How to convert single notes to power chords???

Sune

Sune

New member
Yes, my question might be hard to understand, but I need help from someone good at music theory.. I have a song consisting of single notes, and I want to convert it into a heavier song (using power chords instead of single notes), but the notes are spread over the 4 first strings.. So how could I convert it into a heavier song with powerchords, where it's basically the same melody???

(I know the key of each single note, but as they're spread over different strings I don't know how to convert them to a more "rock" driven powerchord melody)

Like for example this melody line:

G G B D D D B D
e|---------------------------|
B|----------3--3-3-----3----|
G|--0-0--4----------4-------|
D|---------------------------|
A|---------------------------|
E|---------------------------|
 
Last edited:
Re: How to convert single notes to power chords???

I think what you could do is play the power chords for the root notes, like this:

G G B D D D B D
e|--------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------|
G|--------4--7--7--7--4--7-------|
D|--5--5--4--7--7--7--4--7-------|
A|--5--5--2--5--5--5--2--5-------|
E|--3--3--------------------------|

In theory, that should work. Try it out though, not completely sure on all the theory stuff.
 
Re: How to convert single notes to power chords???

G G B D D D B D
e|---------------------------|
B|----------3(D)--3-3-----3----|
G|--0-0-(openG)-4-(B)---------4-------|
D|---------------------------|
A|---------------------------|
E|---------------------------|

The first note you are playing is open G. Move this over to the the 3rd fret on the 6 string and then play the 5 string 5th fret. This is a G5 chord.
The 4th fret on G string is B. Place this on the 6 string 7th fret and 5 string 9 fret. This is B5. The 3rd fret on the 2nd string is D. PLay this on the 5 string 5th fret and add the 4 string 7th fret. This is D5. The 5 chords with volume and distortion should give you what you want. You can experinent in using a 3rd instead of the 5. THis will give the chord a differnt flavor and you can mix them up.
 
Re: How to convert single notes to power chords???

what about just dropping the whole thing an octave and keeping it a single line riff? Could sound kinda chunky!
 
Re: How to convert single notes to power chords???

You could also mix in open notes with the chords like so:

G G B D D D B D
E|-----3--------x--x-----x-------|
B|-----3--------3--3-----3-------|
G|-----0--------2--2-----2-------|
D|-----0-----0--0--0-----0-------|
A|-----2--2-----------2----------|
E|--3--3--------------------------|

You can flavor it up a little by adding slight bends to the single notes of G and B. With a good amount of OD and those slight bends, it could sounds really cool. Go Zakk Wylde-like and pinch the G and B...LOL.
 
Re: How to convert single notes to power chords???

Add the fifth and octave. That's all a power chord is, two roots and a 5th.
 
Re: How to convert single notes to power chords???

Wow, thanks for the suggestions guys, I'll look into it.. Actually, there is a melody line more:

G G B A A D A B
e|-------------------------||
B|---------------3---0-----||
G|-0-0--4--2--2---2-------||
D|-------------------------||
A|-------------------------||
E|-------------------------||

The problem for me here is making the last B sound like it does with this single melody line, because it sounds different than the B (4th fret) on the string underneath it, and you should be able to tell the difference when I'm playing it. And by the way guys, if you play the other line first, and then this afterwards, can you tell the song?? :laugh2:
 
Re: How to convert single notes to power chords???

Hey, don't mind the last one that much, I figure I could just play it like:

|-------------------|
|-------------------|
|------4-2-2-7-2-4-|
|-5-5--4-2-2-5-2-4-|
|-5-5--2-0-0-5-0-2-|
|-3-3---------------|


However, these ones are hard for me to figure out in powerchords, because you gotta go from the high e, and make a powerchord sounding like an open high e...:
E E C E E E C E || E E D G G E D B
e|--0-0----0--0-0----0-------|--0-0---3--3-0------------|
B|------1---------1----------|------3--------3--0-------|
G|---------------------------|--------------------------|
D|---------------------------|--------------------------|
A|---------------------------|--------------------------|
E|---------------------------|--------------------------|

B A G G G B G
e|-------------------------||
B|--0----------------------||
G|-----2--0--0-0---0-------||
D|---------------2---------||
A|-------------------------||
E|-------------------------||
 
Re: How to convert single notes to power chords???

