Taught by renowned guitarist
Sergio Assad
Explore the possibilities of composing for guitar alongside Sérgio Assad. Follow along as he demonstrates his step-by-step process and creates an original short sketch! This course is an excellent first step toward the world of composition and harmony. If you’ve never written as much as the shortest melody before, don’t worry. While sharing his step-by-step process, Sérgio Assad writes a sixteen-bar composition for the guitar, walking you through the process of writing your own from scratch. Whether you’re a music theory expert or don’t know the first thing about chords, this course will get you writing in no time!
Getting Started
In this lesson Assad explains the importance of singing as a way of naturally trying out ideas without having to deal with the technical limitations of attempting to play different melodies on the instrument. He then goes on to begin discussing chords and chord progressions.
Form and Harmony
In the second lesson Assad discusses choosing form and meter, as well as further experimenting with chord sequences and harmony.
Neighbor tones
After choosing a chord sequence, Assad discusses how he experiments with melody using neighbor tones and rhythm.
Inversions
Assad explores various chord voicing in different positions on the strings in order to give more shape and range to the piece.
Melodic Range
Once Assad has changed the chord voicings, he explores neighbor tones of the new top note to develop a new melody in order to create a more dynamic and interesting line.
Enhancements Pt. 1
Assad discusses the more nuanced enhancements that can be made to the melodic line.
Enhancements Pt. 2
Assad adds interest to the composition by using chord extensions.
Secondary Line Pt. 1
Now that the melody is finished, Assad discusses how to begin exploring ideas for a potential secondary line by considering the inner voices and experimenting with arpeggiation.
Secondary Line Pt. 2
Taking the secondary line that has been suggested by the harmony, Assad shows how he expands it into its own line that fits with the melody.
Internationally acclaimed composer and performer, Sergio Assad is best known as the older sibling in the Duo Assad, described by many as the finest pairing of guitarists currently before the public.
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