A COMPREHENSIVE Guide to Chord Melody - Beginner to Advanced

I've wanted to try and streamline my thoughts on adding melody to chords in a key and I thought this was a good way to structure a lesson that contains a lot of information. Let me know what you think and definitely sign up for DistroKid with this code to save some money:
distrokid.com/vip/seandaniel
Also if you want more in-depth videos on the modes, start here:
• Understanding Modes Pa...
And then complete your destiny by signing up for a masterclass for the best training you can get through a computer, complete with charts and backing tracks:
www.udemy.com/course/how-to-j...
New merch: shop.spreadshirt.com/seandaniel/
Hit me up on Twitter: / seandanielmusic
And Insta: / sean_daniel_music
www.seandanielmusic.com
Listen to the new album:
iTunes: goo.gl/kQCrbv
Spotify: goo.gl/wd2Wnd
Bandcamp: goo.gl/RgME6b
Soundcloud: goo.gl/e8QDYa
A little about me:
Sean Daniel is a man. A man of simple needs and desires. And the one desire, no, the one NEED, that stands above all is to spread the challenges, joy and intellectual stimulus of music to people of Earth and beyond.
Born on the mean streets of upper middle class suburban Chicago, Sean learned the ways of the world through the dizzying heights of success to the lonesome depths of failure and emerged with the promise of a better tomorrow reflecting in his eyes and fiery passion in his belly.
He plays and teaches guitar on his KZbin channel where he regularly releases original music and projects to the adulation of legions of fans, who often compare him to Chris Pratt and one time Ryan Reynolds. He’s currently in the market for a nice leather jacket.

[@paxtonacer]

I honestly believe Sean is one of the most versatile and helpful guitar KZbin’s right now. Thank you so much

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks so much for saying so!

[@noiseintheoffice]

Sorry to point this out, but "one of the best" means there's at least one that worse... I'd say for getting the point across, he's in the top three, especially making it fun for beginners to advance. And fun for advanced players too.

[@zztyyppizz]

Awesome lesson Sean! This is something I've learned over a year in a single lesson that I've tried to explain to a friend. Now I can point him to this. Wish I had this lesson a year ago too. One of the best lessons I've seen in KZbin.

[@seandaniel23]

Always happy to help! Thanks for passing it on!

[@evandixon5990]

Modes in Natural Major: I chord (Ionian): Natural Major ii chord (Dorian): Natural Minor with #6 iii chord (Phrygian): Natural Minor with b2 IV chord (Lydian): Natural Major with #4 V chord (Myxolydian): Natural Major with b7 vi chord (Aeolian): Natural Minor vii chord (Locrian) [Diminished Chord]: Phyrgian Scale with a diminished fifth

[@thelion27]

The Dorian is just natural 6. And b3. Aeolian is b6 and b3 and b7.

[@sharadsemilo]

This will definitely help people. Please make the correction

[@evaderknives]

I always love watching these videos, I know these scales up and down, but always learn a new way to look at them. Even if I'm playing the same notes, finding a new perspective to play them is golden... Hope all is well, take it easy.

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks so much man!

[@clydebillingsworth8574]

1000th like. Well deserved. You speak in shapes and use them to explain things simply. I find this exceptionally useful for my little brain to comprehend. Love it

[@buddypop9358]

I appreciate that you alway start with the basics and move toward the difficult. Makes it easy to apply.

[@DrSantiagoHolyday]

One of the best all time chord embellishment lessons, great way for a second guitar player to compliment someone else strumming open chords....etc.

[@hammster8255]

Hi Sean, this video follows on nicely from your How To Group Every Guitar Chord Together video. Your ability to explain music theory & correlate to playing is elite. It is much appreciated. Regards from Oz, Phil.

[@aft41]

Another insightful and useful lesson--really stellar work, Sean. Crafting a doorway to the modes that I shall definitely enter.

[@sicko_the_ew]

Great lesson, Sean. A lot of the noodling I do started to make a whole lot more sense, following along. Mental bookmark made to come back to this occasionally.

[@katjoseph4860]

Thank you so much for your content! I am a beginner, I was noodling around after watching the video. I began plucking single notes on the a minor shape and was excited to find what sounded like stairway to heaven and then a guitar shop employee kicked me out of my living room…

[@1234mikeirving]

Sean, this was a very helpful lesson and I follow everything you say. Thanks so much, great job!

[@dcrich19]

Absolutely loved this video as a beginner/ almost intermediate this will be so useful. Thanks Sean!

[@1234mikeirving]

Extremely helpful lesson, Sean. Thank you.

[@randyfrink6867]

Awesome! This is one of your best lessons. Thanks

[@malloc_01]

Sean thank you so much for this lesson - great teaching !!! 🙏👍👌

[@ChintanCG]

Great video.. One of your best. Learnt a bunch. Thanks

[@redwalrustmnc5256]

Look forward to watching this...thx Sean

[@seandaniel23]

Hope you like it!

[@ferra51]

Awesome video, Sean. I’d never really thought about where to find the special notes in each of the modes as I’m playing the chords, but I guess that’s why they pay you the big bucks.

[@downhill240]

Great lesson! thanks for sharing.

