STOP Overcomplicating This! [Chord Melody Guitar Tutorial]

In this video, I sit down with music theory expert Tommaso Zillio from Music Theory For Guitar.com to discuss and demonstrate ways in which you can play the chords and melody of a song on one guitar.
You learn a step-by-step method for creating arrangements of songs on guitar where you play both the melody and chords at the same time.
Step 1: Chords And Melody
Learn the chords and melody of the tune in isolation
Step 2: Bass
Play the melody with the root notes of the chord only
Step 3: Harmony
Add the harmony to vary the texture of the arrangement
Step 4: Arpeggiation
Arpeggiate the chords to fill out the arrangement
Step 5: Reharmonisation
Spice things up with some reharmonisation and chord substitution
Learn how to create your own chord melody arrangements of songs with this free ebook/audio download: acousticguitar...
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[@acousticguitarlessons]

Tablature for examples presented in this lesson can be found here: acousticguitarlessonsonline.net/how-to-play-chords-and-melody-on-one-guitar

[@JanineKozanda-x8b]

A fabulously simple and straightforward explanation of how to make one guitar sound like more than one guitar! Thank you very much.

[@acousticguitarlessons]

@user-jt3sw8yq6w, you are very welcome! Glad you liked the video :)

[@laurieespi4828]

Mate, this is an awesome vid! Very good explanation in basic chord melody technique. Well done!

[@acousticguitarlessons]

@laurieespi4828, thanks! I am glad you found the video helpful :)

[@TamaraGrace]

Thanks again Simon!

[@acousticguitarlessons]

You are very welcome Tamara Grace :)

[@tayrowell]

Thanks for this. I have been doing exactly what you describe - starting at the end.

[@acousticguitarlessons]

@tayrowell, you are very welcome! Glad you like the video and have found it helpful :)

[@michaelzimmer1115]

It was interesting that you start with bass before the interior voices. If you specify the bass, you do restict the chord choices I think. I go by the basic triadic harmonization rule that within a key, there are three chords that contain a melody note. If you have a bass note, and a melody note, in many cases you have constrained your third note. What am I missing? Of course, that simple rule about only using triads containing the melody note is for beginners, since it is not essential. Your use of arpeggios for embellishing the tune is a good starting approach I think.

[@acousticguitarlessons]

@michaelzimmer1115, yes, you might restrict the chord choice by defining the bass first, but you could always reharmonise the melody wherever you would like afterwards. The method presented in this video is more of a starting point, as well as understanding the make up of a chord/melody :)

[@michaelzimmer1115]

I missed the point that you were starting with a pre-harmonized tune. So, you are harmonizing notes based on the root of existing harmony. You have the question of which beats you harmonize on, but I think you are mainly going with beat one and then arpeggios. So, you can just use CAGED shapes in the open position for your first take. I missed how you converted from one key to another. I guess the prerequisite is that you know how to transpose. There are a lot of prerequisites needed to follow this discussion. I have been writing about this topic quite a bit recently, from a different perspective, and realize it actually requires a good knowledge of theory to do it by rules, and a trained ear and fingers to do it otherwise, or in addition. Good stuff though. The approach has much to recommend it. Maybe it harkens back to figured bass? I don't know enough about that topic to really comment. It appears that you have been attacked by a troll. Folks with character defects in general.

[@johndelconte9915]

Good grief. Sorry this Walter troll is trying to ruin your video for whatever his reason is. He apparently hasn’t seen many of your videos that really show your talent. You seem to take a lot of time and make videos trying to help beginners and intermediates who are stuck at a level, to break out of the rut. I think that’s admirable. I’m not a beginner and I study theory, but I find I learn from going back to basics and I’ll watch any video that I can pick something up from. There’s plenty of videos out there that I find can set a beginner back and have no redeeming qualities. Walter should troll them. Did I see him ask you what the return policy was on a free book?

