Just the melody.

[pamosmusic]

I did say that what I described is my "personal challenge," and actually, other than my "no backing track" condition, is in keeping with Mr. B's exercise rule, which was: "The idea is very simple, just play the melody to a tune. Single notes only. Phrase it your way."

Sure, your challenge. But you seem pretty preoccupied with criticizing everyone else’s adherence to the rules, so it comes off as something other than your own.

Just do your thing.

[wzpgsr]

Here's a stab at Autumn Leaves:

[ragman1]

Perfect. That's how to do it. No prob :-)

Jeff, whose thread this is, has never rejected the use of backing tracks. Any suggestion otherwise is untrue.

[John A.]

I did say that what I described is my "personal challenge," and actually, other than my "no backing track" condition, is in keeping with Mr. B's exercise rule, which was: "The idea is very simple, just play the melody to a tune. Single notes only. Phrase it your way."



I think your "play the melody so that its stands on its own" = my "make it sound interesting." We must each be our own judge of whether what we've played meets that standard. Imagining one's recording without a backing track can make it a little clearer.

Type less, play more.

[ragman1]

Unfortunately the idea of using only single notes has been misinterpreted as meaning being played without a backing. Jeff, who started this, has only played one of his tunes so far without a backing track. It can be with or without.

[mr. beaumont]

Holy hell people, just fucking play the melody.

All the other parameters some of you are imposing are fine as personal challenges. Play the melody blindfolded with one finger if you want.

Only parameter i ever put on it was the 30 minutes...hell, ignore that if you want, people clearly are!

[kris]

If I understand it, maybe my language deficiencies are.
It's just about playing melody, not an interpretation of the melody.
Am I wrong?
In the case, I play melodies anyway and I don't have to show that I can.
Good luck and fun.

[ragman1]

This is a nice one.

[Mick-7]

If I understand it, maybe my language deficiencies are. It's just about playing melody, not an interpretation of the melody. Am I wrong?

As Mr. B just suggested, this exercise can be whatever we want it to be, so interpreting a melody is fine. Just don't make it a chord melody.

Unfortunately the idea of using only single notes has been misinterpreted as meaning being played without a backing.

I think I'm the only one who suggested that, it's just my personal choice, encourages me to be more creative.

[kris]

As Mr. B just suggested, this exercise can be whatever we want it to be, so interpreting a melody is fine. Just don't make it a chord melody.



I think I'm the only one who suggested that, it's just my personal choice, encourages me to be more creative.

This is simply a test of whether you are able to play the melody of the theme during, for example, a jam session.
This is very useful.

[Ukena]

Lots and lots of opinions, overwhelming the posted melodies. Mr. Beaumont, I sympathize.

I'm going to try out some tunes with larger intervals, since that is a weakness of mine – playing large intervals I hear, I mean.

Starting with You Go to My Head:

[mr. beaumont]

This is simply a test of whether you are able to play the melody of the theme during, for example, a jam session.
This is very useful.

Yep. Anybody's free to go as far with it as they want. Some melodies are more open to interpretation than others.

[lawson-stone]

Agreed, sounding great Doc Stone.

Thanks guys. Seriously, this thread has been a very productive exercise for me. Back when I was playing regularly in a house rhythm section for a once weekly open jam, I got tangled up when I'd be asked to play the head while the pianist comped. My chord-melody stuff just clashed with the piano and I'd not really navigated the melody all over the fingerboard. So learning these melodies, learning to play in and out of them in different positions, has been super useful to me.

[lawson-stone]

Yeah, I know it's hard to hold yourself back and it's quite difficult to make a simple melody sound interesting without harmonic accompaniment, which is why this exercise is much more challenging than it may seem. Playing a melody really fast can work but then when it's time to solo, the tune you thought you knew becomes a stranger.

Honestly Mick you need to be taking lessons from John and not trying to give him advice. I've tracked with John over a lot of playing-heavy threads, and this guy can play. From what I've heard of you, you could stand to just listen and learn when guys like him play.

