Chord Melody

johnra · #1 07-01-2009, 08:29 PM

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?

David Hilyard · #2 07-01-2009, 09:31 PM

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

ljguitar · #3 07-01-2009, 09:44 PM

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.

yardism · #4 07-01-2009, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ljguitar

more important to make the music than to pigeon hole it with a style name.

Amen brother.

David Hilyard · #5 07-01-2009, 10:09 PM

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.

Livingston · #6 07-01-2009, 10:28 PM

Ooo...here's another master of chord melody: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNvntOn7cOk

mmmaak · #7 07-01-2009, 10:28 PM

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.

mmmaak · #8 07-01-2009, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Livingston

Ooo...here's another master of chord melody: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNvntOn7cOk

Let's not forget Ted Greene

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)

yardism · #9 07-01-2009, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Hilyard

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.

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.

yardism · #10 07-01-2009, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Livingston

Ooo...here's another master of chord melody: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNvntOn7cOk

What is the name of that song... It's a Bee Gees song, but my pain medicated brain cannot pull the title for me tonight.

David Hilyard · #11 07-01-2009, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Livingston

Ooo...here's another master of chord melody: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNvntOn7cOk

That's cool. Russell Malone is new to me. Nice stuff.

Livingston · #12 07-01-2009, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yardism

What is the name of that song... It's a Bee Gees song, but my pain medicated brain cannot pull the title for me tonight.

I think it is called "How Deep Is Your Love" from Saturday Night Fever. I like Russell's version much better.

mmmaak · #13 07-01-2009, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yardism

What is the name of that song... It's a Bee Gees song, but my pain medicated brain cannot pull the title for me tonight.

How Deep Is Your Love?

David Hilyard · #14 07-01-2009, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yardism

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.

No problem. I wasn't really commenting on your reply, but rather Larry's. I agree, making music, no matter how you do it, or what you call it, is what's most important. But the OP was asking for clarification of a term. I thought information about the term ought to be the answer, not "forget about style names, just make music".

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.

johnra · #15 07-02-2009, 10:48 PM

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