Chord Melody - Get These 3 Things Right For That Beautiful Sound

[@JensLarsen]

Who is your favorite when it comes to Chord Melody?
Check out some Walking Bass And Chords while you wait:
ruclips.net/video/cNblxzAk8t0/видео.html

[@jasonmudgarde286]

Wes Montgomery on Gone with the Wind, the triplet sounding chords around 4 mins into the song are most beautiful I've ever heard. Thank Jens, great video.

[@JensLarsen]

@@jasonmudgarde286 Glad you like it!

[@Trombonology]

There are so many players whose styles I appreciate, with Bill Frisell representing one end of the spectrum with his usually very skeletal approach, which you discuss here; Joe Pass somewhere in the middle in terms of the mix of chords and single notes, and Barney Kessel, Kenny Burrell and sometimes Wes Montgomery at the other end in often harmonizing each note. In my own playing I lean toward the Kessel and Burrell style, because I love the sound of block chords. One of my favourite current players is Pasquale Grasso, because he, too, is very fluent with block. It can be difficult to play in that style without sounding clunky, especially at at brisker tempos. I believe it can be very helpful to know the lyrics in order to phrase better, regardless of how you approach chord melody, but I think you have to use care in placing your block passages, as the phrasing will sound very stiff if it's used everywhere. Excellent discussion, Jens -- as always, you cover the essential points.

[@JensLarsen]

@@Trombonology Lyrics are indeed super useful for phrasing the melody! Glad you like the video 🙂

[@tomcripps7229]

Lenny Breau. Chord melody kind of came naturally for me while studying big band chords. It happened when I believe I was on the cusp of being banned from studying jazz guitar. I learned Somewhere Over The Rainbow and my teacher was perplexed that I could figure that out. I also do a jazz chord melody of Okie From Muskogee in honor of Barney Kessel who may be favorite jazz guitarist. Nobody else seems to appreciate it though.

[@cbolt4492]

I'm still struggling with the very basics 😎

[@musicjunkie2k]

Thank you Jens, i met Joe Pass in the early 90's. He was in the corner playing at a vintage gutar show. No one seemed to recognize him. His playing was so fluid and natural. Your lessons and practice bring me closer to understanding and playing like Joe and like you so eloquently do. Thanks again. You make me smile. Cheers!

[@JensLarsen]

Nice! That sounds like a surreal experience. Glad you like the videos!

[@tomcripps7229]

I saw a video of him shedding in a music store where a group was standing and watching. Some guy walked through the group like nothing(probably looking for a Jackson). Then Joe asked himself what he should play. Someone suggested Green Dolphin St. He said he never liked that song. It cracked me up that while he could play the most incredible version, he has the right to dismiss it. I never felt the same way about that song afterwards.

[@mr.nobody2244]

Thanks for the video, really helpful. Mastering chord melody seems like the final boss if you're learning to play Jazz guitar.

[@JensLarsen]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jamesperry4470]

Really? It's the first thing I did

[@mr.nobody2244]

@@jamesperry4470 Really? I started with shell voicings, then scales, then solo impros and comping. To me chord melody feels like an amalgation of all these things that you have to master individually. Respect if you picked the hardest thing first...makes the other things easier i guess?

[@rickjensen2717]

I like to also play the melody in 6ths with some chordal movement for a slightly different quality of sound.

[@JensLarsen]

Intervals can be nice too 🙂

[@loveguitarmusicchords]

Great chord progression, Great Lesson, Great Stuff.

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you like it!

[@JPMGuitarPicker]

A great modern day Chord Melody player is Martin Taylor. Great arranging and very soulful playing. He has some good instructional materials out and he teaches on Artistworks.

[@JensLarsen]

Yes, Martin is great! And a super nice guy as well 🙂

[@PANDORAZTOYBOKZ]

One thing I've noticed about Martin that's fascinating is that he seems to be maintain chord shapes even when he plays single line melody

[@tomcripps7229]

@@PANDORAZTOYBOKZ I heard that he sees everything in triangles as he had a hard time learning other ways.

[@joejoe5921]

I like when he goes beast mode while soloing!

