{"id":4921,"date":"2016-11-08T16:46:17","date_gmt":"2016-11-08T15:46:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/?p=3870"},"modified":"2022-03-23T18:37:46","modified_gmt":"2022-03-23T17:37:46","slug":"chord-melody-guitar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/chord-melody-guitar\/","title":{"rendered":"Chord Melody Made Easy"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"line-height: 160%; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold;\">Chord melody\u00a0is a highly sought after skill by many guitarists, and it&#8217;s easy to see why. Being able to play melody and chords on a single instrument has immense creative possibilities in both trio and solo guitar situations.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>But, if you\u2019ve tried to learn chord melody, it&#8217;s likely you\u2019ve been overwhelmed. There are so many approaches to chord melody that you&#8217;ve probably found yourself scratching your head from information overload<strong>.<\/strong> This is where this lesson comes in.<\/p>\n<p>In this lesson, you\u2019ll learn four essential tricks that you can use to create chord melody arrangements that sound great and are easy on the hands. Let\u2019s get into it!<\/p>\n<span style=\"--tl-form-height-m:555.828px;--tl-form-height-t:361.672px;--tl-form-height-d:361.672px;\" class=\"tl-placeholder-f-type-shortcode_10980 tl-preload-form\"><span><\/span><\/span>\n<h2>This Lesson&#8217;s Video<\/h2>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/2y6WATSl3AA?rel=0\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2>Picking a Chord Melody Tune<\/h2>\n<p>In this lesson you\u2019ll create a chord melody for the standard <em>Back Home Again In Indiana<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>The first step to chord melody arranging is to learn the melody on the <strong>top 2 strings<\/strong>, where possible. This enables you to fit the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/17-essential-jazz-guitar-chords-beginners\/\">chord voicings<\/a> underneath the melody line.<\/p>\n<p>You&#8217;ll probably have to shift the melody up an octave from what&#8217;s written to be able to do this, and you may also need to change the key to suit the range of the guitar.<\/p>\n<p>In the case of <em>Indiana<\/em>, this melody already sits well on the fretboard in the original key of Ab major, but I&#8217;ve shifted it up the octave compared to what you would see on a lead sheet.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s the result &#8211; your first mission is to learn this melody on the top 2 strings.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><i>Backing Track<\/i><br \/>\n<div class=\"waveplayer-container\"><div id=\"waveplayer-82b9fec8aced52960f52da9f0b1ac064-6a531636b0d4d\" class=\"waveplayer loading wvpl-skin-w2-evolution wvpl-palette-800e3a14c86733ad9ccc96fd80850d88 wvpl-style-light wvpl-size-xs wvpl-shape-rounded \" data-limit=\"0\" data-mode=\"normal\" data-config_id=\"82b9fec8aced52960f52da9f0b1ac064\" data-instance_id=\"82b9fec8aced52960f52da9f0b1ac064-6a510b7ec0ea8\">\n\t<div class=\"wvpl-left-box\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/audiobg.png)\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-interface\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-volume-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-info\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-controls\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-prev wvpl-disabled\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-play\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-next wvpl-disabled\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-volume wvpl-volume_up\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-poster\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"wvpl-right-box\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-overlay\">\n\t\t\t<svg>\n\t\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#waveform-animation\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"percentage\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-loading\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-loading-progress\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"message\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-position\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-duration\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-waveform\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-infobar\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-playing-info\"><div class=\"wvpl-infoblock\"><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"wvpl-playlist\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-playlist-wrapper\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><br \/>\n<i>Listen &amp; Play Along<\/i><br \/>\n<div class=\"waveplayer-container\"><div id=\"waveplayer-b088aa91f1934448afaf95fa827127e6-6a531636b1d1c\" class=\"waveplayer loading wvpl-skin-w2-evolution wvpl-palette-800e3a14c86733ad9ccc96fd80850d88 wvpl-style-light wvpl-size-xs wvpl-shape-rounded \" data-limit=\"0\" data-mode=\"normal\" data-config_id=\"b088aa91f1934448afaf95fa827127e6\" data-instance_id=\"b088aa91f1934448afaf95fa827127e6-6a510b7ec2e92\">\n\t<div class=\"wvpl-left-box\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/audiobg.png)\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-interface\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-volume-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-info\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-controls\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-prev wvpl-disabled\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-play\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-next wvpl-disabled\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-volume wvpl-volume_up\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-poster\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"wvpl-right-box\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-overlay\">\n\t\t\t<svg>\n\t\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#waveform-animation\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"percentage\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-loading\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-loading-progress\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"message\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-position\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-duration\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-waveform\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-infobar\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-playing-info\"><div class=\"wvpl-infoblock\"><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"wvpl-playlist\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-playlist-wrapper\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><br \/>\n<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3874 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/chord-melody-1.gif\" alt=\"chord-melody-1\" width=\"720\" height=\"1078\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3873 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/chord-melody-1.2.gif\" alt=\"chord-melody-1-2\" width=\"720\" height=\"1078\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Before you transform this tune into a chord melody, there\u2019s an important point I want to make clear to you right from the outset:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>You don&#8217;t need to add chords to <em>every <\/em>melody note for a chord melody.