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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 :)

Пікірлер: 149

  • @seananguswatson
    @seananguswatson6 жыл бұрын

    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

    @alexanderalraheb

    6 жыл бұрын

    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

    @seananguswatson

    6 жыл бұрын

    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. seananguswatson@gmail.com

  • @lol.8579

    @lol.8579

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@alexanderalraheb use a vpn

  • @oobboo1799

    @oobboo1799

    3 жыл бұрын

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

  • @itsnrv1817
    @itsnrv18175 жыл бұрын

    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

    @michakrawiec8217

    4 жыл бұрын

    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

    @JimLarranaga5k

    4 жыл бұрын

    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!

  • @arthurcorpart
    @arthurcorpart5 жыл бұрын

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

  • @mattcolley3844
    @mattcolley38444 жыл бұрын

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

  • @elliottpereda5724
    @elliottpereda57244 жыл бұрын

    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.

  • @benmccart9243
    @benmccart92434 жыл бұрын

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

  • @Blacksmith1959
    @Blacksmith19595 жыл бұрын

    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

  • @karolusmagnus38
    @karolusmagnus38 Жыл бұрын

    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 !

  • @EricSwanson1
    @EricSwanson15 жыл бұрын

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

  • @slimeboy33
    @slimeboy333 ай бұрын

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

  • @johnnydeeme
    @johnnydeeme5 жыл бұрын

    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!

  • @sauce8277
    @sauce82774 жыл бұрын

    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

  • @alxxxnder2
    @alxxxnder26 жыл бұрын

    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

    @seananguswatson

    6 жыл бұрын

    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

    @missioncreekfarm7715

    2 жыл бұрын

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

  • @2vmurthy
    @2vmurthy6 жыл бұрын

    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

    @seananguswatson

    6 жыл бұрын

    Thanks so much Vivek!

  • @oly1620
    @oly16205 жыл бұрын

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

  • @jonathansoto3652
    @jonathansoto36526 жыл бұрын

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

  • @seananguswatson

    @seananguswatson

    6 жыл бұрын

    Cheers man I like it too :)

  • @documentalist-NL
    @documentalist-NL3 жыл бұрын

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

  • @JimLarranaga5k
    @JimLarranaga5k4 жыл бұрын

    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.

  • @richies1016
    @richies10166 жыл бұрын

    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

    @seananguswatson

    6 жыл бұрын

    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.

  • @delinquense
    @delinquense Жыл бұрын

    Subtle butt effective. Great explanation, string by string.

  • @zeishiin616
    @zeishiin6166 жыл бұрын

    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

    @seananguswatson

    6 жыл бұрын

    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.

  • @zingleraster9124
    @zingleraster912411 ай бұрын

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

  • @davemassie3726
    @davemassie37265 жыл бұрын

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

  • @deltafour1212
    @deltafour12124 жыл бұрын

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

  • @seananguswatson

    @seananguswatson

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for watching!

  • @DanielLandress
    @DanielLandress3 жыл бұрын

    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.

  • @deltafour1212
    @deltafour12123 жыл бұрын

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

  • @beachthor1
    @beachthor14 жыл бұрын

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

  • @danny-devito
    @danny-devito6 жыл бұрын

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

  • @seananguswatson

    @seananguswatson

    6 жыл бұрын

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

  • @davidforsyth5289
    @davidforsyth52892 жыл бұрын

    Oh my goodness. This has opened up my ears!

  • @wengchungtham1801
    @wengchungtham18013 жыл бұрын

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

  • @RickProkosch
    @RickProkosch5 жыл бұрын

    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

    @seananguswatson

    5 жыл бұрын

    Rick Prokosch glad to hear it!

  • @jmxds1997
    @jmxds1997 Жыл бұрын

    this man is a genius

  • @kavalierdernacht
    @kavalierdernacht4 жыл бұрын

    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!

  • @lukeli8750
    @lukeli87505 жыл бұрын

    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.

