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 – contrefacts

contrefact on Blues for Alice

contrefact on Devil on My Shoulder

part 3 – creating modal progressions

pdfs:

spatial relationship of intervals of each mode

modal scales in standard notation and guitar tab

common scales and their modes – with chords and intervals 

  1. Pick a mode and a key
  2. Write out notes in scale
  3. Write notes of the I chord to the 7th (Start on mode, every other for 1, 3, 5, 7)
  4. Write notes of II chord to the 7th (Start on and build 1, 3, 5, 7)
  5. Write notes of the VII chord to the 7th (Start on 7 and build 1, 3, 5, 7)
  6. Name I chord
  7. Name II chord
  8. Name VII chord
  9. Play all 3 chords in this fashion |  I  |  II  VII  |  or |  I  |  %  |  II  |  VII  |  (any time signature or tempo)