Sune said:
Wow, thanks for the suggestions guys, I'll look into it.. Actually, there is a melody line more:

G G B A A D A B
e|-------------------------||
B|---------------3---0-----||
G|-0-0--4--2--2---2-------||
D|-------------------------||
A|-------------------------||
E|-------------------------||

The problem for me here is making the last B sound like it does with this single melody line, because it sounds different than the B (4th fret) on the string underneath it, and you should be able to tell the difference when I'm playing it. And by the way guys, if you play the other line first, and then this afterwards, can you tell the song?? :laugh2:
Click to expand...

On the other hand, I could still use some help with this last B as well.. I got the other stuff down in this melody line, but finding a powerchord that sounds like that open b string is a bitch.
 
Last edited:
Re: How to convert single notes to power chords???

Hmm, suddenly you all got quiet?? :laugh2:
 
Re: How to convert single notes to power chords???

Sune said:
Yes, my question might be hard to understand, but I need help from someone good at music theory.. I have a song consisting of single notes, and I want to convert it into a heavier song (using power chords instead of single notes), but the notes are spread over the 4 first strings.. So how could I convert it into a heavier song with powerchords, where it's basically the same melody???

(I know the key of each single note, but as they're spread over different strings I don't know how to convert them to a more "rock" driven powerchord melody)

Like for example this melody line:

G G B D D D B D
e|---------------------------|
B|----------3--3-3-----3----|
G|--0-0--4----------4-------|
D|---------------------------|
A|---------------------------|
E|---------------------------|
Click to expand...
If I understand you right?
e|------------5-5-5-----5----|
B|--3-3--7--3--3-3-7---3----|
G|--0-0--4----------4-------|
D|---------------------------|
A|---------------------------|
E|---------------------------|
 
Re: How to convert single notes to power chords???

No, I think you have misunderstood me..

For example the first is
GGBDDDGD
|------------------|
|------------------|
|-----4-7-7-7-4-7-|
|-5-5-4-5-5-7-4-7-|
|-5-5-2-7-7-5-2-5-|
|-3-3--------------|

And then comes the one I'm having problems with next:
GGBAADAB (and as you can see, I am missing the last B, because I can't find a powerchord sounding like the open b string)
|----------------|
|----------------|
|-----4-2-2-7-2-|
|-5-5-4-2-2-7-2-|
|-5-5-2-0-0-5-0-|
|-3-3------------|
 
Re: How to convert single notes to power chords???

Sune said:
(and as you can see, I am missing the last B, because I can't find a powerchord sounding like the open b string)
Click to expand...
then why not just play open b for the last note?
 
Re: How to convert single notes to power chords???

Have you tried it?? I don't think it sounds quite right ;)
 
Re: How to convert single notes to power chords???

Sune said:
Have you tried it?? I don't think it sounds quite right ;)
Click to expand...
slight boost to the b note (or just pick it alot more agressively)
usually i try to mix it up with chords and single-notes on the lower (gererally G-E) strings
 
Re: How to convert single notes to power chords???

Code: 
G|-------4-7--7-7--4--7----|
D|--5-5--4-7--7-7--4--7----|
A|--5-5--2-5--5-5--2--5----|
E|--3-3--------------------|
but this was already written...
 
Last edited:
Re: How to convert single notes to power chords???

Why power chord it up? That whole melody is in the key of G! Straight eighths in G! (Can you tell I'm old-school???) That would be requre two guitars however...
 
Re: How to convert single notes to power chords???

Marcel said:
Code: 
G|-------4-7--7-7--4--7----|
D|--5-5--4-7--7-7--4--7----|
A|--5-5--2-5--5-5--2--5----|
E|--3-3--------------------|
but this was already written...
Click to expand...


So.......???
 
Re: How to convert single notes to power chords???

Aceman said:
Why power chord it up? That whole melody is in the key of G! Straight eighths in G! (Can you tell I'm old-school???) That would be requre two guitars however...
Click to expand...

Because I wanted to make it more of a rock/metal rythm.
 
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