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>This way of thinking trips up many aspiring chord melody guitarists. They think that an effective chord melody needs to have every melody note harmonized with chords.<\/p>\n<p>Though this is one valid approach to chord melody, it\u2019s an advanced skill requiring extensive knowledge of chords and a high level of technique.<\/p>\n<p><strong>But<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>You can <em>still<\/em> create a great sounding chord melody by adding chords here and there to the melody line &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/joe-pass-jazz-guitar-licks\/\">Joe Pass<\/a>\u2019 chord melodies are a strong example of this.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, this \u2018less-is-more\u2019 approach can actually sound <em>better<\/em> compared to harmonizing every melody note.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Phew<\/strong> &#8211; glad we got that cleared up.<\/p>\n<p>Onto the first chord-melody arranging trick\u2026<\/p>\n<h2>Easy Chord Melody Trick #1: 3rds &amp; 7ths [2:07 in the video]<\/h2>\n<p>Lenny Breau was a chord melody genius.<\/p>\n<p>Listen to this track off what many consider his finest album, <em>Live at Bourbon Street<\/em>, to see what I mean:<\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/UpUBDi4nyMQ?rel=0\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><br \/>\nYou might be surprised by how little Lenny is doing with the chords under the melody line.<\/p>\n<p>To put things in context, Lenny\u2019s approach to chord melody was how a pianist would play, with the \u2018right-hand\u2019 playing the melody and the \u2018left-hand\u2019 playing the chords.<\/p>\n<p>Seems easy enough, but there&#8217;s a challenge with this approach on the guitar.<\/p>\n<p>The fretting hand needs to play both the comping and the melody at the same time &#8211; a near-impossible task.<\/p>\n<p>Or\u2026is it?<\/p>\n<p>Lenny&#8217;s solution around this issue was to pare down chords to their most essential tones, thus freeing up more fingers to play melody notes.<\/p>\n<p>If you play only the 3rd and the 7th out of a chord, this is enough to communicate the underlying harmony to the listener:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The <strong>3rd<\/strong> determines if the chord is major or minor.<\/li>\n<li>The <strong>7th<\/strong> determines if the chord is Maj7, dominant 7, or m7.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Even the root can be omitted and the chord will retain the given harmony. This is particularly true in a trio context &#8211; as the bass player is playing the root notes.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>To illustrate this concept, here\u2019s a standard <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/drop-2-chords\/\">drop 2<\/a> CMaj7 chord:<\/p>\n<p><i>Listen &amp; Play Along<\/i><br \/>\n<div class=\"waveplayer-container\"><div id=\"waveplayer-f89fdb9de22d4f80dee9054e8d84d424-6a531636b2907\" class=\"waveplayer loading wvpl-skin-w2-evolution wvpl-palette-800e3a14c86733ad9ccc96fd80850d88 wvpl-style-light wvpl-size-xs wvpl-shape-rounded \" data-limit=\"0\" data-mode=\"normal\" data-config_id=\"f89fdb9de22d4f80dee9054e8d84d424\" data-instance_id=\"f89fdb9de22d4f80dee9054e8d84d424-6a510b7ec3cba\">\n\t<div class=\"wvpl-left-box\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/audiobg.png)\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-interface\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-volume-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-info\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-controls\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-prev wvpl-disabled\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-play\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-next wvpl-disabled\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-volume wvpl-volume_up\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-poster\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"wvpl-right-box\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-overlay\">\n\t\t\t<svg>\n\t\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#waveform-animation\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"percentage\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-loading\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-loading-progress\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"message\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-position\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-duration\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-waveform\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-infobar\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-playing-info\"><div class=\"wvpl-infoblock\"><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"wvpl-playlist\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-playlist-wrapper\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3875 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/chord-melody-2.png\" alt=\"chord-melody-2\" width=\"404\" height=\"363\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>If you take away all the notes except the 3rd and the 7th, you get this shape:<\/p>\n<p><i>Listen &amp; Play Along<\/i><br \/>\n<div class=\"waveplayer-container\"><div id=\"waveplayer-d90613b87cb32da89936ad1ef469dfec-6a531636b34d0\" class=\"waveplayer loading wvpl-skin-w2-evolution wvpl-palette-800e3a14c86733ad9ccc96fd80850d88 wvpl-style-light wvpl-size-xs wvpl-shape-rounded \" data-limit=\"0\" data-mode=\"normal\" data-config_id=\"d90613b87cb32da89936ad1ef469dfec\" data-instance_id=\"d90613b87cb32da89936ad1ef469dfec-6a510b7ec4add\">\n\t<div