[@JohnDoe-gk7ok]

He better be good. His first and last name are the best acoustic guitar brands.

[@ciccaj]

Awesome lesson Jens. Thank you.

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you liked it!

[@kleberveridianogoncalvesde6293]

Thank you for the lessons and for help us to keep the flame of "Joy" burning.

[@lacasadesocorro]

This is a Masterclass with capital letters!! Thanks a lot Jens!!

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you liked it!

[@jimmrvos2930]

This is a terrific video. it's full of insight and advice. Thanks Jens!

[@JensLarsen]

Glad it was helpful, Jim 🙂

[@etiloyon3681]

Usually when I create a little accompaniment (I don't dare to say chord melody), I have tendency to want to fill it with plenty of chords (maybe the influence of French pastry) so what you say makes particularly sense. Thanks for your kind sharing.

[@antonparas4782]

Your video editing & diagrams were always great, and in this video they're even better (e.g. 1:05 separation of bass/chord/melody, 2 strings for each)
what an opportune time for us guitar students!
----------
- 2:44 i really like how you add a "color burst" to the sounding notes

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you very much Anton! 🙂

[@brzozek9669]

These tritone subs are gorgeous!

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you like them!

[@fretlessblunder]

So much useful info. Gold.

[@JensLarsen]

Glad it was useful 🙂

[@bokononx4606]

Thank you Jens! This is the skill I want most of all to work on, and your tips really make it clearer. Your channel is such a great resource!

[@JensLarsen]

Great that it is useful! What song are you working on?

[@bokononx4606]

Well, I knew an arrangement of Misty a long time ago but don't remember it - it's been awhile. I'd like to do that again, and would also like to tackle Solar and maybe In Walked Bud... most of all, though, would like to hear your ideas on improvising using this format. You also mention walking bass + shell voicings, and I'd like to learn a tune that would practice that.
Tak for alt dit hårde arbejde og informative indhold!

[@JensLarsen]

@@bokononx4606 If you are still learning a few songs then improvising and walking bass is maybe a bit heavy. I actually don't really like the sound of walking bass to much in chord melody arrangements, it is rarely with good phrasing.
As for soloing, I actually made 4-5 videos on it: ruclips.net/video/8A1oO84MEqM/видео.html
This list has 3 of them

[@bokononx4606]

@@JensLarsen Thanks, I hadn't seen those, and will check them out.

[@mandylupton9522]

I'm learning comping to accompany myself singing, and as a jazz guitar beginner I've have been struggling to work out how to create passing chords to fill in bars where there isn't much chord movement. This video has given me a number of ideas - thanks Jens!

[@JensLarsen]

Really great to hear, Mandy 🙂

[@cbolt4492]

Really looking forward to this Jen's 😎

[@JensLarsen]

Glad to hear it Christian 🙂

[@RC32Smiths01]

Thank you for this. It's really challenging to incorporate chords as an actually melody in and of itself. Cheers as always

[@JensLarsen]

Go for it Ron!

[@RC32Smiths01]

@@JensLarsen Absolutely!

[@jantonisito]

Priceless advice. Guilty as charged (hiding melody behind chords). Thanks Jens!

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you like it 🙂

[@edgarrasetentayocho9531]

Excelente maestro, muy útil el recurso para utilizarlo . Abrazo desde Argentina 🇦🇷

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you like it, Edgar!

[@AlDiPietre]

Plenty of useful tips as usual! Thanks Jens!

[@JensLarsen]

Glad it was helpful!

[@chrisheaton5853]

Man I love it, I would love to see you and Beato have an interview... I love the video with you and Aimee Nolte. Also the small clip with you and Rotem Sivan!

[@bassyey]

Great video. Exactly what I'm working on the past two months.

[@JensLarsen]

Go for it 🙂

[@K.e0102]

Thank you so mutch!

[@JensLarsen]

You're welcome!

[@davidpatrick1813]

Thank you for this...

[@JensLarsen]

My pleasure!

[@shalomshalom735]

GREAT video !!!!

