New Year’s Guitar - ‘Auld Lang Syne’ Chord Melody Arrangement
Hey Six-Stringers. Happy New Year, 2009! To help ring in the new year on the right note I present a chord melody arrangement for “Auld Lang Syne”. This is re-posted from my Holiday Guitar Series available from Riff Interactive. I have also posted a playable tab file to Songsterr.com that should be easily found if you search for ‘Guitar Teacher dot com’ (edit: direct link). Here is an audio example of the finished arrangement:
A chord melody arrangement is one where we carry the melody of the tune and the chord accompaniment at the same time. This is a demanding styles of guitar playing! For this arrangement I use a mix of fairly stock jazz voicings and some jazzy, ‘extended’ chords that may be new to most of you. This arrangement is a 32-bar form, swing feel in the Key of C.
First off, we need to know the melody of the song.
Now for the jazz, chord-melody arrangement. I play this fingerstyle without any preset technique. Let your right hand fingers go where they want, sort of like jazz itself. I still use the thumb, index, middle, ring fingers for efficiency. One approach worth experimenting with is holding a pick and using a hybrid pick and finger approach. The Dm7 to G7 fit nicely to illustrate the idea of ‘voice leading’ making a smooth connection from the notes in one chord to the next. Three of the notes are common tones and the fourth moves neatly down a half-step.
Bars 1-8
Jazz is commonly played on Nylon String Acoustic or Hollow Body Electric guitars. Most Jazz players use heavier gauge strings than most styles. Notice how each chord voicing include the melody notes on ‘top’. This is one of the aspects that makes this style so demanding, say for instance, not just knowing a C7 chord, but a C7 chord with an E note on top! This section introduces a bass line on strings 6 (E) and 5 (A). A bass line will usually mix in scale tones, chord tones, and chromatic ‘approach’ tones. Bars 13-16 have a good example of chromatic notes used in a bass line. The next few bars introduce the second section of the song. Much of the same chord progression, only slightly different melody
Bars 9-16
This section has one of my favorite ‘fake’ bass lines. Simply move down a 1/2 step from the root of the chord and then back again. It sounds like you’re moving without having to work too hard. There are some fun chords in those 4 bars; altered dominant chords, diminished chord substitutes.
Bars 17-24
Winding down the home stretch of the tune. The last bar uses the ‘harp harmonics’ technique. Jazz great Lenny Breau used this technique to great effect. Here the chord is held at the 7th position and then outlined with the right hand index finger lightly touching the string 12 frets higher. The thumb picks the string to produce a harmonic. The riff mixes these notes with standard notes plucked with the right hand middle finger.
Bars 25-32
I have a video of me playing this somewhere on my computer that I will try to find and upload. Another New Year’s resolution - get more organized! Have fun and Happy New Year from GuitarTeacher.com
Storm
Popularity: 1% [?]
Guitar Jam Track - A Slow Shuffle
Here is a looping jam track in the key of A for your soloing pleasure. It’s a nice slow shuffle groove using an A to D chord change that has been at the heart of many great riffs. Here is the audio:
Some suggested scales for improvising:
And here’s the tablature on how to play it.
Have fun!
Popularity: 2% [?]
10 Must Have Items for Guitarists
Let’s imagine for a minute you are a carpenter (maybe you are a carpenter; for the rest of you, stick with me). You get hired to build a house. Even with all your knowledge, experience and desire to do the job, what do you need before you can get to work? You need the tools of your trade, of course! For a carpenter it would be your hammer, saw, measuring tape, etc.
Well, guitarists have their tools of the trade, too. If you want to ‘build-up your musicianship’ (get it?) I suggest you ‘equip’ yourself with the following must have items for guitarists, listed somewhat in order of importance.
#1 - Guitar
This item may seem laughably obvious but I do get people who show up for their first guitar lesson without owning a guitar. Bottom line - if you want to be a guitarist your need your own guitar to practice on whenever and wherever you choose. A borrowed instrument implies an impeding date of return to its owner. With the availability of cheap, good quality guitars these days you have no excuse to not get your own instrument. PS: Remember to include an amplifier with your purchase if you want to be an ‘electric guitarist’.
#2 - Tuner
The greatest guitarists on earth will struggle to sound good on an out-of-tune guitar. As a guitarist starting out, how could you expect to sound good when you don’t know if you are in or out of tune? Do yourself (and everyone around you!) a favor and get a guitar tuner. They are easy to use, inexpensive and take the guess work out of tuning.
#3 - Metronome
A metronome takes a bit of experience to use but is an invaluable tool to work on your rhythm and timing. It can also help you track progress as you work on building speed technique.