class=\"wvpl-left-box\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/audiobg.png)\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-interface\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-volume-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-info\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-controls\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-prev wvpl-disabled\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-play\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-next wvpl-disabled\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-volume wvpl-volume_up\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-poster\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"wvpl-right-box\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-overlay\">\n\t\t\t<svg>\n\t\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#waveform-animation\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"percentage\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-loading\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-loading-progress\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"message\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-position\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-duration\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-waveform\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-infobar\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-playing-info\"><div class=\"wvpl-infoblock\"><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"wvpl-playlist\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-playlist-wrapper\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3925 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/chord-melody-3.1.png\" alt=\"chord-melody-3-1\" width=\"341\" height=\"322\" \/><\/p>\n<p>You may think I\u2019m crazy suggesting that this sounds enough like a CMaj7 to work in a chord melody.<\/p>\n<p>Before you hit the back button on your browser, play the following exercises, and you&#8217;ll see what I mean.<\/p>\n<p>Here, you\u2019ll play the 3rd and 7th for each chord in a C <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/20-ways-to-play-ii-v-i-vi-chord-progressions\/\">major ii &#8211; V &#8211; I progression<\/a>. Play this along with the backing track provided.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><i>Backing Track<\/i><br \/>\n<div class=\"waveplayer-container\"><div id=\"waveplayer-9157b90b0770deaf95dd8908a5108d93-6a531636b40a0\" class=\"waveplayer loading wvpl-skin-w2-evolution wvpl-palette-800e3a14c86733ad9ccc96fd80850d88 wvpl-style-light wvpl-size-xs wvpl-shape-rounded \" data-limit=\"0\" data-mode=\"normal\" data-config_id=\"9157b90b0770deaf95dd8908a5108d93\" data-instance_id=\"9157b90b0770deaf95dd8908a5108d93-6a510b7ec5867\">\n\t<div class=\"wvpl-left-box\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/audiobg.png)\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-interface\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-volume-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-info\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-controls\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-prev wvpl-disabled\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-play\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-next wvpl-disabled\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-volume wvpl-volume_up\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-poster\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"wvpl-right-box\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-overlay\">\n\t\t\t<svg>\n\t\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#waveform-animation\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"percentage\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-loading\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-loading-progress\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"message\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-position\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-duration\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-waveform\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-infobar\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-playing-info\"><div class=\"wvpl-infoblock\"><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"wvpl-playlist\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-playlist-wrapper\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><br \/>\n<i>Listen &amp; Play Along<\/i><br \/>\n<div class=\"waveplayer-container\"><div id=\"waveplayer-4a038b9a3891599fd9c19ab3db6120fb-6a531636b4c62\" class=\"waveplayer loading wvpl-skin-w2-evolution wvpl-palette-800e3a14c86733ad9ccc96fd80850d88 wvpl-style-light wvpl-size-xs wvpl-shape-rounded \" data-limit=\"0\" data-mode=\"normal\" data-config_id=\"4a038b9a3891599fd9c19ab3db6120fb\" data-instance_id=\"4a038b9a3891599fd9c19ab3db6120fb-6a510b7ec65bb\">\n\t<div class=\"wvpl-left-box\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/audiobg.png)\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-interface\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-volume-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-info\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-controls\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-prev wvpl-disabled\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-play\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-next wvpl-disabled\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-volume wvpl-volume_up\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-poster\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"wvpl-right-box\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-overlay\">\n\t\t\t<svg>\n\t\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#waveform-animation\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"percentage\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-loading\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-loading-progress\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"message\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-position\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-duration\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-waveform\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-infobar\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-playing-info\"><div class=\"wvpl-infoblock\"><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"wvpl-playlist\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-playlist-wrapper\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3877 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/chord-melody-4.gif\" alt=\"chord-melody-4\" width=\"720\" height=\"1062\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>As you can hear, the 3rd &amp; 7th voicings convey the underlying harmony perfectly in this trio context.