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MicroLesson: 022 – Add Melody To Your Chords – Rhythm Guitar Lesson

Description

In this MicroLesson (ML022), you’ll learn how to enhance basic chords (C, Am, Em, G) by working a simple melody in between the chords. I’ll also show you several fill licks that you can use over each of the chords. The reason for learning this is to create more interesting rhythm arrangements.

Part 1 - Free Guitar Lesson

Part 2 - For Premium Members

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Slow Walk-Through

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Comments

  1. 6stringer Pete says

    June 21, 2017 at 3:45 am

    Nice one Brian.

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  2. Michael J says

    June 21, 2017 at 4:54 am

    Great work, Brian. So simple. So effective.
    M.J.

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  3. charjo says

    June 21, 2017 at 5:19 am

    Reminds me of the old Crowded House tune, “Better Be Home Soon”. Great lesson, thanks, Brian.
    John

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    • Brian says

      June 21, 2017 at 12:11 pm

      Good call John. I’m a huge fan of Crowded House and I’ll bet that’s where this chord arrangement came from. It was bugging me – I even asked my wife Joan what song it is… she didn’t know either.

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      • Phil M says

        November 2, 2018 at 8:15 pm

        Brian, sounds like the start of their Better Be Home Soon

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  4. Marc R says

    June 21, 2017 at 6:39 am

    Cool!!

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  5. Randy G says

    June 21, 2017 at 10:28 am

    been playing 9 months even a simple melody is hard to get the timing right. love all your lessons Brian and go over every lesson at lest once. thank you

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  6. Claudia L says

    June 21, 2017 at 1:17 pm

    Just lovely and you’ve made it accessible. Thanks, Brian.

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  7. San Luis Rey says

    June 21, 2017 at 7:08 pm

    The first chord progression I ever learned was to a Ventures tune “Perfidia” back in the early ’60’s. Very similar to this one, it went C, Am, F and G. I like the Em to G change in this lesson. Thanks for bringing back memories of those times. The Ventures were huge with us back then with their Fender then Mosrite guitars.
    Mike

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  8. Mark L says

    June 22, 2017 at 1:02 am

    Thanks Brian, a welcome relief from a stressful day.

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  9. Marcus R says

    June 22, 2017 at 2:45 am

    Another great lesson for beginners. Thank you Brian,
    My question is how to identify single notes that go well within a group of common chord patterns (apart from trial&error)?

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  10. jeannot18 says

    June 22, 2017 at 7:29 am

    Nice lesson Brian, may be micro, but huge in term of enjoyment!!

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  11. Dietmar S says

    June 22, 2017 at 12:08 pm

    This one’s more difficult than I expected. You don’t mention it, but in the premium lesson you often clap the guitar to keep the rhythm.

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  12. jlg says

    June 22, 2017 at 8:51 pm

    Nice one. Love these micros!

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  13. Sharon T says

    June 29, 2017 at 1:14 am

    Your lessons are awesome. I have not mastered scales yet, which I obviously need to do. I am really wanting to learn blues (esp Delta and Piedmont, as they seem easier for a beginner in that genre) and ragtime. I am also still a novice with finger-picking. So your style of playing rhythm with lead licks is perfect — my question: which scales and patterns should I learn first? Thanks

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  14. Andrea T says

    November 6, 2017 at 4:37 am

    very nice

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  15. Jade Brookes says

    July 26, 2018 at 11:11 am

    Thanks Brian, this lesson is great!!
    -Jade B

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  16. Loren H says

    August 27, 2018 at 8:24 pm

    Thank you Brian for all your lessons. I will be a yearly premium member forever. I can’t thank you enough for these lessons. You have made playing my guitar fun and enjoyable again.

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  17. Geof C says

    January 16, 2019 at 4:44 pm

    I feel like I’m getting the hang of things with this one. Terrific one-month trial for me on this site. Thanks for making my Holiday Break a productive one!

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  18. David S says

    November 20, 2019 at 8:11 pm

    Sounds great Brian,tried it in other keys.

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