Theory
how melody and harmony interact
part 1 – basic starting point
1. watch video and make a melody for the “Polly Woddle Doodle” progression in C
2. try same idea in a different key, (by moving the scale to a different fret, or, if you know multiple major scale positions, a different scale shape as well)
more advanced:
3. try same concept with a I and IV progression
4. if you know minor scales, try same concept with a I and V7 in a minor key
5. if you know minor scales, try same concept with I and IV in minor key
even more advanced:
6. build longer progressions (ex: 4 or 8 bars) with multiple diatonic chords, and create written or improvised melodies using same concept
summary and demonstration in a different key
part 2 – intervals in each diatonic chord as they relate to key’s tonic
part 3 – contrefacts
contrefact on Blues for Alice
contrefact on Devil on My Shoulder
using chords from parallel minor to a diatonic progression and writing a melody to it
1. select key
2. choose roman numerals
3. play chord
4. substitute at least 1 chord from parallel minor
5. play new progression
6. spell each chord
7. translate those note names into intervals according to key
8. choose 1 chord tone for each chord
9. connect chord tones together with other notes from scale