How to start with chord melodies

[apoandi]

Hi there,

could somebody recommend me some easy chord melodies? I tried to start with

Jazz Guitar Standards: Chord Melody Solos, Book & 2…Amazon.de: Various, Alfred Publishing: Englische Bücher and I tried to do

"As Time Goes By"

It's too difficult for me. Does anybody know a book or something to start with?

Thanks a lot

Andreas

[mr. beaumont]

how is your knowledge of chord inversions? it might be most beneficial to start doing them yourself. get a lead sheet for a simple tune, play the chords to the song, and put the melody note on top. that's a vast oversimplification of the chord melody process, but that is the heart of it in a nutshell.

the problem with a lot of the collections out there is that they are transcriptions of some really great guitar players! but i don't see much use in learning someone else's arrangement note for note anyway. look at the arrangements and play what you can, and try to get an idea of what the player was thinking as they arranged things--not necessarily copying all of their ideas.

the barry galbraith books are solid gold when concerning this type of playing as well, and quite a few of the arrangements aren't too difficult. there's also an arrangement of wes doing "i've grown accustomed to her face" that's out there (made it into one of those guitar mags a year ago or so) that's very accessible.

but really, i say, try your own. i learned more from my first chord melody (misty) than i could have ever learned from copying someone else's arrangement. what took me days to get right the first time i can now knock off in an afternoon--the key is to do it!

[Dookychase]

Andreas, have you tried Robert Conti's stuff. I bought both of his source code books about chord melody.

Very informative. Not overly complicated. He helps you to understand chord movements and chord choices. THese are dvds and well worth the money.

dookychase

[fast1]

if you got a kindle, this might be good.

Amazon.com: Contemporary Eartraining - Level One: A Modern Approach to Help You Hear and Transcribe Melodies, Rhythms, Intervals, Bass Lines and Chord eBook: Mark Harrison: Kindle Store

anyone else here got a kindle or kindle 2?

[apoandi]

Hi there,

Originally Posted by fast1

if you got a kindle, this might be good.

Amazon.com: Contemporary Eartraining - Level One: A Modern Approach to Help You Hear and Transcribe Melodies, Rhythms, Intervals, Bass Lines and Chord eBook: Mark Harrison: Kindle Store

anyone else here got a kindle or kindle 2?

Sorry, but what is a kindle?

[apoandi]

Hello there,

Originally Posted by Dookychase

Andreas, have you tried Robert Conti's stuff. I bought both of his source code books about chord melody.


dookychase

i'll try this out. Thanks a lot

[apoandi]

Hi Mr. Beaumont,

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

how is your knowledge of chord inversions? it might be most beneficial to start doing them yourself. get a lead sheet for a simple tune, play the chords to the song, and put the melody note on top. that's a vast oversimplification of the chord melody process, but that is the heart of it in a nutshell.

I have few knowledge about chord inversions, but I'll figure out how to get along with your proposal as well.

Thanks a lot for your help

[Goofsus4]

100% agree with Mr. B - do it yourself for chord melody is the way to go to expedite true learning and actually getting some music happening. Chord melody is beautiful even when done simply.

But, IMHO you shouldn't even bother with chord melody until you understand the theory of how chords are contructed using musical intervals. Once you understand chord contruction theory, then arranging a chord melody of your own is just as Mr. B said, as simple as taking the melody from a lead sheet, putting it on the top strings, then harmonizing it with intervals from the chords recommend by the lead sheet. You can create a servicable chord melody very quickly that way. Then, when you get that down, then look at those transcriptions you have and incorporate some of those ideas in to your own arrangement.

[Chordwayze]

I dunno what a kindle is either, but I'd guess a 'burning' or a 'yen', to play chord-melody. It's a great kindle though!

And it isn't easy, but it isn't impossible. Start with a melody you know. 'Danny Boy'?
Find the chords. Play them over and over till you know them. Then you will probably hear the melody in there. You can hold the chord shapes and pick out the melody notes with your free fingers!
That's how I started.

Look for Martin Taylor's video on the tube:

YouTube - "Like Someone In Love" Taught by Martin Taylor

This seems difficult, and he talks about some advanced stuff. But he shows you basic techniques at the start.

Good Luck.
John

[Goofsus4]

A Kindle is an electronic reader, i.e. an "e-book." You can buy a book or other electronic downloads from Amazon.com and import it to the Kindle reader.

Amazon.com: Kindle 2: Amazon's New Wireless Reading Device (Latest Generation): Kindle Store

[Ken Cooke]

Hi - does any of the pro's reading this have any quick tips for vertical chord reading?