<\/p>\n<p>Now, practice the same exercise, but this time over a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/understanding-the-minor-ii-v-i-progression\/\">minor ii &#8211; V &#8211; i progression<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><i>Backing Track<\/i><br \/>\n<div class=\"waveplayer-container\"><div id=\"waveplayer-0353377274171197f5c73833ab414722-6a531636b5839\" class=\"waveplayer loading wvpl-skin-w2-evolution wvpl-palette-800e3a14c86733ad9ccc96fd80850d88 wvpl-style-light wvpl-size-xs wvpl-shape-rounded \" data-limit=\"0\" data-mode=\"normal\" data-config_id=\"0353377274171197f5c73833ab414722\" data-instance_id=\"0353377274171197f5c73833ab414722-6a510b7ec732c\">\n\t<div class=\"wvpl-left-box\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/audiobg.png)\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-interface\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-volume-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-info\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-controls\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-prev wvpl-disabled\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-play\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-next wvpl-disabled\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-volume wvpl-volume_up\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-poster\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"wvpl-right-box\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-overlay\">\n\t\t\t<svg>\n\t\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#waveform-animation\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"percentage\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-loading\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-loading-progress\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"message\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-position\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-duration\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-waveform\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-infobar\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-playing-info\"><div class=\"wvpl-infoblock\"><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"wvpl-playlist\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-playlist-wrapper\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><br \/>\n<i>Listen &amp; Play Along<\/i><br \/>\n<div class=\"waveplayer-container\"><div id=\"waveplayer-060d79c4624f0c21f76c2ff693a4ea68-6a531636b6400\" class=\"waveplayer loading wvpl-skin-w2-evolution wvpl-palette-800e3a14c86733ad9ccc96fd80850d88 wvpl-style-light wvpl-size-xs wvpl-shape-rounded \" data-limit=\"0\" data-mode=\"normal\" data-config_id=\"060d79c4624f0c21f76c2ff693a4ea68\" data-instance_id=\"060d79c4624f0c21f76c2ff693a4ea68-6a510b7ec808e\">\n\t<div class=\"wvpl-left-box\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/audiobg.png)\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-interface\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-volume-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-info\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-controls\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-prev wvpl-disabled\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-play\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-next wvpl-disabled\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-volume wvpl-volume_up\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-poster\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"wvpl-right-box\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-overlay\">\n\t\t\t<svg>\n\t\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#waveform-animation\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"percentage\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-loading\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-loading-progress\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"message\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-position\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-duration\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-waveform\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-infobar\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-playing-info\"><div class=\"wvpl-infoblock\"><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"wvpl-playlist\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-playlist-wrapper\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3878 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/chord-melody-5.gif\" alt=\"chord-melody-5\" width=\"720\" height=\"1062\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>As was mentioned above, 3rd &amp; 7th voicings are effective with chord melodies because you only need two notes for each chord, leaving more fingers available to play the melody.<\/p>\n<p>The result? Chord melody playing becomes much easier.<\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s the first half of <em>Indiana<\/em>, with 3rd &amp; 7th voicings added underneath the melody line.<\/p>\n<p>Right away you have a cool-sounding chord-melody arrangement<strong>,<\/strong> without any further work needed.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><i>Listen &amp; Play Along<\/i><br \/>\n<div class=\"waveplayer-container\"><div id=\"waveplayer-64ecd74d2ec2af59bc1977f60339a38a-6a531636b6fd6\" class=\"waveplayer loading wvpl-skin-w2-evolution wvpl-palette-800e3a14c86733ad9ccc96fd80850d88 wvpl-style-light wvpl-size-xs wvpl-shape-rounded \" data-limit=\"0\" data-mode=\"normal\" data-config_id=\"64ecd74d2ec2af59bc1977f60339a38a\" data-instance_id=\"64ecd74d2ec2af59bc1977f60339a38a-6a510b7ec8ddb\">\n\t<div class=\"wvpl-left-box\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/audiobg.png)\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-interface\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-volume-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-info\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-controls\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-prev wvpl-disabled\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-play\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-next wvpl-disabled\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-volume wvpl-volume_up\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-poster\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"wvpl-right-box\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-overlay\">\n\t\t\t<svg>\n\t\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#waveform-animation\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"percentage\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-loading\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-loading-progress\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"message\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-position\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-duration\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-waveform\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-infobar\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-playing-info\"><div class=\"wvpl-infoblock\"><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"wvpl-playlist\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-playlist-wrapper\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3879 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/chord-melody-6.gif\" alt=\"chord-melody-6\" width=\"720\" height=\"1078\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Did you notice how some melody notes have only one note added underneath, rather than two?