🎶 Start your 14-day free trial & unlock the full course today. Start Free Trial →
tonebase Guitar Course

Arranging Folk Melodies Course

Taught by renowned guitarist 

Laura Snowden

In this course, composer and guitarist Laura Snowden guides you through the process of arranging folk melodies for the guitar! She provides you with useful tools to arrange your own favorite songs no matter your level! She discusses the main principles of arranging, how to explore new sounds, and how to develop a unique and personal arrangement. From practical details like finding a key, to a discussion of how to use variations as a means of creating differences between verses, this course will give you everything you need to get started with your very own arrangement!

  • checkmark icon
    Difficulty: 
    All-Levels
  • checkmark icon
    Duration: 
    1
     hours
     hour
All courses on tonebase include subtitles in English and Spanish

Course Syllabus

Choosing a Key

In this lesson, Laura discusses the nuances of choosing a key for your arrangement, and why it is so important!

Chords and Bass Notes

In this lesson, Laura discusses how to figure out the harmonic structure and bass line for your arrangement.

Conclusion

In the final lesson of this course, Laura recaps the important concepts from the course and encourages you to go give arranging a try!

Filling Out Chords

In this lesson Laura continues her discussion of harmony and its role in your arrangement. Here she discusses what options you have for filling out the chords, and what textures you can create by filling out chords.

Introduction

In the first lesson of her course, guitarist and composer Laura Snowden introduces the key concepts that she will use to teach the principles of arranging folk melodies.

Melody and Drones

In this lesson, Laura introduces a simple way of arranging melodies with a drone.

Telling a Story

In this lesson Laura discusses how to creatively approach arranging a song with many repetitive verses.

Click here to download the course workbook PDF and see the full syllabus →
Access this course and hundreds more.

Click below to access hundreds of exclusive classical guitar courses, available only on tonebase.

Unlock Course →
Laura Snowden
meet YOUR INSTRUCTOR

Laura Snowden

Hailed a ‘string sensation’ by BBC Music Magazine, British-French guitarist and composer Laura Snowden is acclaimed for her ‘poise and intensity’ (Guardian) and playing of ‘extraordinary depth’ (Strings, Classical Music Magazine).

read full bio →
Laura Snowden

Learn from legendary guitarists

Explore 1,000+ in-depth lessons taught by GRAMMY winners, Juilliard professors, and world-renowned performers, covering everything from timeless repertoire to advanced technique and artistry.

"I don't regret for a minute having spent the money on the membership. There's something for every musician on tonebase – I recommend you give it a try."

Photo of Dave
Dave McLellan

Concert & Chamber Guitarist

Join over 10,000 fellow musicians improving every day on tonebase.