Lesson: Introduction to Chord Melodies

This video introduces a couple of concepts that are key in constructing chord melodies.
1. The fewer the notes in the chord voicing, the easier it is for individual notes to stand out which is a goal in creating melodies. Occasionally it's appropriate to use all six strings, but generally I try not to.
2. The top note is the melody note. This is what the listener will hear as the melody. Creating chord melodies is really all about putting care into choosing the top note.
If you have any questions, post them below and I'll do my best to get to you! Cheers :)

[@seananguswatson]

Yo! Thank you so much for watching, I hope you get a lot from this video. If you have any questions, please comment them below and I'll do my best to answer as many as I can. If you're interested in more lessons, my Patreon is the place for you :) www.patreon.com/seananguswatson

[@alexanderalraheb]

Hey Man,Thank you SO MUCH for the content you put out..i've been playing with a pick for 10 years and you inspired me to go fingerstyle! is there any way to get your patreon content somewhere else? I'm Syrian and patreon blocked my country due to War issues :(

[@seananguswatson]

Very glad to hear about the change to fingerstyle :) I'm sorry to hear about Patreon being blocked, can you send me an email? We might be able to work something out. [e-mail]

[@lol.8579]

@@alexanderalraheb use a vpn

[@oobboo1799]

Do I get access to previous lessons on Patreon or only the new ones that come out after signing in?

[@arthurcorpart]

How is this not the first thing we teach guitar players! That was brilliant, thank you.

[@itsnrv1817]

honestly i’m not going to lie, i don’t know how to play guitar. this video just opened up so much. example, i didn’t realize all the strings played create chords. i didn’t realize each string was like a different octave that had the same notes but higher and lower dependent on the string. if anything, this implores me to pick up my very old, very small guitar and start playing again!

[@michakrawiec8217]

Each string going down is just 5 tones higher (except B) going down. Chord is made out of 3 notes, so you don't have to play all 6 strings to get a chord. you only need 3 for a simple chord and 2 for a powerchord.

[@JimLarranaga5k]

And you can play entire scales or portions of scales on a single string! It's an amazing instrument, pick up your old axe, dust it off and bring it to life!

[@slimeboy33]

Not even 5 minutes through and you completely opened my mind. Exactly what I was looking for thank you man.

[@mattcolley3844]

might have actually been the best 15 minute lesson of my entire life. Thanks Man!

[@DanielLandress]

Your teaching style is on-point, dude. Kudos! I've been playing for a few years now, but feel that I've hit a plateau, so randomly hearing one of your videos was a much-needed musical inspiration boost. I honestly can't wait to support what you're doing and learning while we're at it.

[@benmccart9243]

Your tone sounds like it has the tiniest little warble. It’s so beautiful.

[@davemassie3726]

I'm so glad i just found you! GREAT LESSON! Thanks for sharing Sean.

[@documentalist-NL]

By far the best lesson I have learned so far. Thanks a lot Sean!

[@johnnydeeme]

jeez... finally a guy who can teach! Not just a bunch of useless filler notes, but with tasty flavor from the chord. Joining patreon tomorrow!

[@elliottpereda5724]

Incredible, you showed me I didn’t even notice I was playing Bar Chords as voicings so simple, I remember my friends would come up to me like “wow! did you play that incredible melody, that was incredible” I was like “huh? I was just playing regular guitar chords not any special kind” Thank you! for showing me! Now I notice, that you taught me something, I will keep on doing more often.

[@Blacksmith1959]

Learn the major scale, learn to improvise in one position using the major scale before moving on, learn to play up and down the neck....blah blah blah....So many lessons tell you this and guess what, you still can't make music. This guy has given the fundamental information you need to use what you already know, but didn't know how to use it to make music - or play a melody. Great job and clearly taught with examples

[@EricSwanson1]

I've been playing for a long time and never thought of this.

