Chord melody tips?

[Clint 55]

What are some good ways to practice chord melody? Stuff that's not single note lead guitar or basic rhythm guitar, like Sultans of Swing kind of stuff. Sequences that use 2 or more notes at once in a melodic way that's not only root position chords.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Chord melody tips?

A good practice is harmonizing a simple melody, like 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star'. I use hybrid picking for that kinda stuff, though some use thumbpicks or pure fingerpicking. There are also some great books out there, too. like this and this.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Chord melody tips?

Chord melody solos! Thanks, that makes sense. That seems like it would really help, to start with super simple melodies and then put some little chords beneath.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Chord melody tips?

Thanks this is working well. I harmonized the major scale with 1, 4, and 5 chords and I'm making up simple chord melodies.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Chord melody tips?

I think that is how the style started- people harmonizing the melodies of popular songs. It is a great exercise for a guitarist in any genre.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Chord melody tips?

I think that is how the style started- people harmonizing the melodies of popular songs. It is a great exercise for a guitarist in any genre.

I agree 100%. Also check out Joe Pass, he is the Jedi of chord melodies.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Chord melody tips?

Yep, that mofo!

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Chord melody tips?

 

[Mincer]

Re: Chord melody tips?

Sadly I think this style is sort of on its way out. Jazz has changed a lot, and new players aren't excited by complex harmonies under their melodies. They want power chords. While I think great chord melody players are among the most advanced guitar harmonists out there, I think in a generation, it will just be a quaint memory.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Chord melody tips?

Although jazz is one of the least popular styles of music, and within jazz many are going mod in favor of no harmony and no melody, I think like classical traditional jazz is too much of a gem to completely die.