I don’t want to play jazz

[JonPR]

Originally Posted by hazmuz

can't we have "like" buttons? i find myself searching for them especially when i read the posts of JonPR and D. Young

Thanks! Let me just say I'd put a "like" on Doug's posts too.

[Silly Moustache]

Originally Posted by Bain

I have little interest in jazz for me it’s too complicated , but I would like to play simple chord melodies , maybe it’s me but when I search for chord melodies I am almost driving down the road of jazz , 9 this and 6 that and twist your fingers around this . Can you guys give me any direction for simple songs in chord melodies without all that jazz
Cheers

Hi Bain, I agree, that jazz is a whole 'nother thing, and there are many jazz styles, but I find that most melody can be found within/around first position chords - at least, for my purpose.

This is one of the more common things that people contact me for zoom lessons/meetings.

[Howard Emerson]

Originally Posted by Bain

I have little interest in jazz for me it’s too complicated , but I would like to play simple chord melodies , maybe it’s me but when I search for chord melodies I am almost driving down the road of jazz , 9 this and 6 that and twist your fingers around this . Can you guys give me any direction for simple songs in chord melodies without all that jazz
Cheers

This example is anything but easy, but it’s not jazz, it IS fingerstyle, and I wrote it back in the early 1990’s. Almost every part of the melody is 2-3 notes, with occasional single passing notes in between.



I don’t know if that’s helpful, but it fits the description.

Best regards,
Howard Emerson

[rick-slo]

I do consider "chord melody" as applying to melody over block chords as opposed to melody over arpeggiated harmony.

[Glennwillow]

Originally Posted by JonPR

Thanks! Let me just say I'd put a "like" on Doug's posts too.

Yes, Doug Young is a huge resource for the folks here on the AGF!

- Glenn

[AfterViewer]

I suggest learning to play Funk, (step brother of Jazz) for full satisfaction and self-expression, enjoying the progression of chord dynamics that rule the gamut fingerboard of guitar FX. * No wrong notes allowed in Funk.

[Gitfiddlemann]

Originally Posted by Howard Emerson

This example is anything but easy, but it’s not jazz, it IS fingerstyle, and I wrote it back in the early 1990’s. Almost every part of the melody is 2-3 notes, with occasional single passing notes in between.



I don’t know if that’s helpful, but it fits the description.

Best regards,
Howard Emerson

That tune definitely fits the OP's description!
Always loved that one from your CCL CD. Sure looks easy enough but, alas, a classic case of Howard making the difficult look effortless.

[Bain]

Hi all of you guys.
Thanks to all of you who have contributed to my question on chord melody I would like to name you all here but it’s not the point I know who you are and appreciate your comments.
What I got from your comments was that not all chord melody is jazz and will look forwards to exploring it more on YT ,if I was having a party /get together I would invite you all round , thanks again.
Cheers

[Doug Young]

I have a hard time living within strict rules. If you're playing chord melody and suddenly decide to arppegiate a few notes do you get thrown out of the club? :-) it's music, do what sounds musical to express yourself. Labels are meaningless. To me, the appeal of "chord melody" is that you can play solo guitar, melody and accompaniment - a complete song. Fingerstyle players do it, classical players do it, some flatpickers do it. Some jazz players do it. it's all good, and I'd hate to say "no, no, I refuse to play anything that isn't a block chord under a melody line"!

In any case, here's a couple of non-jazz arrangements that are quite in the "block chords under a melody" style. Maybe start with these, and explore these players other approaches.

Tommy Emmanuel, song starts a 1:40. Nothing but a chord underneath virtually every melody note.



Tony Rice, song starts at 3:00. Again, almost purely chord shapes under nearly every melody note:

[sinistral]

This to me is a song played using—mostly—a chord melody (after a 15-second intro)—is this the type of song/arrangement you are referring to?

[rick-slo]

Originally Posted by sinistral

This to me is a song played using—mostly—a chord melody (after a 15-second intro)—is this the type of song/arrangement you are referring to?

Nicely done. A good example of out and out jazz playing with a combo of jazz elements (block chord melody, arpeggiated chord melody and pure scale runs)
is that by Joe Pass, for example:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_kUJa1PueM

[Bain]

Yes ,yes ,and yes thanks sinistral that’s just what type of chord melody music I was looking for .............

[sinistral]

Originally Posted by rick-slo

Nicely done. A good example of out and out jazz playing with a combo of jazz elements (block chord melody, arpeggiated chord melody and pure scale runs)
is that by Joe Pass, for example:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_kUJa1PueM

It could well have been inspired by Joe Pass, but I think it’s an original arrangement. The guitarist, JoiL, plays variations of the song on different demo videos. Definitely jazz-inspired, but without the jazz ornamentation that is Bain’s bane.

For those who have gigantic hands, Tommy Emmanuel’s Those Who Wait is a deceptively difficult masterclass in chord melodies:



I don’t think I could play some of those chords on a GS Mini!

Originally Posted by Bain

Yes ,yes ,and yes thanks sinistral that’s just what type of chord melody music I was looking for .............

Are you looking for songs/videos along those lines? Lessons? If you used a Vidami to slow down and loop the video, I think you could figure it out bit by bit. Jerry’s Guitar Bar has a lot of great lessons, and they are organized by level.

[jim1960]

Originally Posted by Bain

I have little interest in jazz for me it’s too complicated , but I would like to play simple chord melodies , maybe it’s me but when I search for chord melodies I am almost driving down the road of jazz , 9 this and 6 that and twist your fingers around this . Can you guys give me any direction for simple songs in chord melodies without all that jazz
Cheers

Ninths and sixths are a lot more common than most players think when it comes to acoustic guitar based songs. In folk music, they're used quite a lot and they can make the ordinary sound so much better.

[Brent Hahn]

Originally Posted by rick-slo

Nicely done. A good example of out and out jazz playing with a combo of jazz elements (block chord melody, arpeggiated chord melody and pure scale runs)
is that by Joe Pass, for example:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_kUJa1PueM

Jazz for sure, but that first bridge is right out of the Chet playbook. Pretty darn Countrypolitan.

One thing Joe did a lot (on his amazing level) that I like to try at my non-amazing level is to play quite a bit of a tune with plain, single notes while sprinkling a few chord changes in between. If there's a note in the tune that's the same as the top note of a chord voicing, win-win! And if you keep the time going somewhat -- which Joe mostly didn't -- it won't seen jazzy.