Yes it's that time again for more questions and answers from the readers.

QUESTION
Dear Sir,

I can read music and construct chords but I cant harmonize a song given only the melody without chords. What is the basic procedure in harmonizing a given melody? How can I know the chords given the musical score of the song? I appreciate very much your help.

Sincerely,
Benjie

ANSWER
Hello Benjie,

There are a couple of possible approaches that you can use...

The first and quickest method is to locate a copy of the sheet music with the chord accompaniment or even just the chords for the song. These items are very common and available. You can usually find free chord charts for songs on the Internet, either in tabular form or just with the chords written out with the words. Let's use the song "She Loves You" by the Beatles as an example. I went to Google and typed in the following search phrase... +"she loves you" +chords. A list of links came up as a result. I picked the 8th listing which was the following link: http://www.sheetmusicplus.com.

The above-mentioned methods are very popular and used very often by musicians. If you want to sound the chords out by ear, then it will help a great deal if you are familiar with the different and various chord types... which it sounds like you know how to construct chords.

Get really familiar with each chord type, for example you should be able to hear the difference between a major and minor chord, pick out a major 7th as compared to a dominant 7th chord. You should be able to hear an augmented chord when you hear it, etc. Also familiarize yourself with the common types of chord progressions, for example the 2-5-1 progression (both minor and major versions), the 1-6-2-5, etc. Then as you listen to a song start by figuring out the bass notes of each chord. That will usually be the easiest thing to start with. So you listen to the song and you figure out that there is a C bass note followed by an A bass note followed by a D bass note followed by a G bass note. You just play along quietly and try to sound out each bass note when you hear a chord change.

Now once you have the bass notes then you start to listen for the chord types and also to think about common chord progressions. So you hear a C major, then an A minor...starts looking familiar, like a 1-6-2-5 progression...so you try playing a D minor and then a G7 and it sounds right.

So that's the basic process...again ...familiarize yourself with chord sounds and progressions, start with the bass notes then listen for chord types and progressions.

QUESTION
[with regards to selecting a guitar]
How can I pick one up and play it if I don't know how???

George

ANSWER
Hello George,

Looks like I need to add some clarifications and a little more info to that-mail message, although I assume that the person shopping for the guitar has some very basic rudimentary abilities, maybe that is not always the case. If it is not, then I still suggest at least picking up the instrument, even plucking a string or two. The relationship between a player and the guitar is so personal...you have to like the way it looks, you have to like the way it feels in your hand and on your knee...there is a lot of physical interaction, even beyond the actual playing. So I still say, yes try some different guitars out, ie. pick them up, pluck a couple of strings, put your fingers on the fretboard, hold it on your knee. If it doesn't feel right, if there is something nagging you about it, then put it down and move on.

Like most guitarists I have owned many different guitars over the years. The ones that I eventually got rid of all had something in common...I had a nagging feeling about them the day that I bought them. They were brand name guitars, famous models, nothing really wrong with them. But the minute I picked it up I just knew that it wasn't right for me...but I always wanted to give them a try and I always ended up not playing them that much and getting rid of them.

I recently bought a Gibson Les Paul and I can tell you - I will never get rid of that guitar. The minute I picked it up I just knew for sure that it was right. And when I play that guitar it feels so good. And the day that I bought it I picked up other Les Pauls right beside the one I bought and I played them and I kept coming back to that one that I ended up buying. The day they made that guitar everything lined up right for me.

I also recently bought a Yamaha nylon string acoustic guitar...same deal. It feels very good and natural when I hold and play that guitar. So, do you need to know how to play... it definitely helps. I would take some time to at least learn how to play one or two chords before buying. That is all you should need. You'll know what I'm talking about when you start trying different guitars. I can give you some brand names, some price ranges, some models...but I tell you none of that matters at all if the guitar you buy does not inspire you to play... and only you can determine which guitar that is. I hope this helps

QUESTION
Dear Mr. Ginex,

Today's lesson talked about, scales, modes and arpeggios--I'm not much of a guitar player- but can play songs on my guitar, melody's only- Am I correct in thinking, if I apply what I could learn in today's lesson - I could learn how to fill in, say like, while holding a 4 count note? Or just do my own thing - One of my favorite melody's to play is, John Denver's, Sunshine on my Shoulders. Thanks for your many tips.

ANSWER
Hello again George,

Thanks for the question with scales, modes and arpeggios you can do a number of things. You are correct in your thinking that if you apply the lesson you can fill in pauses in a song with notes from the scale, mode or arpeggio. Or you could enhance the chords or melody you are playing for a given song by playing scale, mode or arpeggio notes in between strumming the chords or playing the melody.

Let your musical imagination and creativity flow and play what sounds good to you while playing a song. The scales, modes and arpeggios are another vehicle or tool to allow you to do that. By learning and using these tools you have a basic guideline as a start on notes that you can play to accompany a song. In addition to filling in melody and chord arrangements in a song, you can use these tools to create your own melodies against a given set of chord changes. This is often referred to as "improvising" or "soloing". You may want to consider learning some of the basic chords, as it will open up a whole new world of musical possibilities for you. Let me know if you have further questions.