#1
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Chord Melody
I don't understand the term "chord melody" or maybe I am confusing it with another technique.
As I teach myself to figerpick I hold the full first position chord as much as possible and play an alternating bass with my thumb on the 5th and 6th strings, sometimes the 4th string too. I play melody with a,m,i on the first three strings. Is that chord melody or something else? |
#2
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What you are doing may be chord melody, but it sounds like what most call fingerpicking, or Travis picking. Chord melody is generally playing chords built around the melody, while including the melody line and it can be played either pick style or fingerstyle. Also, when I think of chord melody, I think pop tunes, jazz tunes kinds of things, rather than folk, bluegrass or country tunes though they can be played that way too.
Masters of chord melody playing would be Martin Taylor, Joe Pass, Barney Kessel, Herb Ellis, Wes Montgomery, Howard Roberts, Earl Klugh. Martin Taylor playing chord melody style. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USgds2Ruc8U Joe Pass. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyjQv52Nzno |
#3
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Hi John...
Sure what you are doing is the beginning steps toward mastering chord melody playing, which as the name says, involves playing chords (or at least implying them) while playing the melody. I've seen great chord melody players who play every style imaginable (except metal or punk to this point). For me it is a very satisfying way to play. If it overlaps a bit with fingerstyle sobeit, but it's more important to make the music than to pigeon hole it with a style name. |
#4
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Amen brother.
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#5
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Describing what something means isn't pigeon holing it, IMO. Names are useful. Clarification was asked for. What style a piece of music is played in is just useful information.
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#6
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Ooo...here's another master of chord melody: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNvntOn7cOk
__________________
“Sometimes you have to play a long time to be able to play like yourself” — Miles Davis. |
#7
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I think as long as one doesn't "miss the forest for the trees", so to speak, it's fine (and useful) to attach labels to musical styles, chords, etc.
__________________
Ibanez Artwood AC900 Eng/EIR Yamaha LL16 Eng/EIR Webber OM Eng/EIR ♫ Transcriptions (Yes, my PM Inbox is always full. For now, please send me an email at [my agf username]@gmail.com ) |
#8
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Quote:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlrpMgoP_uc (not exactly his most masterful performance there, but take into consideration that it was improvised at an audience member's request)
__________________
Ibanez Artwood AC900 Eng/EIR Yamaha LL16 Eng/EIR Webber OM Eng/EIR ♫ Transcriptions (Yes, my PM Inbox is always full. For now, please send me an email at [my agf username]@gmail.com ) |
#9
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I didn't mean any harm in my agreement with that statement, I just thought it was a nice statement. Its all about the music.
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#10
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Quote:
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#11
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Quote:
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#12
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I think it is called "How Deep Is Your Love" from Saturday Night Fever. I like Russell's version much better.
__________________
“Sometimes you have to play a long time to be able to play like yourself” — Miles Davis. |
#13
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How Deep Is Your Love?
__________________
Ibanez Artwood AC900 Eng/EIR Yamaha LL16 Eng/EIR Webber OM Eng/EIR ♫ Transcriptions (Yes, my PM Inbox is always full. For now, please send me an email at [my agf username]@gmail.com ) |
#14
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Quote:
To the OP: I'd say Tony Rice plays chord melody style here, on "Shenandoah". He doesn't play chord melody style a lot, but this is an example. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xswwXOPhoTU Chet Atkins plays some things chord melody style but I'd call this arrangement, fingerpicking Chet style. Alternating bass, melody in the treble, maybe what the OP was talking about. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtgFRqz_gXE This is most certainly chord melody style by Wes Montgomery. One of his big commercial hits. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBGZgyl72_g Terms are important, to get the information across. |
#15
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Thanks guys for all of the information. I just downloaded a book from a link provided by another poster on PLAY, "The Art of Ragtime Guitar". Looks like a good book to study by and learn and for sure I should be busy for some time. Thanks again.
John |