  • @monacarlossmokey
    @monacarlossmokey5 жыл бұрын

    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

  • @2gigahijau
    @2gigahijau5 жыл бұрын

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

  • @geralynpalacol9295
    @geralynpalacol92952 жыл бұрын

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

  • @hankhan479
    @hankhan4796 жыл бұрын

    man, this is gold

  • @BloodyMirPootin
    @BloodyMirPootin4 жыл бұрын

    Nice tone, great lesson, beautiful SG too..

  • @andrewmcnabb457
    @andrewmcnabb4574 жыл бұрын

    Good shit man. Such a badass guitar

  • @karunamohanmukherjee493
    @karunamohanmukherjee4935 жыл бұрын

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

  • @rolfbeyer1511
    @rolfbeyer15113 жыл бұрын

    Great lesson..thanks

  • @AntonKeller
    @AntonKeller6 жыл бұрын

    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!!

  • @MrFree-vj8qj
    @MrFree-vj8qj4 жыл бұрын

    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

  • @alvaroimizcozgarcia118
    @alvaroimizcozgarcia1184 жыл бұрын

    Amazing piece of information, thank you very much

  • @zacharypaulus3135
    @zacharypaulus31355 жыл бұрын

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

  • @ohdannyboy6801
    @ohdannyboy68016 жыл бұрын

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

  • @sharpdreamacademy1435

    @sharpdreamacademy1435

    5 жыл бұрын

    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!

  • @CosmicHobo2
    @CosmicHobo25 жыл бұрын

    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

    @seananguswatson

    5 жыл бұрын

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

  • @HandsOnMusicLearning
    @HandsOnMusicLearning5 жыл бұрын

    cool introduction to chord melody, well explained

  • @MohamedIsmail-fm9kq
    @MohamedIsmail-fm9kq3 жыл бұрын

    thank you so much for such an inspiring lesson

  • @LionLapin
    @LionLapin2 жыл бұрын

    👌very interesting !

  • @klaaskabini5407
    @klaaskabini54073 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for this video. I learned something new

  • @makemeproudmusic3920
    @makemeproudmusic39203 жыл бұрын

    Dude. Amazing.

  • @ItzJonnyboi
    @ItzJonnyboi6 жыл бұрын

    Good lesson man, nice explanation.

  • @rushikeshkamble3340
    @rushikeshkamble33405 жыл бұрын

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

  • @poliku81
    @poliku815 жыл бұрын

    i am blown away :o

  • @BFromUpNorth
    @BFromUpNorth5 жыл бұрын

    Very nice and informative video.

  • @tingel155
    @tingel1556 жыл бұрын

    That was awesome!

  • @rordrom3234
    @rordrom32345 жыл бұрын

    Thank you good sir, very good lesson!

  • @chrishmetcalf1432
    @chrishmetcalf14326 жыл бұрын

    Brilliant! Thank you so much. So simple!

  • @seananguswatson

    @seananguswatson

    6 жыл бұрын

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

  • @bak1386
    @bak13865 жыл бұрын

    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

  • @badhombre4246
    @badhombre42466 жыл бұрын

    The main things I've learned from you and the things I think make you sound unique are; string skipping stuff, And then getting one note to sustain by just plucking it more than once. Very useful o me just figured I'd tell ya

  • @seananguswatson

    @seananguswatson

    6 жыл бұрын

    Yo that's very insightful! I rarely think about it in that way but you're totally right, string skipping is a huge part of my playing. Plucking a few extra times to get a note to stick out or sustain is also a solid technique. Glad it's useful to you!

