An easy approach to play chord melodies and chord solos - EXCELLENT FOR BEGGINERS

[harpwood_gr]

Before we start let's talk about guitar in situations. Situation is the combination of instruments that are going to perform together. Among others situations and combinations we usually meet duos and trios (ok solo situation are for grandmasters like Joe Pass, Lenny Breau, Tuck Address and many more).



Two things greatly affects the role and the freedom of a guitarist.
The second thing that affects the role and the freedom of a guitarist if there is another comping instrument in the situation and we will not go further on this side of the topic (that's why i mention it first).


First and most important, is there a bass player?. Part of bass responsibilities is to play the root and the 5th of the chords. This is an advantage for the guitarist, because he do not have to include the root and the 5th in his voicings and this situations allows him more mobility and dexterity so things seems to be easier. He can also focus to play with 4 middle and 4 higher strings mostly.
Well to summarize and close the guitar situation talk: if you want to keep thing fairly easy, the bass is a prerequisite in the situation!

suggested duo situation : guitar + bass
suggested trio situation : guitar + drums + bass

One of the first things that i had in mind when i was studing my voicings, was to be able to play a sequence of chords that share the following criteria:
a) if played in sequence sound like a "harmonized" scale
b) easy fingerings for dexterous changes
c) use of 3-note and 4-note voicings
d) sacrifition of the root or/and 5th (and even the 3rd) whenever seems fit
d) partly playing voicings constructed in fourth instead of thirds. You can easily access lessons on how this kind of chords can be used and constructed in internet, but at the moment learn them "as is", is sufficient

The chord sequences
dom7 : We start with the F7 at 1st fret to give us a feeling of starting. We have a sequence on 3 middle-lower string and a sequence on 4 higher strings.
minor7: We start with Fm7 at 1st fret to give us a feeling of starting (although we could also start with Bbm7) We have a sequence on 3 middle-lower string and a sequence on 4 higher strings.
maj7: We start with Fmaj7 at 1st fret to give us a feeling of starting. We have a sequence on 3 middle-lower string and a sequence on 4 higher strings.



Check the pdf below, for the voicings sequence and try them with a vamp backing track. Aim for smooth and bold sound. Practice changes in halves, quarters and eighths then try to play some simple chord-riffs.



Remember:
- that your sound must be supported by a bass in order to make sense harmonically into listener ears
-your comping could sound like piano if you use those voicings correctly and nicely

-You can construct some major II-V-Is but (not minor II-V-Is / for more II-V-Is click here) although you should alter the V chord for better results


Good Practice and thank you for you time

[Jazzmusicgr]

I practice the seqs for a while. nice and smooth but...

You should note to readers that the 4rth voicing in seq1 matches with 1st voicing of seq2, the 5th voicing of seq1 matches with 2nd voicing of seq2...etc...

...anyway great stuff. thanx. peace.

[604bourne123]

to have that skill is desired for chord melody .