The Carpenters - Solitaire

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TGNeil
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Joined: Thu Feb 18, 2010 1:09 pm
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Fri Mar 28, 2025 2:46 pm

Hey Gang,

Nesh has put together a great lesson with some easy picking - Solitaire as done by The Carpenters.

Solitaire is a ballad composed by Neil Sedaka with lyrics by Phil Cody. It was originally recorded by Sedaka and appears on his 1972 album with the same name. 

It has been covered by several artists including Andy Williams, Elvis Presley, Shirley Bassey, Sheryl Crow, Nana Mouskouri, Josh Groban, Westlife and many more. 

This lesson takes a look at the version by the Carpenters, released in 1975.

Their arrangement was done in the key of E and the lesson teaches how to play it in the key of D, where the guitar is capoed on the 2nd fret. 

The progression and arrangement is quite straightforward with relatively easy chords, fingerpicking for the verses and strumming for the chorus'. 

We also take a look at the key of C for the ones who'd like to sing it lower, or to match other versions. It might be just a tiny bit easier compared to the key of D as well.