<\/p>\n<p>In those instances, the 3rd or 7th was already in the melody, so there\u2019s no need to double up on a 3rd or 7th if it\u2019s already there.<\/p>\n<p>Also, notice that because these chord shapes are easy to play, you can quickly move between voicings while holding a sustained melody note &#8211; a neat effect.<\/p>\n<p>Although the 3rd &amp; 7th voicing trick is a complete chord melody approach in itself, it might start to sound a bit samey after a while.<\/p>\n<p>So, let&#8217;s delve into more easy chord melody techniques that bring variety to this arrangement.<\/p>\n<h2>Easy Chord Melody Trick #2: Quartal Voicings [5:02 in the video]<\/h2>\n<p>While diatonic harmony is built by stacking thirds, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/quartal-chords-harmony-voicings-for-guitar\/\">quartal harmony<\/a> is built by stacking fourths.<\/p>\n<p>The 6\/9 shapes pictured here are examples of quartal voicings.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><i>Listen &amp; Play Along<\/i><br \/>\n<div class=\"waveplayer-container\"><div id=\"waveplayer-4d26230aad8121653da07bc871d3a9fd-6a531636b7b90\" class=\"waveplayer loading wvpl-skin-w2-evolution wvpl-palette-800e3a14c86733ad9ccc96fd80850d88 wvpl-style-light wvpl-size-xs wvpl-shape-rounded \" data-limit=\"0\" data-mode=\"normal\" data-config_id=\"4d26230aad8121653da07bc871d3a9fd\" data-instance_id=\"4d26230aad8121653da07bc871d3a9fd-6a510b7ec9b6c\">\n\t<div class=\"wvpl-left-box\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/audiobg.png)\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-interface\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-volume-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-info\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-controls\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-prev wvpl-disabled\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-play\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-next wvpl-disabled\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-volume wvpl-volume_up\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-poster\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"wvpl-right-box\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-overlay\">\n\t\t\t<svg>\n\t\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#waveform-animation\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"percentage\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-loading\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-loading-progress\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"message\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-position\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-duration\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-waveform\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-infobar\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-playing-info\"><div class=\"wvpl-infoblock\"><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"wvpl-playlist\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-playlist-wrapper\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3880 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/chord-melody-7.png\" alt=\"chord-melody-7\" width=\"699\" height=\"321\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Quartal voicings are often tonally ambiguous &#8211; they have an open sound that can imply a wide range of harmony.<\/p>\n<p>Ironically, this makes them useful for chord melody arranging.<\/p>\n<p>Although they\u2019re not \u2018textbook correct\u2019 in outlining the harmony of a given chord, they imply the harmony enough to make sense to the listener.<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019re also easy to play, as 5 out of 6 strings are tuned in fourths.<\/p>\n<p>Generally, quartal voicings are effective if they\u2019re harmonizing the root or fifth of Maj7 or 7 chords.<\/p>\n<p>But, there are many other possibilities with quartal voicings, so experiment and see what you come up with.<\/p>\n<p>As an example, here&#8217;s how you could arrange an excerpt of <em>Indiana<\/em> with quartal voicings:<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><i>Listen &amp; Play Along<\/i><br \/>\n<div class=\"waveplayer-container\"><div id=\"waveplayer-ed02f584227462c01f9fe075cce72d27-6a531636b8782\" class=\"waveplayer loading wvpl-skin-w2-evolution wvpl-palette-800e3a14c86733ad9ccc96fd80850d88 wvpl-style-light wvpl-size-xs wvpl-shape-rounded \" data-limit=\"0\" data-mode=\"normal\" data-config_id=\"ed02f584227462c01f9fe075cce72d27\" data-instance_id=\"ed02f584227462c01f9fe075cce72d27-6a510b7eca8a3\">\n\t<div class=\"wvpl-left-box\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/audiobg.png)\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-interface\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-volume-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-info\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-controls\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-prev wvpl-disabled\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-play\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-next wvpl-disabled\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-volume wvpl-volume_up\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-poster\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"wvpl-right-box\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-overlay\">\n\t\t\t<svg>\n\t\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#waveform-animation\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"percentage\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-loading\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-loading-progress\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"message\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-position\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-duration\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-waveform\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-infobar\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-playing-info\"><div class=\"wvpl-infoblock\"><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"wvpl-playlist\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-playlist-wrapper\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3881 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/chord-melody-8.gif\" alt=\"chord-melody-8\" width=\"720\" height=\"458\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Compare the sound of these voicings to the 3rd &amp; 7th voicings from earlier.