[lawson-stone]

The key point in my comment was "to make it sound interesting."

I found it very interesting. So... what's up with you? Post maybe 7 or 8 more melodies, then talk.

[lawson-stone]

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be cryptic. I'm talking: no safety net at all - single line melody only, no backing track. Making that sound interesting is my personal challenge for this exercise.

But Mick, for the umpteenth time, IT'S NOT YOUR THREAD. YOU DIDN'T MAKE THE CHALLENGE. YOU ARE NOT THE REFEREE. You need to m make more music and less noise.

[lawson-stone]

Here's a stab at Autumn Leaves:

One of the great advantages I can see of playing in Bb/Gm as you do is you have two registers in which you can easily play the melody. You low-register melody had a real Jim Hall or Wes Montgomery vibe that I liked a lot.

[pamosmusic]

I just wrapped up my round with Just Squeeze Me. The melody was pretty simple so I reviewed I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face and All or Nothing At All while I was at it.

I was going to do I'm Old Fashioned next, but a student yesterday wanted to work on So Danço Samba, and I've never learned that one before (and also frequently kick myself for not knowing enough Jobim) so that's next. Very cool melody and simple but really fun changes (which is kind of an outlier for Jobim ... his are usually complex and hauntingly beautiful, so there you go).

Played it in C yesterday. It'll be G today, and I'll try to post some of it.

I'll give you three guesses where I'm going to learn it .. lolol jkjk it's Stan Getz obvs (he plays in D)

[John A.]

Here's a stab at Autumn Leaves:

That sounds great, really swinging. The sound itself is also great, which is usually the case with your posts. I'm curious as to your video/recording set-up.

[wzpgsr]

That sounds great, really swinging. The sound itself is also great, which is usually the case with your posts. I'm curious as to your video/recording set-up.

Thanks John. My setup is pretty straight forward. I hang a Sennheiser e906 mic over my amp—in this case an Ampeg Gemini II—centered on the speaker cone. I record the audio in Logic, the video on my phone, and use Logic to sync them. There’s no EQ or compression here, just matching the levels of the guitar with the backing track. Getting a good base tone with the guitar and amp EQ is the most important part.

[John A.]

Thanks John. My setup is pretty straight forward. I hang a Sennheiser e906 mic over my amp—in this case an Ampeg Gemini II—centered on the speaker cone. I record the audio in Logic, the video on my phone, and use Logic to sync them. There’s no EQ or compression here, just matching the levels of the guitar with the backing track. Getting a good base tone with the guitar and amp EQ is the most important part.

Good to know. I have an SM57, and I've never really been happy with the amp recordings I've done with it. Maybe it's time to try the e906.

[alpop]

Good to know. I have an SM57, and I've never really been happy with the amp recordings I've done with it. Maybe it's time to try the e906.

If budget is a consideration, a Behringer B 906 for $35.00 brand new may be worth trying. I bought one on a whim and really like it.

[Mick-7]

This is simply a test of whether you are able to play the melody of the theme during, for example, a jam session. This is very useful.

By "this" you meant what? A backing track?

But Mick, for the umpteenth time, IT'S NOT YOUR THREAD. YOU DIDN'T MAKE THE CHALLENGE. YOU ARE NOT THE REFEREE.

I got the message, the purpose of this exercise is more flexible than I thought.

I hang a Sennheiser e906 mic over my amp

Funny, I was just looking at that mic -- Sennheiser Professional e609 Microphone - Amazon.com

You should be able to find a used one for a lot less $$ on eBay, etc. Oh, I got the number backwards, the 906 is about twice the price of the 609!

[wolflen]

I'm waiting to be Miles Davis.

ahh..Waiting for Godot

[John A.]

If budget is a consideration, a Behringer B 906 for $35.00 brand new may be worth trying. I bought one on a whim and really like it.

Thanks.