Beyond Chord Melody, Volume 1

It is satisfying to play a piece of music that sounds great on just one guitar. Beethoven said, “The guitar is a miniature orchestra in itself.”

Beyond Chord Melody concentrates on the advanced concepts that distinguish the beginning guitarist from someone on the road to mastering this style of playing.

Volume 1 prepares you to play the arrangements in Volume 2. It contains 490 examples and exercises, along with note-by-note recordings of all the material that illustrate the concepts used in creating the arrangements.

There is an emphasis on how to get a good sound while playing solo. A lot of attention is spent on fingerings. Sometimes, unusual fingerings can achieve a musical goal that once seemed unattainable.

You will also learn about the great solo guitar players, arrangers, and singers, as well as cover songs to listen to for inspiration.

There is excitement, satisfaction, and the pure pleasure of becoming proficient in arranging for and playing solo guitar. Stick with it; it's a worthwhile endeavor.

Foreword  

Preface  

Introduction

Notation Issues

The Basics

Suggested Prerequisites for Playing and Arranging for Solo Guitar  

Picking a Song  

Tuning  

Picking a Key

The Arranger’s Toolbox  

Melody, Harmony, and Rhythm

Melody  

Harmony  

Counterpoint  

Bass Lines  

Modulation  

Rhythm  

Fingering

Left-Hand Fingering Suggestions and Examples

Maintaining a Legato Line

Fingering for Legato and Sustain

Right-Hand Fingering Suggestions

After You Have Learned a Song

Structure  

Introductions

Endings

Interludes

Turnarounds

Sound, Tone, Texture and Harmonics

Things to Think About After You’ve Learned a Song  

Practice and Studying

Practicing  

Studying  

Great Cover Songs  

Lists of Great Guitarists, Singers, Arrangers, Horn Bands and Pianists  

Closing Thoughts

Closing Thoughts  

From the Author Regarding Mel Bay Publications  

Acknowledgments  

About the Author