[mengstrom]

Originally Posted by apoandi

Hi there,

could somebody recommend me some easy chord melodies? I tried to start with

Jazz Guitar Standards: Chord Melody Solos, Book & 2…Amazon.de: Various, Alfred Publishing: Englische Bücher and I tried to do

"As Time Goes By"

It's too difficult for me. Does anybody know a book or something to start with?

Thanks a lot

Andreas

I have Chord Melody Standards (Dan Towey) by Hal Leonard--some tunes fall under the fingers pretty easily (eg. Girl from Ipanema), others not. I thought Stella was OK until I heard Dirk's version on YouTube (watch?v=uqpQNkFxVAU)--easier to play, sounds way better, more like jazz guitar! Agree that you should learn chord theory, but it's nice to "borrow" ideas from others--gets me out of my E half-diminished in a two-fret box rut.

[peterk1]

Just my opinion: That Dan Towey book can be pretty heavy and the tunes are usually quite long. Took me about 3 months of work to learn (and memorise) his All The Things You Are. I don't know if that's typical, but these aren't quickies you can learn in a day or two.

For easy chord-melodies I would:

o recommend subscribing to Just Jazz Guitar magazine. There's usually at least one or two (soemtimes way more) short and easy ones in each issue. You'll get to see a whole bunch of different arrangers this way and will maybe discover one whose work you really like.

o something by Howard Morgan. Usually short and easy, but deceptively tricky too because he uses ringing open strings under changing chords a lot more than most.

o If you don't need to be hand-held into being shown EXACTLY how to play the tune or if you like a little creative freedom, then the Robert Conti arrangements or Chord Melody Assembly Line would be a good fit. He gives you the chord you should use and how to finger it but doesn't tell you precisely how to play it (arppegiate it, play it as a block chord, etc. etc).

[derek]

The easiest CM arrangements out there are by Fred Sokolow.

http://sokolowmusic.com/jazz.htm

From there, the Mel Bay collection with 2 cds worth of arrangements is a great resource, and has 44 tunes arranged by a variety of players.

Jazz Guitar Standards - by Multiple Authors - WMB011BCD | Mel Bay Publications, Inc.

[JohnW400]

o recommend subscribing to Just Jazz Guitar magazine. There's usually at least one or two (soemtimes way more) short and easy ones in each issue. You'll get to see a whole bunch of different arrangers this way and will maybe discover one whose work you really like.

o something by Howard Morgan. Usually short and easy, but deceptively tricky too because he uses ringing open strings under changing chords a lot more than most.



Good idea.

Look at the Van Morretti (?) stuff in JJG. His arrangements are straightforward, not too difficult, and sound good. Howard Morgan has some stuff there now and then, also good , a lot of nice open string voicings to open up your ears.

[Sailor]

Hey John - how is that Satie coming??

Sailor

[JohnW400]

Sailor, It's coming along nicely. Here's where I'm at with it. But it's not finished yet. Unlike most of the stuff I do for this site, I want to live with it for a bit and see how I like it in a few weeks. the Ama7 uses open E. The funky tone cluster for Ema7 also uses open E so don't panic.

I also have to do the tab.

[Sailor]

FAR OUT John!! BUT I'm never going to be able to finger those chords. Maybe the tabs will help.

Can't wait to see final work. This is BIG!

Thanks, Sailor

[guitaroscar]

Originally Posted by Ken Cooke

Hi - does any of the pro's reading this have any quick tips for vertical chord reading?

I find that constant practise is the key. It does take time. If you understand diatonic harmony it will give you a better idea of what to expect is coming up. Of course, reading solos is another thing; Players like Joe Pass seldom stick to diatonic harmony, but after a while you start to get used to the irks and quirks of certain players.
Most of the chord reading I have done live has been big-band charts where some twit has written the chords out in notation. Usually these can be ignored, proved the chord type is written above the notes.

I would start with triads. What helped me a lot was writing my own chord solos. Very soon you get to recognise what chord is what if you are constantly writing them down.
Hope this helps
Cheers
Harry

[Ken Cooke]

Thanks Harry - I'll give the writing out triad thing a turn...Im reading as much variety of material as I can....but man, its awhole different thing to single note lines!

[guelda]

Originally Posted by derek

The easiest CM arrangements out there are by Fred Sokolow.

http://sokolowmusic.com/jazz.htm

I agree, this would be the book I'll advice to begin chord melodies. Each song is played 4 times :

- 1st : easiest chord melody with open strings
- 2nd : a bit harder : with moveable chords (barré and others)
- 3rd : with chord subs and extensions
- 4th : a chord solo not too difficult based on the chord changes of the tune

Tunes are nice (Avalon, My Melancholy Baby, etc.) and he explains precisely what he plays (subs for example).