[@sauce8277]

WOW. This is what misic tutorials should be about. Actually making music. Thanks dude I have been so lost. This is just what I need to get back into the groove

[@karolusmagnus38]

Hi Angus, saw your videos for the very first time and I am very glad to met you here. I am 70 years old and a developed my guitar playing to the state when I can play melodies and chords the way you show it here. It took a very long time to reach this level of playing for me. But I think that is one right way to play guitar and get free fingers for playing what goes on in your mind. And I keep on playing this way. I am far from your style of perfect playing. I like your tones, your loops - and I hope to get further on with this (looping and overdubbing). Great explanation !

[@wengchungtham1801]

Giant steps for beginner guitarists...wonderful...thank you so much!

[@davidforsyth5289]

Oh my goodness. This has opened up my ears!

[@JimLarranaga5k]

This is great Sean. I've been practicing chord melody and I had overlooked the concept of how chords are really chord tones stacked on top of each other. And by adjusting how many strings one plays can bring out and even alter the melody. I'm a new subscriber and enjoying your channel.

[@zeishiin616]

Dude, I don't usually comment videos, but you deserve it, posting this here 'cause it's the latest video I watched, you are an inspiration, you're not only a guitar player, you play with your heart. I'm struggling with guitar atm, music is my passion, and you dude, you are giving me the will to keep playing, to not give and maybe one day I'll play like you. Peace dude, you're amazing. ~A random French fan.~

[@seananguswatson]

Ah thank you so much! I believe you can absolutely learn to play like me if you keep it up. All it takes is a little bit of focused practice each and every day.

[@2vmurthy]

Dude you're the best. Please keep em coming. As soon as I get my amp fixed, I'm signing up for your Patreon.

[@seananguswatson]

Thanks so much Vivek!

[@richies1016]

Sean, this is exactly the kind of critical thinking that’s I’ve been working through after listening and learning some of your arrangements. This is a great step for musicians to take their music to a new and exciting level. Keep it up!

[@seananguswatson]

Thanks so much Richie! I very much agree that this falls into the "critical thinking" arena. This is a small, subtle thing to think about but it can have a huge effect on your playing overall.

[@geralynpalacol9295]

WOW!!! EXCELLENT LESSON!!!😍. THANKS SO MUCH!🎸🎸🎸

[@zingleraster9124]

This is genius. The whole world just opened up!!!

[@danny-devito]

Really great video, Sean. It's awesome how well you explain things and do it all in one take.!

[@seananguswatson]

Thanks mate, I always try to go for one take but there's a few cuts in there ;)

[@BloodyMirPootin]

Nice tone, great lesson, beautiful SG too..

[@deltafour1212]

FINALLY! Someone who explained how to do Chord Melody Guitar in fine detail and in simplified terms. to where I finally get it!

[@seananguswatson]

Thanks for watching!

[@jonathansoto3652]

love ur videos! i like how you're interacting more with your viewers

[@seananguswatson]

Cheers man I like it too :)

[@beachthor1]

Well my mind is blown. Headed over to your patreon now!

[@delinquense]

Subtle butt effective. Great explanation, string by string.

[@hankhan479]

man, this is gold

[@alvaroimizcozgarcia118]

Amazing piece of information, thank you very much

[@lukeli8750]

Thank you for a great lesson. Now i can understand how the pros play a song without relying tab music sheet with fingering instructions. The secret is all revealed in this lesson. Thank you. This lesson help me understand a lot of things.

[@MrFree-vj8qj]

great great lesson, contrary motion yes I came up with something similar while jamming though I had forgotten about it, this reminds of dont fear the reaper, this approach is great also for emphasizing vocal melodies

[@AntonKeller]

Dude I seriously NEED more videos from you. I have watched your Gambino video and the Mayer one countless times. Are there coming more videos and if so when? Love your stuff man, keep crushing it!!

[@2gigahijau]

You're a great teacher (and guitar player too obviously )

[@klaaskabini5407]

Thank you for this video. I learned something new

[@rushikeshkamble3340]

Great lesson sir,solved many of my doubts which were there from long time 😁,God bless

[@MohamedIsmail-fm9kq]

thank you so much for such an inspiring lesson

[@tingel155]

That was awesome!