  • @badhombre4246

    @badhombre4246

    6 жыл бұрын

    Sean Angus Watson thanks! Those things really improve my playing :)

  • @jt2465
    @jt24652 жыл бұрын

    Good tips

  • @GabrielRodrigues-hn6lm
    @GabrielRodrigues-hn6lm6 жыл бұрын

    Thnx 4 this, bro!! 🇧🇷

  • @bernardostefa1093

    @bernardostefa1093

    6 жыл бұрын

    Gabriel Rodrigues mt foda né

  • @CarlosVinicciusRC

    @CarlosVinicciusRC

    6 жыл бұрын

    O timbre do cara é espetacular

  • @Fisherman6383
    @Fisherman63833 жыл бұрын

    come for lesson stayed for the SG

  • @ealvs9584
    @ealvs95843 жыл бұрын

    Dope man ! Thanks you very much :)

  • @miladragon
    @miladragon5 жыл бұрын

    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?

  • @Adrian-ie6vd
    @Adrian-ie6vd Жыл бұрын

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

  • @brtmont
    @brtmont6 жыл бұрын

    WOW. THANKS

  • @MrNotYet1
    @MrNotYet15 жыл бұрын

    this guitar is beautiful

  • @ilikemountain2843
    @ilikemountain28435 жыл бұрын

    Awesome video thank you

  • @AdirBin
    @AdirBin5 жыл бұрын

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

  • @nikolaubtopou
    @nikolaubtopou4 жыл бұрын

    Mind blown 🤯

  • @eduardocadu1366
    @eduardocadu13663 жыл бұрын

    i love it

  • @ayembongski76
    @ayembongski763 жыл бұрын

    Thanks!

  • @benarce3607
    @benarce36076 жыл бұрын

    Great vid, man!

  • @jimtessin4130
    @jimtessin41304 жыл бұрын

    Thank you!

  • @gprinceaszomszedbol8708
    @gprinceaszomszedbol87085 жыл бұрын

    You are a genius .

  • @CarlosVinicciusRC
    @CarlosVinicciusRC6 жыл бұрын

    I luv this video!

  • @fattyz1
    @fattyz12 жыл бұрын

    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.

  • @ren7ee
    @ren7ee2 жыл бұрын

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

  • @bivashdebnath9947
    @bivashdebnath99474 жыл бұрын

    Lovely

  • @potato7171
    @potato71713 жыл бұрын

    thank u so much!😭❤️❤️❤️

  • @Astasiaaa
    @Astasiaaa4 жыл бұрын

    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.

  • @mariajuliana1584
    @mariajuliana15846 жыл бұрын

    Yo! Hahahaha I love your videos !

  • @frankarcand4456
    @frankarcand44563 жыл бұрын

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

  • @AndyKunkel
    @AndyKunkel6 жыл бұрын

    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

    @seananguswatson

    6 жыл бұрын

    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

    @AndyKunkel

    6 жыл бұрын

    @@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!

  • @InterWarp
    @InterWarp6 жыл бұрын

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

  • @AurelienPetitvideo
    @AurelienPetitvideo3 жыл бұрын

    Nice work Anyone knows the guitar model ?

  • @bernardostefa1093
    @bernardostefa10936 жыл бұрын

    Amazing 🇧🇷

  • @JuelZ925
    @JuelZ9256 жыл бұрын

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

  • @kingdavidhoward
    @kingdavidhoward4 жыл бұрын

    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,

  • @orfeaskommatas146
    @orfeaskommatas1465 жыл бұрын

    nice!

  • @Phantorion
    @Phantorion5 жыл бұрын

    Awesome man! Is that a Gibson SG raw power?

  • @VinylOcelot

    @VinylOcelot

    5 жыл бұрын

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

  • @theodore8178
    @theodore81785 жыл бұрын

    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.

  • @freebyrdwins
    @freebyrdwins6 жыл бұрын

    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

    @seananguswatson

    6 жыл бұрын

    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

    @freebyrdwins

    6 жыл бұрын

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

  • @shader3020
    @shader30203 жыл бұрын

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

  • @leofunks31
    @leofunks313 жыл бұрын

    2:54 it kinda just sounds like...Stairway to heaven :D

  • @swaroov9236
    @swaroov92365 жыл бұрын

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

  • @mdasikkhan1610
    @mdasikkhan16104 жыл бұрын

    Whats the guitar model