https://youtu.be/deKzDv0LZCc

Happy June.... 30th. :-D

Expand full comment
Simon Kelso's avatar

One of my favorites. I’ve dabbled with banjo throughout the years but these videos make me want to give guitar another shot. Thanks!

Expand full comment
Nat Torkington's avatar

I play it on the banjo, so it can be done. We took pleasure in introducing it to good musicians on the radio show evening I ran at our local folk club. With guitar, banjo, fiddle, and bass and multiple good vocalists, it came out a treat.

Both the hymns are so beautiful, but in very different ways. They make me so happy.

Expand full comment
Sarah C's avatar

Me too! A favorite cover on banjo.

Expand full comment
Tracy Grammer's avatar

Ah! I just played this Tuesday in a livestream, it's been circulating through the sets for years. "A barony of ivy in the trees / expanding out its empire by degrees" and the world as living room ... *sigh*. Summer's perfection perfectly writ. I'm afraid to watch the tutorial bc I'm sure I've made it my own (ahem) but alas, here you are, and so I shall. Thank you from a former Portlander and fellow traveler for this and every other. xotg

Expand full comment
Colin Meloy's avatar

Hi Tracy! Very kismet. Honored it's found a way into your set.

Expand full comment
Lee Hinde's avatar

My favorite song from a very good album.

Expand full comment
John H's avatar

This song means so much to my partner and I. I substituted the name of our farm from the first time I sang it for her: "Summer comes to OwlsRidge hill", and now she wants to know why you always get the lyrics wrong when you sing it. ;)

Also, I've always been a bit stymied by the "years from now..." chords (kind of play it differently every time)... so thanks especially for that.

Expand full comment
ghost's avatar

and..... here comes that portland rain <3 love you man!

Expand full comment
Angie's avatar

That was just lovely.

If anyone here has a recommendation for a “beginner” guitar, please share! I did an awful thing and sold mine years ago and have been having decision paralysis every time I go to look for a new one.

Expand full comment
Colin Meloy's avatar

Seems like all the major guitar makers (Martin, Gibson, Taylor) have an affordable model in their line. Breedlove (https://breedlovemusic.com/) is based in Oregon; they have a few in the sub-$500 level and they make good stuff. Alternately, go to your local used instrument peddler and strum around!

Expand full comment
Angie's avatar

Thank you so much for your input! Breedlove has a really helpful buyers guide on their site so I am going to give them a try!

Expand full comment
Barb's avatar

Where are you? I have an old beginner Yamaha that I had fixed up before I bought a new guitar. I've been waiting for a worthy person to give it to. I'm in Rhode Island. I don't think the case would survive shipping.

Expand full comment
Angie's avatar

Wow that’s so kind of you! I’m in Seattle, so sadly about as far away from Rhode Island as you can get haha

Expand full comment
Barb's avatar

Too bad! But you should definitely go buy a guitar. If you're like me the hardest part is going to be getting those callouses back. I forgot how much it hurts at first! Get playing and we'll do a Zoom duo, no one but us will know if we're any good!

Expand full comment
Danceygirl's avatar

My late husbands Martin is in my Tipperary loft. I can’t play but would love to learn this one. Daniel loved The Decemberists.

Expand full comment
Joe Teggart's avatar

One of my all time favorites Colin! Would love a tutorial on 'Dear Avery' or the 'The Bagman's Gambit' please. Just subscribed mainly for the guitar tutorials! :-)

Expand full comment
MT Allston's avatar

(Bringing out guitar now.) I’m not a fan of summer, especially these days out west when it means wildfires and acrid smoke, but I’ve always loved the idea of summer in this song. I must admit, however, that after the anniversary show streams and the Q&As after them it now takes real effort to keep from singing “yellow vomit.”

Expand full comment
Sarah C's avatar

Wonderful! One of my favorites. Sang this to all three of my infants.

Expand full comment
Alan's avatar

My son (4 years old) was making a load of noise with his harmonica earlier. I played an acoustic version of you playing June Hymn and he was so enraptured he watched it 3 times, no fast forwarding allowed!

Expand full comment
Sing Show! LIVE!'s avatar

Thanks for the detailed lesson. I guess I have 25 more days to lean this one!

Expand full comment