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sounds really great, matt.
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08-26-2018 08:37 PM
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Originally Posted by matt.guitarteacher
As far as talking about process goes, I did that on one of the early ones. I'm not really clear on what people want to hear in term of analysis and description. I talked about generally what I'm trying to do aesthetically.
Basically, I think in terms of keeping flow going, having a way back to the head, and incorporating devices like walking bass lines, contrary motion, and mixing up open vs close voicings, harmony in fourth vs thirds dissonance and resolution, and leaving myself open to whatever voicing sounds OK and in reach.
The actual harmonic analysis of what any of us is doing kind speaks for itself, so I didn't talk about that. TL;DR: I have a fairly limited palette of things I can actually execute, so I focus on getting the most out of it. I don't know if anyone finds this kind description interesting or helpful (and there wasn't much response to it), so I figured that was that.
John
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cool breakdown.
To me, this forum can be an uncomfortable place to post instructional stuff because of weird dynamic. when i used to teach privately it’s like “i’m the teacher, you’re the student.” Here, there’s tons of players my level or better. So it’s like who am i even talking to? I know there are lurkers who read and appreciate the stuff, but they generally don’t engage.
I like sharing when someone asks a question because it means they liked my playing, but also that i am talking to a person and not just putting it out there in case someone finds it useful.
I also feel vulnerable to embarrassment, so the benefit (maybe someone somewhere will find it useful) vs. risk (someone is going to embarrass me or engage in a debate which we all know is just chest beating) usually doesn’t lead to me posting un-asked for vids (anymore).
In fact i had hours worth of edu material for beginners that i went back and made private over time
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Originally Posted by joe2758
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yeah it’s probably just my own issue carry on
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Originally Posted by lawson-stoneOriginally Posted by joe2758
Of course, by "you", I mean "one", not Joe.
Anyway, I also fully understand that for a great many people music isn't something which is easily quantifiable or described. I think that's for the particular nerd-type of which I am victim personally. I just think that if I can save any time for the Matt- of- six- years ago who may be reading, it might be worth sharing.
Chord melody really IS pretty unique in one sense: from what I gather, everyone's approach is pretty unique. I'm curious about any insights into other's, even IF it's not something I'm going to be able to personally use immediately.
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I see what you mean. I do like talking about the stuff, i’m just self conscious. I’ll do one next time since I know at least you guys here will watch and respect even if i’m wrong haha.
Incidently, Matt, counterpoint is essentially my end goal (pretty why mine are 100% arranged), and my approach is entirely based on block chords and scales. The block chords are places to land and places that feel solid along the way, if that makes sense
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what i mean is i could never just write 4 voice counterpoint, its just various voices moving between block chords
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Originally Posted by joe2758
Personally, I find it intimidating enough just to post something. I don't know if there is even anyone who might learn something from what I might say, but I guess I can just put it out there and let it be its own thing.
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what’s the next tune? anyone want to do darn that dream ir east of the sun? maybe polka dots? nothing too exciting but theyve been on my list for a while
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Originally Posted by joe2758
John
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I would do nearness of you also. We could just stick to the poll and do that. Is there one after that?
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Originally Posted by joe2758
John
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Originally Posted by John A.
As far as sharing here, I figured it would grow into whatever the group wanted it to be. I also figured people would share in whatever ways they wanted.
Personally I was hoping people would sometimes describe their thinking in selecting certain voicings, tempo, etc. To a large extent I think that has actually happened.
Anyway, I'm glad there are people wanting to keep this alive! The Nearness of You was the last song of the poll, so if we go past that one, we'll need a new poll I suppose. Any suggestions?
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just the few i mentioned above, i'd also add round midnight
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Originally Posted by joe2758
A Foggy Day
Almost Like Being in Love
My Romance
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i'd be into cherokee for up tempo
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Cherokee''s a good one for uptempo solo guitar, because the melodic rhythm is slow.
