Rise Up Singing

Rise Up Singing: the Group Singing Songbook developed & edited by Peter Blood & Annie Patterson

One of the first songs I learned to play on a musical instrument was "Blowin' in the Wind" by Bob Dylan. All it took was four simple chords, my dad's Guild acoustic guitar, a moderate amount of diligence and a copy of Rise Up Singing. This anthology is the perfect songbook for a beginner guitarist. It boasts holding words, chords and sources to 1,200 songs! Arranged thematically (though there's an index if you're looking for something specific), it includes traditional and more contemporary folk songs, blues music and pop tunes. Songs are displayed in the simplest manner possible reducing the musical notation to the most basic chord progressions.

Rise Up Singing also comes in handy for singsongs, parties and campfires. I keep a copy near my bed encased in glass with hammer attached via a string for unexpected musical emergencies.