I got an email from a student with a seemingly simple question: “how do I strum some simple chords and play a melody at the same time?”. Unfortunately, this is a skill that takes some time and dedication to figure out, but this is how you would do it!
Step 1 - Learn the basic chord progression with a simple strumming part.
Step 2 - Pick out and learn how to play melody on its own.
Step 3 - Experiment with different chord shapes and or keys, using capo if necessary, to accommodate playing through the chords while keeping the melody on top.
So you have a practical example, I’ll show you how to play the classic hymn “What a friend we have in Jesus” in the key of A. Then I’ll show you how I figure out how to play the song’s rhythm and melody together in a key I have never played the song in before.
It’s a lot to take in, but with dedicated practice time, I know you will be able to do it!
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