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azraelswings
New member
Can anyone offer advice on means of learning chord melodies, fingerstyle or otherwise?
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Dave_M
New member
That's what I'm working on too. My favorite player in that style is Joe Pass but I haven't come close to that level of playing. Take a simple melody, learn it, figure out the harmony and build on that. I started with "Greensleeves" then went on to "Windy". Now I'm working on "All The Things You Are". There are a few good books out there, if you want to take the "show me how" road. Go to musiciansfriend.com and search on "chord melody". I've not taken that path so I can't make a recommendation.
Codmate
New member
Learning some classical tunes will really help with the technique you need to do this.
It'll help you break away from the common bi-polar chord/lead view of the guitar.
It'll help you break away from the common bi-polar chord/lead view of the guitar.
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azraelswings
New member
I should have mentioned that I have also played classical previously :-D What I'm really looking for is hints/methods on arranging solo chord melodies.
foo
Active member
One of the teachers at the Musician's Institute when I was there was a chord melody specialist.
His name is Ron Eschete (that's pronounced Esh Tay).
Great performer of standards in the chord melody style, and a great player generally.
Go here:
http://www.bobeubanksproductions.com/roneschete.html
Ron's in the front.
His name is Ron Eschete (that's pronounced Esh Tay).
Great performer of standards in the chord melody style, and a great player generally.
Go here:
http://www.bobeubanksproductions.com/roneschete.html
Ron's in the front.
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rickw08090
New member
There may be quicker ways to do this, but many years ago, I got the same bug, and bought the sheet music to a tune I wanted to learn and a chord dictionary, hoping to get the fingerings that would show me where the melody note was. After some trial and error, it worked. The bonus was that, following this approach, I eneded up learning a number of voicings for each chord, and some knowledge of chord structure.azraelswings said:
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tamias
New member
Cirlcle of 5ths
My suggestion is to memorize the cirlce of 5ths. Once you understand the relationship between keys and their relative minors, chord progressions will be the futherest thing from your mind.
My suggestion is to memorize the cirlce of 5ths. Once you understand the relationship between keys and their relative minors, chord progressions will be the futherest thing from your mind.
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XLR
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I think a big part of it is working in a key that puts the tune high enough to allow chord work underneath it without the parts getting in each other's way too much. Keeping the tune as much as possible in the upper positions also allows a really nice slow sweet vibrato like a good singer does.
Beyond that, I'd just write out a lead sheet with the tune in the key and range I want, basic chords, then flesh it out by ear.
Tim
Beyond that, I'd just write out a lead sheet with the tune in the key and range I want, basic chords, then flesh it out by ear.
Tim
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