#4 - Guitar Stand
“Out of sight out of mind” is a bad presage when it comes to your guitar and you. Practice more often by getting your guitar in plain sight with a guitar stand or guitar hanger.
#5 - Music Stand
Perching precariously on the edge of your bed, craining your neck and holding open your guitar book with your feet is no way to practice. Get a proper practice space happening by purchasing a music stand. The trip you save yourself to the chiropractor will pay for the music stand and you might even have enough left over to buy a decent chair!
#6 - Guitar Strap
If you play classical guitar you can skip this. Otherwise, invest in a guitar strap even if you play seated most of the time. It will help your playing posture and allow you to move more freely without worrying about dropping your guitar. And you can stand up and play.
#7 - Picks
Again, if you play strictly classical guitar or finger-style guitar this is not for you. Most contemporary guitarists use guitar picks, however, so if these are the styles you want to play move this item up the chart.
#8 - Replacement Strings
Strings break. Strings get old. You’re going to need to replace your guitar strings eventually. Why not have a set or two on hand? Most electric guitars come with ‘extra light’ strings and most acoustics with ‘light’. How to change them? See my string changing lesson.
#9 - Book
Guitar books divide into three main types: sheet music, method books, and reference books. Sheet music shows how to play a song or songs grouped by artist or style. Method books help in a step-by-step approach towards improvement. Reference books are like dictionaries; more material, less instruction. All three have their place on your guitar bookshelf. My favorite site for guitar books is Sheet Music Plus. You can also find good selection at Amazon.com.
#10 - Lessons
For the best in guitar lessons go to GuitarTeacher.com. 
Popularity: 2% [?]
E Boogie Rock Jam Track
Here is a cool ‘boogie’ groove for you in the key of E. The feel reminds me of the ZZ Top song “La Grange”.
Here are a few scale suggestions:
Have fun!
Popularity: 7% [?]
Guitar Gear You Need - Guitar Stand
You know the old saying “out of sight, out of mind”, right? Well, don’t let this apply when it comes to your guitar. Keep your guitar out of the case and in plain view with either a guitar stand or a guitar wall hangar. You should find you get in more practice time by simply having your instrument within arm’s reach. A stand is also an inexpensive insurance policy from the costly damage that inevitably follows from leaning your instrument against a wall or amplifier. Besides, a beautiful guitar complements any room’s decor!
Popularity: 5% [?]
E Minor Rock Instrumental Jam Track
Artists like Steve Vai and Joe Satriani are great at soloing over brooding, atmospheric minor jams. Vai’s “For The Love of God” comes to mind. Here is a E Minor rock jam track in that style:
The main backing guitar part jazzes up an Em to C progression with some colorful extensions:
Some scale suggestions:
Popularity: 11% [?]
Fingerboard Aerobics - Major Scale in 3rd Intervals
Knowing the sound of a scale starts by playing it ascending and descending (see my post on Four Scales You Should Know). But an infinite amount of music can be found within scales by changing the order of the notes and creating patterns. Today’s exercise moves through the Major Scale in ‘3rd intervals’, skipping every other note in the scale. This exercise in the G Major scale will workout your fingers and help you hear new melodies in this hopefully familiar scale pattern.
Hear it in action, first at 50 Beats Per Minute (BPM) then at 100 BPM.
Start slowly. Only when you can keep an even tempo throughout should you speed up!
Popularity: 8% [?]
Uptempo Blues Jam Track, Key of D
I was listening to blues great Albert Collins’ signature track ‘Frosty’ today. I whipped up an uptempo blues with a similar feel and key for jamming.
This is a 12-Bar Blues in the key of D. The chord progression:
|D7- - -|D7- - -|D7- - -|D7- - -|
|G7- - -|G7- - -|D7- - -|D7- - -|
|A7- - -|A7- - -|D7- - -|D7- - -|
Popularity: 7% [?]
Guitar Tip - Your Guitar Repertoire
The songs you can play are referred to as your “repertoire”; songs that you know beginning to end and can perform without looking at the sheet music or tablature. Ideally, a couple of these songs should be ’solo’ pieces: an instrumental or an accompaniment you sing to. It is good to know a couple of easy songs that you can quickly show other musicians. These will get you invited to the next jam session!
Keep working on new tunes and periodically cycle through your familiar tunes, keeping them fresh. A decent guitar repertoire avoids that ‘deer in the headlights’ feeling when faced with the inevitable request from family or friends, “Play me something!”
Popularity: 5% [?]
Funk Guitar Jam Track
I am a sucker for a good funk groove in the key of E! The following jam track scratches that itch so well…
Here are a few scale suggestions:
Have fun!
Popularity: 9% [?]
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