Today I’m going to unlock the secret of creating captivating guitar solos. Here’s a truth – many guitarists struggle to craft pleasing melodies, often falling into the trap of aimlessly noodling within a single scale.
But, let me tell you, the magic of melody making lies in understanding the ‘World of Opposites.’ Just like in a gripping story, there’s tension and resolution. In music, this translates to chord tones and non-chord tones. Master these building blocks, alongside certain melodic tools, and you’ll see your melodic potential skyrocket.
In the above video, I play a quick melody I’ve used based on the concepts you’re about to learn. Afterwards we’ll get to the lesson and I’ll break everything down so you too can use these melodic tools to craft captivating melodies. You can download the supporting track below…
Read on for a summary of this lesson…
Chord Tones vs Non-Chord Tones
Let’s start with chord tones, these are the notes that fit right in, making up the chords in your progression. Non-chord tones, however, are the rebellious ones, the notes that aren’t part of the chord but add that all-important tension and flavor. Think of it like this: chord tones are your home base, while non-chord tones are adventurous journeys you embark on.
Introducing Melodic Tools
Now that you know the difference between Chord Tones vs Non-Chord Tones which are your building blocks, let’s check out the melodic tools you have at your disposal to build cool melodies.
Passing tones, neighbouring tones, suspensions, resolutions, appoggiaturas, and escape tones.
Each one of these is a different journey to take, a different story to tell. Take passing tones for instance – imagine visiting family in another country with a connecting flight. You leave home, make a stopover, and then reach another home. That’s how passing tones work!
Neighbouring tones, on the other hand, are like visiting your neighbour. You step out of your house, visit their house for a bit, then return back home.
Suspensions and resolutions are like movie cliffhangers – the main character left in danger and then saved!
And appoggiaturas and escape tones? These are your parkour jumps, your big leaps and steps creating exciting motion in your melodies!
Applying the Building Blocks and Tools
Now that we know the tools, let’s start building. When creating a melody, focus on the triads in your chord progression. This gives a solid framework. The remaining notes in the scale, our non-chord tones, create the tension and excitement, just like twists in a thrilling story.
You’ll have seven notes in the scale, but for each chord only three of the notes will be chord tones, making the remaining 4 notes, non-chord tones.
Knowing this will help you to know the difference between the notes that sound like “home” and the notes that create some excitement and tension.
From Practice to Performance
And that’s it.
Know your notes, and know how to put them together using the range of melodic tools I’ve shown you.
Practice these techniques till they become second nature, just like learning to ride a bike.
Initial fear and stumbling will gradually give way to balance, freedom, and creativity. It’s crucial to understand that mistakes are part of the journey and can open doors to unimaginable creativity. So, don’t be afraid to make them.
Conclusion
We’ve really dug into the nuts and bolts of melody creation today by looking at the role of chord tones and non-chord tones along with some super useful melodic tools. The true essence of music lies in the contrast and balance of these components – and mastering them will drastically elevate your guitar playing, making you a more melodic and expressive guitarist and worshipper.
I want to encourage you to put these techniques into action in your own playing so you can experience the transformation firsthand in your music.
And to help you get started, I’ve created an extended version of the backing track I used in the beginning of this video for you to practice along with. Simply click on the link in the description, enter your email address, and it’s all yours to use in your practice sessions.
But we’ve only just scratched the surface. To delve even deeper into the mechanics of melodies, check out our in-depth guide, ‘Unlock the Hidden Language of Melodies‘.
Have fun! Keep practicing, keep exploring, and keep discovering those incredible melodies that are waiting for you.