<\/p>\n<p>Although you may not use quartal voicings for every chord, they\u2019re a solid choice to create variety while keeping things easy on the hands.<\/p>\n<h2>Easy Chord Melody Trick 3: Approach Chords [7:46 in the video]<\/h2>\n<p>If you have half-step approach notes in the melody (notes one fret above or below another melody note), <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/chromaticism-how-to-add-chromatic-notes\/\">chromatic\u00a0approach<\/a> chords are an excellent choice.<\/p>\n<p>To keep things simple, chromatic approach chords will be referred to as approach chords in the text below.<\/p>\n<p>An approach chord is where you play the same voicing of the target chord one fret away.<\/p>\n<p>In the next example, I\u2019ve harmonized a section of <em>Indiana<\/em> with 3rd &amp; 7th voicings but I\u2019ve noted a few <span style=\"color: red;\"><strong>half-step approach notes<\/strong><\/span> in the melody.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><i>Listen &amp; Play Along<\/i><br \/>\n<div class=\"waveplayer-container\"><div id=\"waveplayer-03cab7f2ca179c9141451329728fcccc-6a531636b93d1\" class=\"waveplayer loading wvpl-skin-w2-evolution wvpl-palette-800e3a14c86733ad9ccc96fd80850d88 wvpl-style-light wvpl-size-xs wvpl-shape-rounded \" data-limit=\"0\" data-mode=\"normal\" data-config_id=\"03cab7f2ca179c9141451329728fcccc\" data-instance_id=\"03cab7f2ca179c9141451329728fcccc-6a510b7ecb5e4\">\n\t<div class=\"wvpl-left-box\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/audiobg.png)\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-interface\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-volume-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-info\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-controls\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-prev wvpl-disabled\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-play\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-next wvpl-disabled\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-volume wvpl-volume_up\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-poster\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"wvpl-right-box\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-overlay\">\n\t\t\t<svg>\n\t\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#waveform-animation\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"percentage\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-loading\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-loading-progress\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"message\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-position\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-duration\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-waveform\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-infobar\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-playing-info\"><div class=\"wvpl-infoblock\"><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"wvpl-playlist\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-playlist-wrapper\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3882 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/chord-melody-8a.gif\" alt=\"chord-melody-8a\" width=\"720\" height=\"516\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Adding approach chords to these notes produces the following voicings:<\/p>\n<p><i>Listen &amp; Play Along<\/i><br \/>\n<div class=\"waveplayer-container\"><div id=\"waveplayer-981f4f57d03a4485be1d6f4212a3dfc5-6a531636ba044\" class=\"waveplayer loading wvpl-skin-w2-evolution wvpl-palette-800e3a14c86733ad9ccc96fd80850d88 wvpl-style-light wvpl-size-xs wvpl-shape-rounded \" data-limit=\"0\" data-mode=\"normal\" data-config_id=\"981f4f57d03a4485be1d6f4212a3dfc5\" data-instance_id=\"981f4f57d03a4485be1d6f4212a3dfc5-6a510b7ecc32b\">\n\t<div class=\"wvpl-left-box\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/audiobg.png)\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-interface\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-volume-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-info\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-controls\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-prev wvpl-disabled\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-play\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-next wvpl-disabled\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-volume wvpl-volume_up\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-poster\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"wvpl-right-box\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-overlay\">\n\t\t\t<svg>\n\t\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#waveform-animation\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"percentage\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-loading\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-loading-progress\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"message\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-position\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-duration\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-waveform\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-infobar\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-playing-info\"><div class=\"wvpl-infoblock\"><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"wvpl-playlist\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-playlist-wrapper\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3883 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/chord-melody-9.gif\" alt=\"chord-melody-9\" width=\"720\" height=\"516\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The three tricks you\u2019ve covered so far enable you to arrange any <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/category\/jazz-standards\/\">jazz standard<\/a> into a workable chord melody.