[@hotpenguin607]

Where did the idea of theories making u less creative come from? If u can't speak a language, u can't write stories with that language

[@acousticguitarlessons]

@hotpenguin607. yes! I'm not sure where the notion of theory making one less creative came from. Probably from people who couldn't be bothered learning theory, would be my guess, but I agree, it is a ridiculous thing to say/believe, almost comical :)

[@walterlacayo6503]

I can see that you can't take constructive criticism . ON second thought just going by your answers, your book is not worth buying . I also see that your are not a professional musician . Just keep going with your con.

[@acousticguitarlessons]

lol, when it is constructive yes, your criticism is anything but, but whatever lol

[@walterlacayo6503]

You on denial . Keep believing your own press . @@acousticguitarlessons

[@eugenebatiste]

Walter needs a vacation. He has lost it. This video is world class.

[@acousticguitarlessons]

@@eugenebatiste thank you! :)

[@dengmann5354]

lots of talk.

[@useandthrow2980]

That's what an interview is

[@walterlacayo6503]

NO you are wrong. You are trying to teach an instructional issue. I also see that the most important thing for you is to have the las word. That is a bad habit . You think you won the battle , but truly you lost the war . That was a cheap answer . @@useandthrow2980

[@walterlacayo6503]

Again , Tommasso Zillo has the most annoying cheap latin accent . You should've put him on, it was a true turn off.

[@acousticguitarlessons]

@walterlacayo6503, I don't see what his accent has to do with anything. If it annoys you, don't watch the video, simple lol

[@walterlacayo6503]

Yes it does matter, because you're trying to sell your book and reaching out to the public . Remember you are trying to sell your book. Here we go again, you have to have the last word. @@acousticguitarlessons

[@acousticguitarlessons]

@@walterlacayo6503, the book is free lol, it clearly says so if you bother to click on the link. Anyway, happy for you to have the last word, because I um, have a life to back to :)

[@walterlacayo6503]

Yes your life is so rich of adventure . NO I won't bother to click on the link and you can have the last word . Let's see it. @@acousticguitarlessons

[@roscmon]

​@@walterlacayo6503You are completely ridiculous. How many comments did you put in here? This is nothing but harassment! Go troll somewhere else!!!

[@walterlacayo6503]

You are too talkative and slow your speech down . Remember you are teaching not having a conversation. Also is not as easy as you reconvening . The song you used as an example is an easy one to figure out. But let's say, that the song is more involved and more melodic ? .... and let's say that the song you're trying to figure out the basic chords are not enough and you want to use chord substitution , how do you find those chords . You are trying to teach something that one has to have a serious music theory knowledge. The other guy Tommaso Zillo ( if that's his real name ) has the most annoying cheap latin accent. I DO NOT LIKE THIS VIDEO . IF I PURCHASE YOUR BOOK AND UN HAPPY WITH IT, WHAT IS YOUR RETURN POLICY?

[@acousticguitarlessons]

@walterlacayo6503, it is a live stream, therefore it is predominantly a discussion. You do not need serious music theory knowledge to play chord/melody, yes it helps, but you do not need it. And yes, Tommaso Zillio is his real name, why would you think otherwise lol. I appreciate this video may not be for you or to your liking which is fine, there are plenty of other chord/melody videos online you might find more suitable for yourself.

[@walterlacayo6503]

1) Because it sounds like an AKA ( Also Known As ) and not a real name . 2) Yes you do need to know music theory in order to arrange well. I'm amazed at your answers . by the way I would like to look over your book and if I don't like it, what is your return policy? @@acousticguitarlessons

[@donlessnau3983]

A lotta gassing but little examples of how to actually build it. Not that helpful

[@acousticguitarlessons]

@donlessnau3983, I can appreciate what you are saying as this is an edit from a live stream that is more conversational in nature than my typical YT tutorials. I think you might find this one that is on the same topic a little more to your liking perhaps: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kKLIiHiXrZJ7mbc