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Mel Bay Study Group

The Mel Bay Method For Guitar According To  "The Principles"

CHECKPOINT 13,  PAGE 38 ....A Serenade

             Checkpoints:1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16                                     

ULTIMATE FOLK CHECKPOINTS 1-2-3-4-5-6-7


 

 

 

 

Below are detailed instructions on how to approach this very tricky solo. Pay great attention to each detail. There is an incredible amount of benefit to be gained by mastering this solo, and if you are a Principled Player, you have everything you need to master it, by using The Principles, and my step by step instructions below.

 

 

"A Serenade"

Measures 2  We have a transition to the floating arm on beat one, as you release the notes B&D. STAY RELAXED in the arm, watch 1&2, keep them close, since they go right back down.

On beat 3, careful as you move down. The arm moving away from the body always creates tension. WATCH 4 here. It will want to tense and pull away from the 4 string, which will cause you to miss the F# coming up in measure 4.

 

Measure 3   Keep watching that 4th finger! Keep it waiting over the F#. Lots of posing and breathing here if you feel uncomfortable.

 

 Measures 4-6   Begin to move the elbow away from the body, and bring the 3rd finger into position for the F# needed on beat one of the next measure. Heavy arm here, of course.

 

 Measures 7

 

Realize that the C on beat 3 is still sharp. (a sharp or flat lasts for the whole measure). 
Measure 9  Careful on the half bar. Keep the other fingers as relaxed and ready as possible. Keep the heavy arm, and transfer weight  to the 2nd finger on beat 3.

As 2 goes down, watch 3. It will tense, and you must stop if from doing so. Keep it close, relaxed, and ready for the F note.

Keep your eye on 4 as well, which has to play the D note in the next measure.

 

Measure 10 You should be all set up for this.
Measure 11 Okay, here is where things get REALLY tricky. This passage could take weeks to months to really master, but the training you get will be invaluable.

Keep 3 on the F until you get 4 0n the G. then, place a full C chord for the rest of the notes in the measure. When you place 4, the other fingers will tend to rise, use lots of no tempo and posing to train them to stay low.

MAKE SURE YOU USE ALTERNATE PICKING ON THE 8TH NOTES! In fact, write the picking in over the notes.

The wide string skip from the high G to the low C is very tension producing, needing LOTS of no tempo, watching the pick, and use of the BPA.  .

 

Measure 12 Now, we will simplify this otherwise difficult passage with some intelligent finger use.

1)While playing the open E, keep the heavy arm with 1 & 3, while moving 2 to the C#.

2)While playing the C# (up-pick, mind you), place 3 on the A#.

3) While playing the A#, move the 2 to the E on the 4th string. It should be down, with the heavy arm, by the time you are playing the open G.

4)Play the E, watch 4, keep it over the C#.

5) When playing the C#, place 2 on the A note (needed in the next measure) in order to be able to maintain the heavy arm. We will avoid the transition to the floating arm while playing the open D.

 

Measure 13 Keep up that alternate picking.  As 4 comes off the F#, move it toward the G note.

Keep 1 & 2 down on their notes. They are needed in that position in the next measure.

While playing the G note with 4, place 3 behind it on the F#. For the D7 chord coming up in the next measure, simply remove the 4, the rest of the chord is already down.

Measure 14-15 Obviously, keep 1 and 2 down. On the last beat, keep 4 close to the string, and drop it into place for the G chord.  

 

 

 


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