<\/p>\n<p>Something that\u2019s missing, though, is tension in the arrangement. I have a solution for this &#8211; read on for the final trick&#8230;<\/p>\n<h2>Easy Chord Melody Trick 4: Dim7 Chords [10:06 in the video]<\/h2>\n<p>Similar to quartal voicings, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/diminished-chords\/\">dim7 chords<\/a> imply many possible harmonies with one shape.<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019re also easy for the fretting hand to grab &#8211; bonus!<\/p>\n<p>Dim7 chords have many potential uses for chord melody, but the main one you\u2019ll focus on here is using them to add tension to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/dominant-chords\/\">dominant 7th chords<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s how to play dim7 voicings on the top two string sets.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><i>Listen &amp; Play Along<\/i><br \/>\n<div class=\"waveplayer-container\"><div id=\"waveplayer-5a1d8fbfdb6939e897d50a5e89b39df9-6a531636bacd1\" class=\"waveplayer loading wvpl-skin-w2-evolution wvpl-palette-800e3a14c86733ad9ccc96fd80850d88 wvpl-style-light wvpl-size-xs wvpl-shape-rounded \" data-limit=\"0\" data-mode=\"normal\" data-config_id=\"5a1d8fbfdb6939e897d50a5e89b39df9\" data-instance_id=\"5a1d8fbfdb6939e897d50a5e89b39df9-6a510b7ecd07c\">\n\t<div class=\"wvpl-left-box\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/audiobg.png)\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-interface\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-volume-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-info\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-controls\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-prev wvpl-disabled\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-play\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-next wvpl-disabled\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-volume wvpl-volume_up\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-poster\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"wvpl-right-box\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-overlay\">\n\t\t\t<svg>\n\t\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#waveform-animation\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"percentage\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-loading\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-loading-progress\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"message\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-position\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-duration\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-waveform\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-infobar\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-playing-info\"><div class=\"wvpl-infoblock\"><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"wvpl-playlist\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-playlist-wrapper\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3884 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/chord-melody-10.png\" alt=\"chord-melody-10\" width=\"702\" height=\"318\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>I now present you with one of chord melody&#8217;s \u2018golden rules\u2019<strong>:<\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>If the melody note is a b9, 3, 5, or b7 of a dominant 7th chord, you can use a dim7 chord shape with the melody as the highest note in the chord.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>This sounds a 7b9 chord.<\/p>\n<p>For example, if you have a bar of F7 with an A in the melody, since A is a 3rd of F7, you use a dim7 shape with A as the highest note<strong>.<\/strong> This sounds as an F7b9.<\/p>\n<p>Check out the example below where there\u2019s a dim7 chord over F7, and a few other bars as well.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><i>Listen &amp; Play Along<\/i><br \/>\n<div class=\"waveplayer-container\"><div id=\"waveplayer-ce0edf1fcd93016bd0f02a48d17012d6-6a531636bb959\" class=\"waveplayer loading wvpl-skin-w2-evolution wvpl-palette-800e3a14c86733ad9ccc96fd80850d88 wvpl-style-light wvpl-size-xs wvpl-shape-rounded \" data-limit=\"0\" data-mode=\"normal\" data-config_id=\"ce0edf1fcd93016bd0f02a48d17012d6\" data-instance_id=\"ce0edf1fcd93016bd0f02a48d17012d6-6a510b7ecddab\">\n\t<div class=\"wvpl-left-box\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/audiobg.png)\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-interface\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-volume-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-info\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-controls\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-prev wvpl-disabled\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-play\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-next wvpl-disabled\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-volume wvpl-volume_up\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-poster\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"wvpl-right-box\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-overlay\">\n\t\t\t<svg>\n\t\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#waveform-animation\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"percentage\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-loading\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-loading-progress\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"message\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-position\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-duration\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-waveform\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-infobar\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-playing-info\"><div class=\"wvpl-infoblock\"><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"wvpl-playlist\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-playlist-wrapper\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3885 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/chord-melody-11.gif\" alt=\"chord-melody-11\" width=\"720\" height=\"472\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Now that you have your four ingredients, let\u2019s mix them together&#8230;<\/p>\n<h2>Back Home Again In Indiana Chord Melody [13:00 in the video]<\/h2>\n<p>The following arrangement of <em>Indiana<\/em> demonstrates all the techniques covered throughout this lesson in combination.