Starting with a simple, nice melody line in G major, we’ll be taken through a structured process (based on a ‘Grid’) to add harmonic colour to the melody. We’ll use the complete ‘Grid’ but there’ll be a number of performance pieces made available to work on after the course. The focus is building a chord progression over under the melody and giving it a feel/rhythm based on a particular style. This method approach will also allow us to tweak the chords to suit our own musical tastes and playing level.
Improvising, arranging music, writing new songs and tunes, collaborating, playing together, making better and more interesting music. Writing songs and tunes and performing them is undoubtedly the best way of learning any instrument.
This session is a practical, hands-on approach to writing a tune from scratch, without needing to know extensive theory. We use a ‘Grid‘ which shows what chords and scales are available to us within the key but also those outside of the key – this can make things very interesting and colourful.
The ‘Grid’ is a deliberate bypass of music theory; it’s a pallete of chords which are available to us. It is based on the parent, and related, keys. The main tool is our ears!
The overall aims are to provide us with:
We’ll be given a simple verse melody line in advance in the key of G major.
Starting with a defined melody we’ll look at building the chord progression options around the melody using a ‘grid’. The overall approach will be explained as we’re taken through the entire process. Cadences (resolutions), harmonic ideas, chord melody, song structure will all be looked at. We might even have time to complete it with a basic chorus.
The full transcriptions will be made available for the lesson.
The course has been significantly pdated and in summary is as follows:
Intermediate acoustic and electric guitar players.
Everyone should pick up something from this session in terms of understanding the basic approach and possibilities. If you can play open chords, tried barre chords and understand a major key and have an appreciation of the I, IV and V then you should be fine.
Whatever level you are at, you’ll have lots of takeaways to work on later.
The melody line PDF will be sent out in advance and along with an audio recording.
The lesson PDF (including the full TAB of the performance pieces) will be issued on the day of the course. A Zoom recording of the live lesson will be made available to you afterwards (including a playthrough of the performance peices).
Lots of goodies in this course.
The session is 90 minutes long; don’t expect to master everything during the session. The tutor will go through all the key parts, demonstrating them and discussing the associated techniques and know-how.
The real work is done by you afterwards. Armed with the materials (PDFs and video recording), you’ll have all the tools to work on things at your own pace.
When you book you’ll have two options:
1. You want to join the live Zoom session.
You’ll receive the joining instructions on the day. Being live, you’ll be able to put your own questions directly to the tutor during the session. Choose option 1, Lesson and materials.
2. Maybe you’d like to attend but can’t make it on this occasion?
You can buy the materials and receive them after the session (i.e. lesson PDF(s) and access to a Zoom recording of the live session). Choose option 2, Materials only.
3. If you’d like to buy the materials (PDFs, access to Zoom recording, etc.) for our previous Write a tune in 60 minustes (key of C major). Choose option 3. Previous session’s materials (key of C) as prep.