[@ahmedhamid1485]

you are always very helpful SEAN and king of music theory thanks alot

[@RC32Smiths01]

Chord Melodies are extremely fundamental to ensuring higher and more diverse possibilities! Really opens up a lot of doors I'd say! Great work!

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks so much!

[@RC32Smiths01]

@@seandaniel23 Ahhh of course man! You are very welcome!

[@Enryu_CZX]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/q2rYoWqImZJ0bqM this guy is also great check him out he is so underrated

[@lposprb]

Another superb lesson! Between the KZbin contributions, Udemy, collaborations with other talented and like minded artists (e.g., Stitch), etc, amazing material and instruction helps make us all better. Thanks SO damn much for taking the time and spending the energy to do so!

[@seandaniel23]

Man thanks for reaching out and saying so Patrick! I'll keep it coming!

[@jefftiebout1376]

Excellent, Thank you!

[@edinpujagic8361]

Great lesson as always! One thing I like to use is going from major triad shape on the 1 (ex: F major as in the video) to the minor triad for the 6th chord (D minor in your example). It simply happens by throwing in the pinky on the B sting (3rd for F as in this video).

[@Luislazarosolana]

Great video, really helpfull! Cheers from Spain

[@99vkh]

Another Sooper one, Sean!! 👍👏👏🎸😊

[@kaintuffin8678]

Your a good guy Sean. Thank you.

[@wm.p.callahan979]

Really dig your work!! Thanks Sean......

[@seandaniel23]

Always happy to help!

[@randalarmstrong9559]

Brilliant, thank you

[@allansmith7305]

An excellent tutorial.

[@jewishmusicrevolution6546]

Awesome lesson , really starts opening up the fretboard in each key. I find that an easy way to do this is just visualize the next chord in the key and know that you have those has an optional extension (you can also look at the chord BEFORE ) ... then you can do the same thing with the chords on the G and B string and you can pretty much chord and solo anywhere on the neck... thanks!

[@MikeDGuitar]

Bravo! on the lesson.

[@jamesm3751]

Always good stuff but this is one of your best. Thanks bruddah

[@nards656]

Great video.

[@JGAbstract]

Thanks, Mr. Always Shoot Your Shot

[@Tanglangfa]

When I realized minor pentatonic is just minor without 2 and 6 and which 2 and 6 you choose defines the mode...it made the purpose of the minor pentatonic sooo much clearer.

[@Saladzingers]

Would love to understand what you mean by this…! Is this explained anywhere online?

[@Tanglangfa]

@@Saladzingers there are lots of places online but honestly most are confusing. Major scale is 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Maj Pentatonic is 1 3 4 5 7 (5 notes) Minor scale is 1 2 3b 4 5 6b 7b Minor Pent 1 3b 4 5 7b (5 notes) just remove the 2 and 6. So for modes research at how Dorian is different from Phrygian and how Ionian is different from Mixolydian and Lydian.

[@Saladzingers]

@@Tanglangfa thanks for replying on a 2 year old comment! I think I get it now - you’re saying at a push you can use minor pentatonic instead of any minor mode, because it doesn’t contain the intervals that distinguish them?

[@Saladzingers]

@@Tanglangfa But wait, doesn’t Lydian have #4 and Mixolydian a b7? Those won’t be in the major pentatonic? So only works for minor - which is what you said actually

[@Tanglangfa]

@@Saladzingers I explained minor and major pentatonics. Compare and contrast minor modes and then the major modes. Eg How is Lydian different from Ionian and how is Mixolydian different from both of those? Playing the notes which make them different occasionally will help to emphasize the mode you want. Eg. Playing a 9b on a minor chord points to Phrygian mode.

[@yellowbearsforest7469]

This... Was dope lol. Really great lesson bro

[@aakashmishra731]

LOVELY GUITAR 💯

[@sapelesteve]

Terrific lesson Sean even for a guitar dunce non-player like myself. You rock man........... :)

[@seandaniel23]

Always happy to help!

[@seanenglish3002]

This is one of your best videos. Thank you so much for your explanation. I have loved all of your Masterclasses. I am really enjoying Hendrix Decoded. This video teaches such a great way to look at the chords in a key. It's like chord tones in reverse. Find the unique notes in the scale for the chord. Thank you to Distrokid for helping me to get to hear the upcoming Emerald Ryders album.

[@seandaniel23]

Always look forward to your comment Sean! Thanks for all the support!

[@TheGetRight]

well crafted-dry humor- impossible not to like

[@annekaczorowski6025]

Great lesson

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks for watching Anne!

[@garyreidmusic]

DistroKid for the win! I used CDBaby for my first 2 albums, and only one of the albums made it to Spotify... I have no idea where the other one went to, but because I've got DistroKid now, I'm re-releasing the album that didn't make it out there with DistroKid (after I re-master it.) They had my single out in a week or two to Everywhere!.

[@operatorenabla8398]

thumbs up for the d'angelico I got the blue one

[@seandaniel23]

Yes!! Such great guitars!

[@Desperado665]

Reminds me of the playing in the Song Brazil

[@edmorris6588]

So Good 💥💥💥👍

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks Ed!