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@juanbusquier8546]

Joe is God but Tal Farlow, B. Kessel, Wes is special... Your questions are difficult for me😅. Jens comping and chord melody tips i love them. 😊

[@cbolt4492]

Hey Jens, I didn't catch this live but it's what need right now 😎

[@JensLarsen]

Great that it is useful! 🙂

[@thesouthernelectric]

I love this video. Start off with shell voicings, then onto the slightly more complex 'Hadron Collider' voicings and substitutions by the end ! Jens, you are a joy to watch and listen to, and I'm not into playing or listening to jazz. Great editing.

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you 🙂

[@augustusbetucius2931]

Weird request - I'd love to hear you explain how you record your videos, particularly how you record the guitar audio, then the video with the audio of you speaking. I've wondered about the best way to do this for a while now, and despite having a number of ways to do this, no are very satisfying, or are more complicated than I'd care for. You've obviously been doing this a while, and would be really interested in how you produce your videos.

[@seattlevegas66]

Towards the end, you said knowing the song is important. To me, you MUST know the song inside and out in order to play a good chord melody version.....

[@ramazepitashvili260]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@mannoplanet]

nice

[@JensLarsen]

Thanks

[@thagard7]

Maybe it’s me but I thought that brief part of Polka Dots and Moonbeams in the beginning of the lesson sounded pretty good.

[@1818guitarfreak]

Hey man! Fantastic video! It's helpful to have a systematic way to approach something as challenging as chord melody; I love the idea of breaking up the strings. Sometimes in my practice, I find it difficult to reach the melody note or play both the chord tones and bass note. Do you relate / have any suggestions for when that happens?

[@JensLarsen]

Thanks! Arpeggiating like I talk about in this video and demonstrates on Stella could work. That is often a very practical solution and also a chance to put the melody and the music above the technique.

[@davidtardio9804]

Great video as always. I have a few questions: 1. Do you pick with your nails when you play a chord melody? 2. What about after the melody? Do you chord solo with your fingers, or do you do a mix of single lines and chords? I’m asking because right now for me chord melody is easier with my fingers but soloing is easier with a pick, and I feel like I should do just one or the other.

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you! I mostly use my fingers all the time, also when I improvise but I am surprised you ask, you can see what I do on all the Friday posts on Patreon from the last few years 🙂

[@davidtardio9804]

I guess I was referring more to when you play live. Do you just do chord melody and then chord solo with your fingers the whole time or do you sometimes grab a pick and play a single line solo as well?

[@JensLarsen]

@@davidtardio9804 that is the same approach, I don't have a separate way of doing things for RUclips

[@Garflips]

I like to give my audience time to go to the restroom in between chord changes...😂

[@kevindonnelly761]

Please don't tell anyone. I watched the Barney Kessel video. All of it ! 😳😲 Aaaaarrrggghhhh !!! There was a serious mistake. No one had capos. It's the first time in my life that I saw a group of folk guitarists with NO CAPOS !! Aren't they supposed to put at least three capos on each of their guitar necks ? I'll never be the same. 😦😲

[@JensLarsen]

Hahaha! 👍🍞

[@kevindonnelly761]

@@JensLarsen Capos and Dutch Bread !! Aaaarrrrrgggghhhhh !!!!! 😲

[@Trombonology]

I watched the whole thing, too. 😁 That tune they were playing, "Yes, My Darling Daughter," is a Ukranian folk song, but in 1940 it was adapted as a pop number and several of the big bands recorded it. Barney, only seventeen at the time, wasn't yet a prominent Swing Era player, but it's very likely that he played the pop adaptation on the road when it was new,. He swings it here -- the Swedish band, not so much.

[@kevindonnelly761]

@@Trombonology It's a very catchy tune !

[@JensLarsen]

@@Trombonology 😁

[@stefanobonoli8783]

Ciao Jens, I am currently working on a Bill Frisell video of Lush Life chord melody solo. Beautiful! Check it out if not already done.

[@JensLarsen]

Nice! I heard him playing it live a few months ago 🙂

[@daveschorrtube]

I know that antiderivative! Maybe

[@thijs199]

wat jij nou denk, waarom jij praat stoer, jij zo blijft praat stoer wij jou gitaar zaag in twee

[@JensLarsen]

🍞