But I'll surely get back in this month, Nearness is one of my absolute favorite tunes..
I still need to go back and do Emily...just got busy dadding this summer.
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Originally Posted by matt.guitarteacher
I've been sort of overwhelmed at work and have not been able to concentrate on these threads like I'd really like to be doing. I would say your discussion though is right on the money of expressing how you go about it. As was said, everyone has a different approach.
I think I use a lot of the same ideas as you. You're are able to express them much better in a technical sense. Your discussion early on about block chords is right on. One thing I think to do is to act like I'm accompanying a singer by trying to play something underneath the melody, but then visualizing what I would do in between the melody lines. There's a lot of space in a melody to add custom touches that make an arrangement unique to each player. I believe you do a really good job in that area.
Paul
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Paul. Thanks for the comments and kind words. Glad to hear there's someone else who thinks somewhat similarly. I just never hear anyone talk about it that way. The end result for me is so un-block-chord style to my ears, that I'm always kind of in awe of the illusion of independence that it creates. Of course so many people talk aboutactually thinking about it THAT way , that I thought it was worth mentioning as a different viewpoint.
Anyway, I honestly can hear that common rhythmic focus in your style as well. I'm prejudiced for obvious reasons, but it's still worth saying: I really like it. :-)
Thanks again.Originally Posted by PaulW10
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Originally Posted by matt.guitarteacher
You're able to flow from chord to chord smoothly and don't seem to fall into that, Matt. That's especially evident in your uptempo version here.
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Originally Posted by PaulW10
... only half joking. A good percent of the time, my voicing choices are based on what chords I can actually move in and out of while keeping up with the melody, and sometimes the best I can do is single line, or an interval. Necessity is the mother of reharmonization.
John
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Originally Posted by PaulW10
Beyond that, the harmonic rhythm itself is great for manipulating the space in between things, giving you more room to fill in, more space think. So, the doubletime at the end accomplishes two things at once: it gives a rhythmic context which sounds slightly more complex, while at the same time giving a lot more real estate and "room to work". Paradoxically, it sounds more complex while actually being easier to play in a lot of ways. 8 eighth notes per measure versus 12 eighths note triplets per measure, vs 16 double time eighth notes poorer measure etc etc. More subdivisions = more space. basically, I just don't have enough mental space to work if I'm not coming from ax subdivision standpoint of at least a kind of 12/8 feel, with eight note triplets. I'm just not good enough to fill in smaller spaces otherwise. Still learning.
The other thing is the space kind of demands being filled in a way that really sparks creativity with other harmonies etc. The other thing is that they are never one-to- one anyway. When you subdivide smaller, you don't spread everything out evenly to suit. Usually you're pushing things to one side or another, creating even bigger spaces. Anyway, sorry. Doesn't make sense in text form like that probably.
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Originally Posted by matt.guitarteacher
One trouble spot I've always had reading sheet music was playing notes in the proper time as written. It's never come naturally, so thinking in terms of triplets, etc. does not come naturally to me. However, if I know the song, I am able to hear in my head how a vocalist might phrase it and that helps me a lot I think with the harmonic rhythm.
I've been working to try and leave the entire block chord "at home" and be economical with my fingerings. In fact, I very recently added a nylon string guitar to the arsenal (which I'm loving by the way - a 2017 Taylor 812ce-n. Maybe I'll start a separate thread for that). Hearing your nylon string here Matt as well as others prompted me to search a nylon guitar out. Anyway that guitar sometimes screams to just play a single note line as the melody with no accompaniment, particularly in the upper registers. It's sort of liberating and can relax me some while little playing solo. Big block chords just don't fall under the fingers as easily on that guitar as they do on my archtop, so sometimes that's all I can pull off!
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Originally Posted by PaulW10
Rarely play it these days. I do these things in phases in spurts.Last edited by matt.guitarteacher; 09-07-2018 at 04:40 PM.
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