Simple Melody Study Group

[sully75]

Hello all,

I'm working on taking the advice of at least a few people (Larry Goldings, Scofield) and working on playing harmonizations of simple melodies. First one is Amazing Grace. I did this arrangement based off the Jazz Duets youtube videos on different harmonizations (you can look them up if you want, there's a few). I didn't really love the Major add 9 chords that he uses, at least on the guitar. But there is a lot of good stuff.

I'd like to have 3 or 4 different harmonizations and then be able to move in and out of them at will. Danny Boy and Shenandoah are the other two I'm thinking of (there's also a Jazz Duets video on Danny Boy).

This is something I've wanted to work on for a while. Here's my first Amazing Grace arrangement. It's a little rough timing wise, I'm still working on the phrasing.

Maybe you want to work on it as well?

My Ted Greenish arrangement
Shared album - Paul McEvoy - Google Photos

[AllanAllen]

Very nice! How did you work out the harmonization?

[sully75]

Very nice! How did you work out the harmonization?

Thanks!

Theft!

I stole a lot of the ideas from here:

I don't really like the "Bb2" sound, at least on the guitar. So I changed a lot of those. But it gave me a framework to try stuff, and the ending bit I think I came up with with my own little brain. I think this is a meaty thing to work on TBH. Somehow like 800x easier than trying to do this on a standard for me even though it's sort of the same thing.

[Mick-7]

In a similar vein, I ran across this: Jazz Arrangements of Public Domain Songs

Shenandoah Lead Sheet

Shenandoah Recording

[sully75]

In a similar vein, I ran across this: Jazz Arrangements of Public Domain Songs

Shenandoah Lead Sheet

Shenandoah Recording

Looks good man, thank you!

[AllanAllen]

Haven’t watched the video yet. Is b2 different than b9?

[sully75]

Haven’t watched the video yet. Is b2 different than b9?

no, like C2 (which I think is a C triad with a D?)

Hard to play and just doesn't sound good to me in this situation on guitar. Sometimes his harmonies are a little...light...for me. But there's tons of good stuff.

[Mick-7]

no, like C2 (which I think is a C triad with a D?)

Hard to play and just doesn't sound good to me in this situation on guitar. Sometimes his harmonies are a little...light...for me. But there's tons of good stuff.

So... BbAdd9?

I often use chords like this:

F Add9 | x-0-3-0-1-x |

[sully75]

So... BbAdd9?

I often use chords like this:

F Add9 | x-0-3-0-1-x |

sure, I just didn't like it in the context. If you can make it work on Amazing Grace in E, let me know. I didn't think it sounded (something*) enough.

*Bluesy, American, Jazzy?

[Mick-7]

I just used it in an arrangement of the Vince Guaraldi (Peanuts) Christmas tune, Christmas Time is Here, beginning of bridge:

[Mick-7]

sure, I just didn't like it in the context. If you can make it work on Amazing Grace in E, let me know. I didn't think it sounded (something*) enough.

*Bluesy, American, Jazzy?

Well, I like the maj. 2nd sound, so in E you'd have voicings like this: | x-x-4-1-0-0 |
,

[AllanAllen]

Thanks!

Theft!

I stole a lot of the ideas from here:

I don't really like the "Bb2" sound, at least on the guitar. So I changed a lot of those. But it gave me a framework to try stuff, and the ending bit I think I came up with with my own little brain. I think this is a meaty thing to work on TBH. Somehow like 800x easier than trying to do this on a standard for me even though it's sort of the same thing.

wow, that’s a beautiful tutorial. I’ve got some work to do

[alltunes]

I really enjoy working on this sort of thing. Bill Frisell being my favorite. Here is my not so sophisticated attempt at Tennessee Waltz from a while back.

[sully75]

wow, that’s a beautiful tutorial. I’ve got some work to do

He also has tutorials on Danny Boy and harmonized scales which are all kind of cool.

[sully75]

I really enjoy working on this sort of thing. Bill Frisell being my favorite. Here is my not so sophisticated attempt at Tennessee Waltz from a while back.

That's what I'm fucking talking about!!!

Cool shit.

[Mick-7]

I have been meaning to delve into Bill Frisell's approach, the Spartacus Love Theme would be a good candidate for this, I'll try to avoid crucifying it.

[Question]

This video is from another related thread about playing a 4-part choral hymn arrangement on the guitar.
I have included the chart that I transferred into treble clef an octave up from the original "In the Bleak Midwinter" score from Gustav Holst.
I have played it pretty close to the original choir arrangement in the chart with a few idiomatic guitaristic things added.

[sully75]

This video is from another related thread about playing a 4-part choral hymn arrangement on the guitar.
I have included the chart that I transferred into treble clef an octave up from the original "In the Bleak Midwinter" score from Gustav Holst.
I have played it pretty close to the original choir arrangement in the chart with a few idiomatic guitaristic things added.

Nice shit!
I used to work on Bach Chorales sometimes.