<\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;ve made notes on the score to make it easy to see each trick:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>37<\/strong> = 3rd &amp; 7th voicing<\/li>\n<li><strong>Q<\/strong> = Quartal voicing<\/li>\n<li><strong>Chr<\/strong> = Chromatic approach chord<\/li>\n<li><strong>dim7<\/strong> = Diminished 7 voicing<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><i>Backing Track<\/i><br \/>\n<div class=\"waveplayer-container\"><div id=\"waveplayer-14ad952f81666cefe4126b4b12e36a18-6a531636bc570\" class=\"waveplayer loading wvpl-skin-w2-evolution wvpl-palette-800e3a14c86733ad9ccc96fd80850d88 wvpl-style-light wvpl-size-xs wvpl-shape-rounded \" data-limit=\"0\" data-mode=\"normal\" data-config_id=\"14ad952f81666cefe4126b4b12e36a18\" data-instance_id=\"14ad952f81666cefe4126b4b12e36a18-6a510b7ecead2\">\n\t<div class=\"wvpl-left-box\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/audiobg.png)\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-interface\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-volume-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-info\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-controls\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-prev wvpl-disabled\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-play\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-next wvpl-disabled\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-volume wvpl-volume_up\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-poster\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"wvpl-right-box\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-overlay\">\n\t\t\t<svg>\n\t\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#waveform-animation\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"percentage\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-loading\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-loading-progress\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"message\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-position\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-duration\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-waveform\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-infobar\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-playing-info\"><div class=\"wvpl-infoblock\"><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"wvpl-playlist\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-playlist-wrapper\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><br \/>\n<i>Listen &amp; Play Along<\/i><br \/>\n<div class=\"waveplayer-container\"><div id=\"waveplayer-407ce0421d603f4046e57e4d34ac1e41-6a531636bd152\" class=\"waveplayer loading wvpl-skin-w2-evolution wvpl-palette-800e3a14c86733ad9ccc96fd80850d88 wvpl-style-light wvpl-size-xs wvpl-shape-rounded \" data-limit=\"0\" data-mode=\"normal\" data-config_id=\"407ce0421d603f4046e57e4d34ac1e41\" data-instance_id=\"407ce0421d603f4046e57e4d34ac1e41-6a510b7ecf7ff\">\n\t<div class=\"wvpl-left-box\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/audiobg.png)\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-interface\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-volume-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-info\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-controls\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-prev wvpl-disabled\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-play\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-next wvpl-disabled\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-icon wvpl-volume wvpl-volume_up\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-poster\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"wvpl-right-box\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-overlay\">\n\t\t\t<svg>\n\t\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#waveform-animation\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"percentage\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-loading\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-loading-progress\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"message\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-position\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-duration\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-waveform\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-infobar\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-playing-info\"><div class=\"wvpl-infoblock\"><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"wvpl-playlist\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wvpl-playlist-wrapper\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3887 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/chord-melody-12.gif\" alt=\"chord-melody-12\" width=\"720\" height=\"1083\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3886 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/chord-melody-12.1.gif\" alt=\"chord-melody-12-1\" width=\"720\" height=\"1083\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>In the video at <strong>14:49<\/strong>, I demonstrate how you get the arrangement to swing more by increasing the tempo, playing with chord placement, including chromatic approaches and jazzing up the melody line.<\/p>\n<p>Voil\u00e0! With these 4 chord melody tricks, you now have a toolset to arrange any standard into a chord melody, with minimum stress.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/courses\/product\/complete-chord-melody\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-15671 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/chord-melody-jazz-guitar.png\" alt=\"Chord Melody Jazz Guitar Course\" width=\"779\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/chord-melody-jazz-guitar.png 779w, https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/chord-melody-jazz-guitar-300x116.png 300w, https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/chord-melody-jazz-guitar-768x296.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 779px) 100vw, 779px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In this lesson, you will learn 4 easy tips to create a chord melody arrangement of your favorite jazz standard.<\/p>\n<p>Joe Pass, Lenny Breau, and George Benson concepts are covered.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":4585,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[50],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4921","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chord-melody"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4921","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4921"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4921\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4585"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4921"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4921"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4921"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}