[@andrewmcnabb457]

Good shit man. Such a badass guitar

[@chrishmetcalf1432]

Brilliant! Thank you so much. So simple!

[@seananguswatson]

Sure thing! Glad to hear it's simple to understand. This is such a powerful technique.

[@oly1620]

Great lesson, one of those light bulb/a-ha moments that seems simple in hindsight.

[@ItzJonnyboi]

Good lesson man, nice explanation.

[@HandsOnMusicLearning]

cool introduction to chord melody, well explained

[@rordrom3234]

Thank you good sir, very good lesson!

[@monacarlossmokey]

Sean please do more videos on chord melodies because they are so helpful. I'm at a place where I know lots and lots of chords but I'm trying to figure out how to take what I already know to make melodies. Thanks

[@makemeproudmusic3920]

Dude. Amazing.

[@RickProkosch]

That was fantastic. It really answered a question I had about how a chord progression can sound so melodic, something I noticed while watching your cover videos.

[@seananguswatson]

Rick Prokosch glad to hear it!

[@CarlosVinicciusRC]

I luv this video!

[@benarce3607]

Great vid, man!

[@alxxxnder2]

You just taught everyone about contrary motion in chord voicing music theory. Great stuff, dude. If you can go into more depth please do.

[@seananguswatson]

Ah I knew there must have been a name for it, cheers! Next lesson I do I'll try to go more in depth with it.

[@missioncreekfarm7715]

Exactly!! But man, Sean made it a lot more digestible than my professors did back int he day!

[@rolfbeyer1511]

Great lesson..thanks

[@zacharypaulus3135]

Great video! It would be awesome if you would expand on this lesson and explain how to get more technical with it.

[@ealvs9584]

Dope man ! Thanks you very much :)

[@jmxds1997]

this man is a genius

[@deltafour1212]

If you made more How-to-Chord -Melody vidoes it sure wouldn't hurt my feelings.

[@LionLapin]

👌very interesting !

[@BFromUpNorth]

Very nice and informative video.

[@nikolaubtopou]

Mind blown 🤯

[@poliku81]

i am blown away :o

[@AdirBin]

Thank you for this insightful lesson, you earned yourself a patreon

[@ilikemountain2843]

Awesome video thank you

[@bak1386]

Nice lesson, I'm really looking to advance my chord knowledge so this is a big help. Getting me out of a rut of playing the same old shit

[@karunamohanmukherjee493]

Thanks for this great lesson I am an admirer of jazz chord melody.please do a lesson on improvisation.

[@potato7171]

thank u so much!😭❤️❤️❤️

[@gprinceaszomszedbol8708]

You are a genius .

[@kavalierdernacht]

Вряд ли ты сможешь прочитать это, но я благодарен да этот урок. Обожаю, когда учат не просто бить по струнам и петь, а обращать больше внимания на каждую ноту, делать упор на оригинальность и т.п. Спасибо!

[@MrNotYet1]

this guitar is beautiful

[@jimtessin4130]

Thank you!

[@brtmont]

WOW. THANKS

[@eduardocadu1366]

i love it

[@bernardostefa1093]

Amazing 🇧🇷

[@GabrielRodrigues-hn6lm]

Thnx 4 this, bro!! 🇧🇷

[@bernardostefa1093]

Gabriel Rodrigues mt foda né

[@CarlosVinicciusRC]

O timbre do cara é espetacular

[@ayembongski76]

Thanks!

[@CosmicHobo2]

This is a great refresher. Would be great to see something with a more sophisticated melody. Inspired by this I'm attempting to icorporate pull offs and open strings.

[@seananguswatson]

Thank you! The next chord melody video I do will be on something much more interesting :)

[@bivashdebnath9947]

Lovely

[@miladragon]

Hey Sean, I've watched all your videos, and I love them -- I'd like to learn guitar, and I've learned some songs, but I don't really know how to go about it. How would I start learning to play guitar, so I can play stuff like you do? Are there any books or anything you recommend?

[@mariajuliana1584]

Yo! Hahahaha I love your videos !

