[ijh]

Hi,

Can someone please explain the term melody note

I have seen it numerous times on tab and in some books - i presume it's the note that follows the vocal melody but i'm not sure how that relates to the guitar part

For example i have some music that says "the melody note is the 2nd fret of the G string" or " the basic chord is played up to the melody note"

How would i use this information in my, albeit very basic, playing.

thanks in advance.

[Donovan]

When playing chord-melody arrangements on the guitar (as you will usually do when fingerpicking), the notes you play can usually be divided in the bass note (the lowest note you play; usually a basic chord tone as well), the chord tones which are usually plucked with the fingers at the same time, and the melody notes. The melody notes are usually on the higher (treble) strings and are ornaments and expansions on the basic chord. The (meandering) pattern they follow through the measures and the song is what people call "melody" and is usually the most ear-catching when you listen to the guitar by itself.

I'm not too sure that will explain it well enough, but I think Kirk and many of the other experienced fingerpickers around can put it into words quite nicely

[allthumbs]

Websters definition.

1 : a sweet or agreeable succession or arrangement of sounds : TUNEFULNESS
2 : a rhythmic succession of single tones organized as an aesthetic whole

If your a basic player, see how the non melody notes support the melody and how a song is constructed around the melody. Melody loves chord tones so you will see the melody line passing through chords a lot.
When your skills improve, you can start with a melodic idea and flesh it out using your understanding of how chords interact with the melody line and how non melody notes work to support it. Kirks lessons are great examples of this.

[Donovan]

Originally Posted by allthumbs

(...)
a rhythmic succession of single tones organized as an aesthetic whole
(...)

Very nicely put... Could be in the dictionary that way