Chords that Sound like a Beautiful Melody

Creative Fingerstyle Guitar

Hello guys, today, we will focus on one of my favorite topics: Chords and Melody.

I will show you how you can make a chord progression sound like a beautiful melody using the fingerstyle technique.

The chord progression we are working on is Am – G – Fmaj7 – E, the standard Spanish chord progression.

The Video

Chords and Melody

Why these chords sound like a Melody

The chord progression is very simple: Am – G – Fmaj7 – E.

The thumb plays the melody throughout, while the index and middle finger play the E open string as the accompaniment.

Check the example below.

The Red color shows you the melody played with the thumb.

The Yellow color indicates the accompaniment played with alternate fingering on the high E string. We will keep the same note throughout the entire exercise. This technique is called pedal point.

Using this approach, you will be able to create a beautiful melody based on the chord progression you are using.

The secret here is to play the melody on the lower strings and leave the accompaniment to the top strings only.

How to Practice

I highly recommend you practice the melody separately before adding the accompaniment.

By doing that, you will isolate the melody and focus on fluidity and fingers dexterity.

Once you feel comfortable playing the melody, add the accompaniment. Don’t forger to use alternate fingering starting on the middle finger.

One key point is to emphasize the melody over the accompaniment.

Fingerstyle guitar is amazing because it allows you to put more emphasy on a certain guitar part.

For this guitar part, you should try to keep the melody’s volume higher by plucking the strings harder with the thumb and lightly with the fingers.

Not an easy task.

Here’s the Tab

Get the PDF Inside the Student Area

 

THIS IS A LESSON FROM PRACTICAL FINGERSTYLE

My Video Course for Beginners

Practical Fingerstyle is a Fingerstyle video course that focuses on melodies and musicality.

Few info about this program.

• Eight weeks program
• Song-like exercises
• Each week focuses on one technique

Check this course on Patreon.