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  #1  
Old 11-07-2017, 10:34 AM
Jambi Jambi is offline
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Default Wrapping my head around a melody over a busy rhythm

I was hoping someone here had advice or tips for me. I am working on a tune that's a simple melody over a busy rhythm and my brain is getting twisted trying to multitask it. I came up with it by playing back the rhythm on my phone while perfecting the melody, but when I try to play the rhythm and melody at the same time wires get crossed in my brain.

The notes are slightly apart from another but not a full in-between like a fingerpicked song where the rhythm is a steady 4/4... does that make sense lol? I don't want to compromise the rhythm part but I think I may have created something that I'm unable to play?

Any advice? Please ignore if you rolled your eyes during my 1st world problem ha.
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Old 11-07-2017, 11:05 AM
sevargnhoj sevargnhoj is offline
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When I'm trying to separate the rhythm from the melody in a piece I'm learning or composing, I have to have the rhythm part "overlearned" to the point where it would be like singing along to someone else's playing.

I also will record the rhythm part and then work on singing the melody over the recording over and over to learn to be able to separate the parts so one doesn't "bleed" over into the other.

Does that make sense?
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Old 11-07-2017, 11:08 AM
Jambi Jambi is offline
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Yeah, totally. That may be where I'm going wrong, the rhythm part is still quite new. I need to play it into the ground until I can play it without thinking so I can focus on the melody. Thanks, that makes perfect sense.
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Old 11-07-2017, 12:32 PM
cmd612 cmd612 is offline
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The only thing that works for me in that situation is slowing it down. I mean waaay down, like 1/4 regular speed. Then take it one measure at a time.

At that point I don't think of it as multitasking; it's just one complex part that my fingers have to be able to execute by going the right places at the right times.

As I gradually bring it up to full speed, I make sure the dynamics and phrasing are right to make the separate voices of melody and rhythm distinct. But first I have to get it mechanically correct. YMMV, etc.
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Old 11-07-2017, 12:39 PM
Jambi Jambi is offline
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I tried that but I didn't stay dedicated to the concept. I believe I will have to set a metronome and stick to it. Thanks for the advice
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Old 11-07-2017, 12:49 PM
vindibona1 vindibona1 is offline
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Perhaps you need to flip the script. Try recording the melody and then play the rhythm part over and over until your fingers just know where to go. Then after some time continue to play the rhythm with the recorded melody, then wean yourself off the recording.

At a certain point our fingers will take over the complicated guitar stuff and you can almost disengage your brain. In fact I find that when I'm playing well rehearsed stuff if even try to think about it I botch it up. Imagine what a pianist goes through.

Speaking of pianists... Have you tried playing/singing while reading the music with both melody and rhythm written out together? I find that having it like that brings some mental congruity even if it is a little unmusical at first.
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Old 11-07-2017, 12:51 PM
Guitar Slim II Guitar Slim II is offline
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It wasn’t entirely clear from the OP. Are you fingerpicking, flatpicking, or hybrid picking? Do the notes in the melody and bass happen literally simultaneously? Or is it more like a flat picked broken pattern where you go back-and-forth between the groove and the melody?

Different techniques, different styles, different approaches. More details could be helpful.
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Old 11-07-2017, 01:44 PM
Jambi Jambi is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Guitar Slim II View Post
It wasn’t entirely clear from the OP. Are you fingerpicking, flatpicking, or hybrid picking? Do the notes in the melody and bass happen literally simultaneously? Or is it more like a flat picked broken pattern where you go back-and-forth between the groove and the melody?

Different techniques, different styles, different approaches. More details could be helpful.
Fingerpicking.

Rhythm consists of hammer-ons, I believe in what's considered a swing.

The melody does indeed line up with and go in between the rhythm in a traditional way, the melody doesn't quite 'line-up' with the hammer-on portion.
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Old 11-07-2017, 02:04 PM
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Post a video of the specific song you are talking about. Problems and issues vary with the specifics.
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Old 11-07-2017, 03:47 PM
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Post a video of the specific song you are talking about. Problems and issues vary with the specifics.
It's not a cover, I'm writing it.
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Old 11-07-2017, 03:51 PM
Howard Emerson Howard Emerson is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jambi View Post
I was hoping someone here had advice or tips for me. I am working on a tune that's a simple melody over a busy rhythm and my brain is getting twisted trying to multitask it. I came up with it by playing back the rhythm on my phone while perfecting the melody, but when I try to play the rhythm and melody at the same time wires get crossed in my brain.

The notes are slightly apart from another but not a full in-between like a fingerpicked song where the rhythm is a steady 4/4... does that make sense lol? I don't want to compromise the rhythm part but I think I may have created something that I'm unable to play?

Any advice? Please ignore if you rolled your eyes during my 1st world problem ha.
Jambi,
You need to reduce the rhythm part to its essence.

Play the 'bass' part/notes to the groove that you have in your head, and DO NOT go crazy trying be a 'bass player'.

Insinuation, implication, suggestion, etc go a LONG way towards getting the heart of the song beating strongly enough to be able to play the chord/melody over it.

I do that sort of thing all the time.

I only have the finished track to show you, but the guitar you're hearing is just one guitar with a couple of percussion overdubs.

https://soundcloud.com/user-676357162/uh-oh

Hopefully it will inspire you.

Regards,
Howard
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Old 11-07-2017, 03:56 PM
Jambi Jambi is offline
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Originally Posted by Howard Emerson View Post
Jambi,
You need to reduce the rhythm part to its essence.

Play the 'bass' part/notes to the groove that you have in your head, and DO NOT go crazy trying be a 'bass player'.

Insinuation, implication, suggestion, etc go a LONG way towards getting the heart of the song beating strongly enough to be able to play the chord/melody over it.

I do that sort of thing all the time.

I only have the finished track to show you, but the guitar you're hearing is just one guitar with a couple of percussion overdubs.

https://soundcloud.com/user-676357162/uh-oh

Hopefully it will inspire you.

Regards,
Howard
Very professional sounding, well done.

I was afraid of the idea of streamlining the rhythm part. I've kinda always been a rhythm player at heart and the main inspiration was to do the opposite of a traditional solo acoustic piece (simple rhythm/complex lead).
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Old 11-07-2017, 05:06 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jambi View Post
It's not a cover, I'm writing it.
Nothing you could post?

In any case it's pretty easy to write yourself right into a corner with no way out other than to make adjustments to the original plan.
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Old 11-07-2017, 06:01 PM
Jambi Jambi is offline
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Originally Posted by rick-slo View Post
Nothing you could post?

In any case it's pretty easy to write yourself right into a corner with no way out other than to make adjustments to the original plan.
I'm not at home and able to record a quick take But yeah, I think you nailed it... I painted myself into a corner.
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