For Those Interested In Arranging Solo Guitar

[tbeltrans]

For those interested in arranging solo guitar, here is a youtube video that neatly presents what you need to know and do. I hope it is helpful for folks here...



Have at it...

Tony

[E-OM]

Tony, thanks for the info.

[Andyrondack]

Thanks , haven't watched the whole thing yet but it's interesting to see another arrangers thought processes playing out. Personally I would not try an arrangement where all the open string notes did not feature in the melody. I think it's a video for taking a bite from every now and then .

[tbeltrans]

Later, toward the end of the video, he tells you to watch it again at some point and take notes because he goes over so many points in just under a half hour. The video is rather densely packed with information, so take your time and try some of the things he suggests.

Tony

[Glennwillow]

Thanks for this video link, Tony!

I thought this was really excellent! I wish I had his musical background!

I suppose it's never too late!

- Glenn

[tbeltrans]

Originally Posted by Glennwillow

Thanks for this video link, Tony!

I thought this was really excellent! I wish I had his musical background!

I suppose it's never too late!

- Glenn

Yes, he seems to be able to point us in the right direction and do it all in less than a half hour. If he provided us step by step directions for everything he covered, the video would have to be several hours long. Instead, he provides an overview of the arranging process and then tells us what we need to know, leaving it up to us to find that information on our own. I think that is an excellent way to learn on our own.

Tony

[mr. beaumont]

There's definitely different ways to do it. My way involves never using an open. string for melody, unless absolutely necessary (or it sounds great)

I try to keep all melody notes on the top 2 strings as much as possible.

Makes the arrangements easier to transpose.

Also, I'm big into making sure you know the tune outside of the arrangement. It's very easy to fall in love with an arrangement, but if you muff a note and don't really know the song outside of it, the wheels can come off.

[tbeltrans]

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

There's definitely different ways to do it. My way involves never using an open. string for melody, unless absolutely necessary (or it sounds great)

I try to keep all melody notes on the top 2 strings as much as possible.

Makes the arrangements easier to transpose.

Also, I'm big into making sure you know the tune outside of the arrangement. It's very easy to fall in love with an arrangement, but if you muff a note and don't really know the song outside of it, the wheels can come off.

Whether to use open strings or not at least partially depends on style as well as personal taste. Playing "chord melody" I rarely, if ever, encounter folks using open strings. Playing a fingerpicking tune, the general recommendation is to use keys that allow for open strings (C, A, G, E, and D, and A mi, E mi, for example).

Putting the melody on the top two (or sometimes three) strings is generally the way I do it to. Being able to play the melody all the way through by ear (or memory for those who prefer to read it from a sheet) is very important, as is knowing the chords.

Putting together an arrangement comes AFTER we know the melody and the chords very well, since arranging involves putting the two together in some manner.

Edit: By the way, I am not posting this for your (Jeff's) benefit since clearly you are well past these basics, but for those interested in getting started who may be reading this thread.

Tony

[rick-slo]

Playing open strings is fine in the melody line and elsewhere in the harmonization. Way to limiting in your chording to
avoid entirely. Mainly you just need to be able to damp a string where it's ringing beyond it's time value gets in the way.

[mr. beaumont]

Originally Posted by rick-slo

Playing open strings is fine in the melody line and elsewhere in the harmonization. Way to limiting in your chording to
avoid entirely. Mainly you just need to be able to damp a string where it's ringing beyond it's time value gets in the way.

Well, again, I said for me, personally. For what I do, I want consistency in sound, and often an open string is too different of a timbre.

Just a lot of ways to do it, that's all.

[rick-slo]

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

Well, again, I said for me, personally. For what I do, I want consistency in sound, and often an open string is too different of a timbre.
Just a lot of ways to do it, that's all.

To me sounds very much the same most of the time. You are in good company with some jazz players like Al Di Meola.