Chord melody
A style of playing in which melody and harmony are played at the same time on one guitar, with the melody as the top note.
Chord melody arrangements put the tune on the highest string and support it with chord tones underneath, so a single guitar can carry a whole song. The arranger chooses voicings that keep the melody note on top while containing the underlying harmony, which often means unusual shapes and moving inner voices. It is the standard solo-guitar idiom in jazz, and it teaches players to think in terms of voice leading rather than grips.
Example: A jazz guitarist playing a standard as a solo arrangement, tune on top and chords underneath, is playing chord melody.
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- ReferenceCircle of fifths
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