[@KINGJESHUA]

Beutiful 👍🏾. Great job 🎼🎸

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks!

[@edwin6233]

I might be slow but I still find it hilarious to watch your videos on 0.75x speed (=Drunk Sean). Great job man

[@seandaniel23]

Haha, hey whatever works!

[@2024istheyearofblessing]

Haha I tried it.

[@jimblackwell8762]

I learned something finally from one of his vids Usually can’t take all the jabber

[@matthewnedelcu1784]

Salty blues comment

[@mbaaden]

great video-nice explanation of the modes

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks for checking it out!

[@slingerace]

When you play the F chord and place your pinkie on the third fret of the second string (D) you are replacing the fifth (C) with the sixth (D). What would that chord be called?

[@ahmadj-jj4kb]

Great

[@trydigama3]

David Duchovny would approve

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Found you on Spotify! Wow, you're on Spotify! 😍😂 Cheers bro another great video and some mega cool tips 😊👍

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks as always my guy!!

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

@@seandaniel23

[@andrescolintv]

awesome

[@seandaniel23]

;)

[@samuelfrench9665]

your opinion on apps like yousician if you are only paying attention to the scrolling sheet music notation instead of the scrolling tabs? I was thinking about adding that on top of what my guitar teacher wants me to practice from my book and own practicing. Would it really help you improve or waste of time and money? Thanks! :)

[@mishanevich]

I played bass in shape that same as your Fadd9 chord, because it’s easier to play on a large bass neck in that position. And then, I thought that I could play in the same shape on a guitar maybe even with chords and it worked! Now I’m having a lot of fun playing guitar, and most importantly creating tunes. And now, after your videos I achieved even more shapes and chords. Thank you, Sean! Big shoutout from Russia!

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks for watching! Cheers from the US!

[@Dinglebeardedlady]

I caught a glimpse of your strumming hand, but no mention of it. It looked like you were palm muting the E and A strings. Any tips for the strumming hand's part of this lesson. Thanks, great vid.

[@seandaniel23]

I'll try talking about it on a QA soon!

[@aft41]

When a song contains a chord outside of the key of the song, how do you choose melody notes for that chord? For example, in the progression E A E E7 A7 A7 E E C#7 F#7-B7 E ), the C#7 and F#7 are not in the key of E. Do you use the chords' major scale with a flatted 7th for the C#7 and B7? Just play by ear? Other ideas? Thanks

[@tomg2946]

In 'Jazz chord melody', which is actually one approach to playing a guitar alone, no singer, nobody else, then the main idea is that 'melody is king', that is you choose a chord that fits or at least does not clash with the melody note. In this way a chord is 'choosable' but the melody is not (though you can alter the melody in later verses you play as a variation, but you still fit a chord to the melody notes you play, not the other way round). This means you can play a tune, with its normal melody, and try a different chord than the original harmony of the song, as long as that chord does not clash with the melody notes in that bit of the tune. So say you could use a D minor chord instead of a Dmajor originally used, because there is no major 3rd of D (ie no F#), in the melody. And the other notes in the melody used are consistent with either a Dmaj or Dmin chord (ie can have a4th of D or 2nd or a 6th). But, until you get to internalize this idea, you can use your ear, which ultimately youd still do anyway!

[@conorkeenan4836]

That two chord thingy is a version of turnin on the screw pretty sure haha

[@seandaniel23]

Nailed it!

[@_SaiM_]

before watching the video i guessed he would say "rocking the dangelico deluxe ss"

[@seandaniel23]

Ha! Fooled you! I accidentally called it the Deluxe Atlantic!

[@stefanagha3248]

The truth is out there!

[@lawrencet.mcguilicutty7447]

I need a green gitter

[@jonathanallen2560]

So if u stop paying distrokid does your Spotify disappear?

[@seandaniel23]

I believe so yes

[@JPVanderbuilt]

Emerald Ryders album!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@seandaniel23]

It's coming!

[@noiseintheoffice]

I memorized MmmMMmD and the spacing WWHWWWH. There's all me chords for a key.

[@marcmurray8847]

Chord melody X files theme?

[@seandaniel23]

A solid theme

[@dinerobasilio2037]

turning on the screw? 1st track on era vulgaris

[@seandaniel23]

Nailed it!

[@dcrich19]

I'm telling Ian you said triad

[@youngsimba2324]

I wanna learn how he strums because I just hate guitar picks

[@seandaniel23]

I'll try a lesson on it soon!

[@evandixon5990]

Let's talk diminished.

[@firefirefuneralpyre]

🍺🍺🍺👍

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks for watching!

[@mantashaft]

You shot who in the what now?

[@joepolygraph]

No more hair products? Lmao

[@seandaniel23]

Sadly that endorsement has run its course :(

[@L4u84S]

You talk way too much.

[@dball5243]

Man you clearly know music theory and that's what you should be teaching. Not how to play guitar. No rythm, no Dynamics, no nuance, no soul. Just rigid, harsh pounding. And if you cared about new players you wouldn't be leading them down the wrong path. You need to improve your skills before you get on here thinking you should be teaching¡