Get ready to lean a super fun version of "Can't Help Falling in Love" by Elvis Presley!
In the following lesson we'll be learning a chord melody arrangement of this beautiful song. In the chord melody guitar style we combine both the chords and the melody at the same time! This is one of the most beautiful styles of guitar playing and is the perfect way to approach playing a beautiful ballad such as this!
Three Tips to Help Your Chord Melody Songs Sound Awesome!
Tip #1: Be Very Accurate with Your Picking
In the chord melody guitar style you will be playing a lot of triads. In case you don't know, triads are three note chord shapes that enable you to play any chord in any position of the guitar neck. Triads are critical to the chord melody style because they enable us to follow the melody as it moves up and down the neck (usually staying on the top three strings). Need to switch to an Am chord while also playing a melody note on the first string 8th fret? No problem! There's a triad that will enable you to play the notes of the Am chord (A-C-E) while also playing the melody note.
Here you can see the intersection of the melody and the chords in the first few bars of "Can't Help Falling in Love". Notice that the melody notes are always in the "top voice" (they are always the highest note of the chord).
Given the fact that the melody note is always the top (highest) note it's imperative that we play our triads accurately. In other words, we need to ensure that we don't "overshoot" the chord and accidentally hit the strings that are above the melody note as doing so will "distort" the melody.
Obviously, If the melody note is on the highest (E) string this is not a problem. However, if the melody note is on the second string as it often is (see above example) accidentally hitting the top string will cause us to lose the melody--and we don't want that!
Tip #2: Use a "Rake" (Rather than a Strum) to Bring Out the Melody
The best way to bring out the melody when combining it with chord tones is to use a rake. When we strum a chord we hear all of the notes at the same time. However, when we use a rake the notes are slightly broken up (played one after another vs. all at the same time). Doing this will "bring out" the melody since the melody note will always be the last note heard. Be sure to watch the above tutorial for a detailed explanation on how to use the rake to bring out the melody!
Tip #3: Keep Chord Tones Ringing as Long as Possible
Don't be in a rush to release the notes of the chords. Try to keep the notes of the chord ringing--even as you play new melody notes. Obviously, this isn't always possible--particularly if you have to change to a different position. However there will be many times when you can keep one or more fingers pressed down even as you hit other melody notes. Doing so will make your chord melody 10X more beautiful!
Mastering this technique not only ensures that your bends will be clear and quiet, but it also increases picking speed and gives you the ability to control all unwanted string noise (which is critical in a live-performance situation).
Conclusion
As mentioned, the chord melody guitar style is one of the most beautiful styles of guitar playing. Chord melody arrangements are also ideal for performance since the listener can easily tell what song you're playing when both the melody and the chords are being played together. Just like any guitar style, the more songs you play the better you will get. Use the playing tips outlined in this article (and the above video) and your chord melody songs will be sounding beautiful in no time!
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David Osborn is the founder and head teacher at Kids Guitar Academy. David has been teaching guitar professionally for over 20 years, specializing in guitar studies for kids & teens. Aside from teaching, David enjoys spending time with family & friends, fishing, and playing electric guitar in his church's worship band.
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