Learn Guitar Online - Easy As 1-2-3 - The Basics - Melody

Have you ever played your guitar for someonecapability of playing more than one note at a time.
and they ask you "what was that" you werePolyphonic instruments have the capability of
playing? Now, you might be puzzled why theyplaying both single notes and chords which are
asked you that in the first place, after all it'ssimply combinations of notes played
pretty obvious what you were playing isn't it?simultaneously.
This is a fairly common situation, you know whatThe fact that most guitar players begin to play
you are playing because usually you have thevia the chordal route probably explains the
music in front of you or you are singing the songconfusion, the term melody usually doesn't show
in your head; and therein lies the problem... whenup on the guitar radar until some rather
you are strumming the chords of a song theembarrassing moment when someone asks you
listener has no idea what you are playing.to play the melody for "Happy Birthday" or "Jingle
The fact that the backgrounds of so many songsBells".
are exactly the same only the melodies areI say embarrassing because (a) you can't say you
different means from the listener's point of viewdon't know the tune and (b) it's not easy to pick
you could be playing any number of tunes.out a melody on the guitar if you haven't trained
How do we overcome this problem?yourself to find individual sounds.
Simple - learn melodiesPlaying melodies on the guitar:
I'm sure you have heard the term 'melody'Guitarists often talk about lead guitar and rhythm
before but what does it mean? Actually, fewguitar, these are 'guitar talk' terms, it's wise to
guitarists are clear on what a melody is; so withalso know the standard musical language of
that in mind let's get to work on clearing a fewmelody and harmony and how they relate to the
things up!guitar.
Melody is the singing side of music, just as rhythmDefinitions:
is the dancing side. People usually think of aMusicians refer to the 'melody', which translates to
melody as a tune, something that's easy toplaying a single string (one note) at a time on the
remember, that "sticks in your mind".guitar. Therefore in 'guitar talk' a lead guitarist
Have you ever heard a song on the radio in thewould be playing the melody of a song.
morning and can't stop whistling it all day? WellListen to guitar based instrumental groups such as
that's a melody you are whistling!"The Shadows" and "The Ventures" for excellent
Unless you are singing the melody of a song andexamples of lead guitar players playing the
accompanying yourself on the guitar yourmelody.
audience can't tell what song you are playingRhythm guitarists play the chords or harmony of
because they can't hear the 'melody', they area tune which supports the melody.
only hearing the harmony of the song.Sonic sandwich:
A very brief and accurate description of musicTo help get your head around these new musical
could be "pitch in time", melody being the pitchterms and concepts it helps to think of music like
and rhythm being the time, of course there area sonic sandwich;
other elements that go to make up music such(a) melody on top, (b) harmony in the middle and
as dynamics, harmony etc., but the two basic(c) bass at the bottom.
elements are pitch and time.Now it's time to go over to your guitar... play a
Instruments such as the flute, trumpet,single string, follow that with another note and
saxophone and clarinet are monophonic meaningyou have a tiny two-note melody, add a third
they are only capable of playing one note at anote and it begins to sound a little more melodious
time so essentially these instruments are playingadd a few more and you have a melody.
melodies all the time. Musical instruments like theNow it's your turn to play melodies on the guitar.
piano, guitar and organ are polyphonic having the