A ballad in major

The progression

Eight bars, one chord each:

The melody

It sits near the nut, on the G, B and high E strings: G (open G string), A (2^nd fret), B (open B), C (1^st fret), D (3^rd fret), E (open high E).

e|-----------------0---------------------------0-------------|
B|-0-------0-3-1-0---3-0---1-0-----0-------0-3---3-1-0---0---|
G|---2-0-2---------------2-----2-0---2-0-2-------------2---0-|
D|-----------------------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------|

Notice how it follows the progression: it lands on B over the first G, rises to D over D, touches E over Em, and comes back to G at the end. That’s the idea from the previous lesson: one chord tone, chosen for each chord.

1. Learn it in two-bar phrases, singing it.
2. Play it over the progression, slowly (60).
3. Then by heart, at 70.

The solo

The second time through the progression, improvise. To keep the thread:

• Start with the melody, then change one detail in each phrase: a rhythm, an ending note, a slide.
• Move up a position halfway through the solo: the G major pentatonic at the 2^nd fret, then position 1 of the major scale at the 3^rd fret.
• Target the chord tones: B over G, F# over D, G over Em, E over C.
• End on G, in the last bar, and let it ring.

The whole piece

Melody, solo, melody: three times through the progression. That’s the form of many instrumental songs. Record yourself: it’s your first complete ballad.

You’ve got it when…

• You can play the melody by heart over the progression, at 70
• You improvise for two minutes over the progression, starting from the melody
• You can play the whole piece, melody, solo, melody, ending on G