easier chord melody examples

[stevejay]

I would like to work more with chord melody (a la tenor banjo or uke)

Does anyone know some easy examples to get started?

Thanks!

[Pete Martin]

Start with easy folk melodies on the A and E string. Put other notes from the current chord (1 3 5 b7) underneath.

[Pete Martin]

Start with easy folk melodies on the A and E string. Put other notes from the current chord (1 3 5 b7) underneath.

Little Brown Jug is good for this.

[stevejay]

Thanks Pete, I'll do that. I like this answer, in part it was "use your ear"

[Jim Garber]

I worked out a pretty simple arrangement for Sweet Lorraine on the tenor guitar. Just worked the melody on the top string of each chord and the nearest chord incorporating that melody note. I can see if I can find my arrangement -- not that it was anything amazing.

[catmandu2]

In case you need some chart resources -- http://www.theguitarguy.com/songs.htm

[Jim Garber]

You may need to transpose to a better key depending on what instrument you are arranging for.

I would search for tenor banjo -- lots of stuff for that.

For instance: Tenor Banjo Lesson – How To Build a Chord Melody

[avaldes]

Not sure if this is what you mean, and it comes from a relative beginner (a little over a year on mando). It is my arrangement of the hymn "Simple Gifts", known to many from Aaron Copeland's Appalachian Spring. Except for the end where I repeat the earlier idea an octave higher, the entire melody is played on the 3rd and 2nd string. So pick that out first (sorry, I have not tabbed it out). Then use a note from the chord (G, D, or F#, depending) at the end of phrases, or alone as an accompaniment. For G chords I use x-5-2-x, 0-5-2-x, x-5-5-x. For D, I use x-4-0-x, x-4,5-x.

[catmandu2]

You may need to transpose to a better key depending on what instrument you are arranging for.

I would search for tenor banjo -- lots of stuff for that.

For instance: Tenor Banjo Lesson – How To Build a Chord Melody

Jim, have you found a site with a database like that for standards? (for TB). I've not, though I'd like to

[Jim Garber]

Do you mean a site with chord-melody arrangements of standards... not really. Eddy Davis has some lessons on tenor banjo and guitar on youtube.

[Jim Garber]

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v...type=2&theater

avaldes: this link doesn't work for me and I am logged into FB.

[avaldes]

Privacy settings strike again. I put it on YouTube:

[catmandu2]

Do you mean a site with chord-melody arrangements of standards... not really. Eddy Davis has some lessons on tenor banjo and guitar on youtube.

Yeah, that "GG" list is deep--best I've found. I've been using those charts for TB for years--for my vocal range, I've been able to use them as is without transposing. Lots of goodies

[Jim Garber]

I find charts with melody and chords written out more useful. I use the Real Books. You can download them and other sheet music for standards here.

[catmandu2]

I find charts with melody and chords written out more useful. I use the Real Books. You can download them and other sheet music for standards here.

You bet--can't beat the Real books for bebop heads. No lyrics though. What I like about the GG charts is for use as the basis for my own arrangements (which is why I suggested it here--after Pete's recommendations)--since the melodies of standards are so familiar

[Jim Garber]

There are some older standards in the Real Books. I actually have some old fake books with bare bones chords that works nicely for 4 course instruments. I find it helpful to have the melodies. Are GG's chords really different from Real Books?

[catmandu2]

Well many of them are arranged with more chordal embellishment. So you can use them as is for some nice vamping--as well as the basis for substitutions, voice leading, etc. If the OP (Steve) is inclined to take a tune or two well familiar from the list and fool around with it, he might find much of the melody already contained in the chords indicated--if not readily evident (on top), follow Pete's advice and look for it elsewhere within the chord or chord form...a basis for embellishment, etc.

[Don Stiernberg]

My book Jazz Mandolin Appetizers (Mel Bay) has a chord melody section, and many of the jazz columns in Mandolin Magazine offer chord melody arrangements of standards