[@InterWarp]

Great video, I'll try practicing this more until it sticks :)

[@jt2465]

Good tips

[@ren7ee]

I would like to see this applied to a full song.

[@orfeaskommatas146]

nice!

[@ohdannyboy6801]

does your hair have a patreon as well? we need styling lessons too

[@sharpdreamacademy1435]

ohdannyboy Really! I’ve spent hours so far trying to achieve the perfect bed-disheveled look with different styling gels and still haven’t got it right!

[@Astasiaaa]

Thanx, Sean. Here comes a basic question. Does it make a difference to play on an electrical guitar? I play on a standard acoustic and looking carefully on your video I get the impression that you can more easily produce fuller, more satisfying single notes. On my guitar single high notes just don't have the "body" to carry a melody. Same goes for the "slim" chords you suggest, made of fewer, higher notes. Or, is it me? Wonderful teacher that you are: clear explanations, delivered at a pleasant learning tempo. Thank you for your answer.

[@JuelZ925]

Maybe connect it to scales ? I suck huge at that. Niceee tutorial!!!

[@AndyKunkel]

Love this video, your sound is by far my favorite! I was looking at the P90 Phat Cat in a humbucker casing, but I heard the sound is brighter than the Hot P90 you have. I would like a Hot P90, but how did you get your to fit into your guitar? And if you have any knowledge on the matter what do you think of the P90 Phat Cat in a humbucker casing?

[@seananguswatson]

Thanks man! I don't have any experience with the Phat Cat, I'd recommend checking out some demo videos on the SD website or here. That's what I did before buying these pickups. When I took my guitar in to get the pickups swapped I had my guitar guy use a router and cut into the stock pickguard to make room for the p90.

[@AndyKunkel]

@@seananguswatson thanks a lot for the input. Luckily the guitar that I'm trying to modify does not have a pickguard so it might be a little bit easier to figure out. I can't wait to upgrade!

[@Adrian-ie6vd]

I would like to learn how you grooved in that video with Paul Davids

[@kingdavidhoward]

Thanks, can you do a chord melody on an old school classic by percy sledge called when a man loves a woman or the Michael Bolton version. Thanks,

[@theodore8178]

Wassa bar chord? Is that a guitar thing? I use piano and synths. But I like making melodies from chord notes and revoicing them to with the notes from the melody on either bottom or top and usually louder (sequencers help) been doing for years.

[@frankarcand4456]

Can you do this with open chords or just with the barred shapes?

[@swaroov9236]

How to get that tone you are playing,i mean gain,treble bass what should i set to get that tone

[@Fisherman6383]

come for lesson stayed for the SG

[@Phantorion]

Awesome man! Is that a Gibson SG raw power?

[@VinylOcelot]

I think in another video, he said it was an SG special and he swapped out the pickups.

[@freebyrdwins]

Thank you for the video and all your work, next month I'll get to your Patreon (I'm too poor right now). I know this might be hard to answer, but since you are teaching music: what should I learn next if I already know the basic chords and I'm already doing my best with pentatonic? It'd be nice to see a basic guide to follow, just saying :P

[@seananguswatson]

Thank you! If you're starting to get chords and pentatonic shapes down, I would recommend tackling the major scale and all its shapes next. The large majority of western music is firmly rooted in the major scale and just about anything can be related back to it. In my opinion, a good understanding of major scale theory is one of the most important things every musician should possess.

[@freebyrdwins]

Thank you for the advice! I'll focus myself on major scale :D

[@fattyz1]

I'm finger picking some complexity but can't seem to get the melodies . Trying to read fingerstyle tab frustrates because I need some basic cord to melody left hand stuff.

[@freestancelowkey8431]

I love you

[@shader3020]

Do you have any knowledge of Ted Greene's work with chords? Otherwise awesome video.

[@AurelienPetitvideo]

Nice work Anyone knows the guitar model ?

[@user-eb6lx8tj1r]

Let me in lesson plz!!!!

[@Alchemist3333]

Once upon a time in the west chord progression.