Even if I already played some home-made CM, it gave me some cool ideas.

peace
Guelda

[Russ Kapp]

I'm right there with Mr. B. Nothing like flying by the seat of your pants on this stuff with some theory to back you up. I thought I had run on to a major discovery when figuring out moveable chord patterns and then realized later I was re-inventing the wheel...the CAGED system. I was using it many years ago to play Celtic tunes instrumentally and then when the jazz bug bit I found it worked great for CM. The system is well documented and explained ( probably here ) and other places on the internet......

[Russ Kapp]

Oh Yes..... on board with Mr. B on the chord inversion basics for C.M. The CAGED technique is essentially one of perhaps several systems for developing chord inversion possibilities to boost the melody to the upper end....not always a perfect fit, grant ya, but worth considering in the tool kit.

[randalljazz]

good place to start:


Amazon.com: Howard Morgen / Concepts: Arranging for Fingerstyle G: Howard Morgen: Books

then:



Amazon.com: Howard Morgen's Solo Guitar: Insights, Arranging Techniques & Classic Jazz Standards: Bill Gerrity: Books

and finally:



Amazon.com: Howard Morgen -- Through Chord Melody and Beyond (Book & Enhanced CD): Morgen, Howard: Books

the master himself:

http://www.howardmorgen.com/http://

[Shmals]

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

how is your knowledge of chord inversions? it might be most beneficial to start doing them yourself. get a lead sheet for a simple tune, play the chords to the song, and put the melody note on top. that's a vast oversimplification of the chord melody process, but that is the heart of it in a nutshell.

but really, i say, try your own. i learned more from my first chord melody (misty) than i could have ever learned from copying someone else's arrangement. what took me days to get right the first time i can now knock off in an afternoon--the key is to do it!

i totally agree with this. misty is a good tune to start with for a moderate challenge. i know it tore me up for a week or so. georgia is really fun and straight-forward.

[nomelite]

I'd like to introduce the excellent brand new video course from Howard Morgen 'Fingerboard Breakthrough' by Truefire..it has been launched last month and it's already a hit in Truefire.
Mr Morgen is not an instructor..he's a sage, a wise man!. see the first sample and you'll love it.
Jazz Guitar Lessons - Fingerboard Breakthrough - Howard Morgen

[franco6719]

Originally Posted by derek

The easiest CM arrangements out there are by Fred Sokolow.

http://sokolowmusic.com/jazz.htm

From there, the Mel Bay collection with 2 cds worth of arrangements is a great resource, and has 44 tunes arranged by a variety of players.

Jazz Guitar Standards - by Multiple Authors - WMB011BCD | Mel Bay Publications, Inc.

I bought this a while back and it's just about at my level. I should get back to it. I can't seem to handle the Barry Galbraith/Ted Greene type of arrangements for some reason. I never out much time into chord-melody. Anyway, my question on this is: do people who have used books like this think it is a good idea to memorize a lot of the arrangements or is that kind of anti-creative. How do you go about learning from it, in other words? Learn a whole tune, pick out some interesting voice-leading, chord forms, or what?

[franco6719]

I can do very basic versions myself, of course, but they don't sound sophisticated and "professional" enough, for lack of a better term.

[blis]

Originally Posted by franco6719

do people who have used books like this think it is a good idea to memorize a lot of the arrangements or is that kind of anti-creative. How do you go about learning from it, in other words? Learn a whole tune, pick out some interesting voice-leading, chord forms, or what?

To begin with I was memorizing as many arrangements as I could. But innevitably I forget them unless I play them regularly.

What I do now is sit down with the arrangement and the lead sheet together and analyse what they've done with it. I look at what substitutions they've used, how they go about carrying the melody and generally try and pick up idea's. I like to look at several different arrangements because then I start to see how many possibilities there are. Then I'll start trying to apply the ideas to a different song.

I tend to stick with one song for a whole month and come up with as many different arrangements as I can. Mine still dont sound as proffesional as I'd like either but they keep getting better and I keep finding new ideas. I still memorize other peoples arrangements but only if I think they're really special.

[apoandi]

Hi,

Originally Posted by guelda

I agree, this would be the book I'll advice to begin chord melodies. Each song is played 4 times :


Even if I already played some home-made CM, it gave me some cool ideas.

peace
Guelda

i' ll try this one. Thanks alot to all of you

Andreas