Many guitarists aspire to emulate the vocal melodies of their favorite songs on their instrument. While it may seem like a challenging task, with some practice and ear training, you can learn to play vocal melodies on your guitar and enhance your overall playing. In this article, we will discuss the steps to find and play vocal melodies on your guitar, making your performances even more captivating.
Why play vocal melodies on guitar?
Playing vocal melodies on guitar adds a unique and expressive quality to your playing. Guitarists such as Eric Clapton, John Mayer, and B.B. King have captivated audiences by incorporating a vocal-like quality into their playing. By emulating a singer, your guitar playing will sound more engaging and enjoyable to listeners.
Steps to find and play vocal melodies on guitar
- Ear training: The first step to playing vocal melodies on your guitar is to train your ear to recognize the notes of a particular scale, such as the major scale. This will enable you to identify the notes a singer is hitting and match them on your guitar.
- Find the scale: Once you have trained your ear, listen to the song you want to play and determine the scale that the singer is using. Typically, singers will use the notes from the key they are singing in. You can look up the key of a song online and play the corresponding scale on your guitar.
- Trial and error: If your ear is not yet developed enough to identify the notes in a scale, you can use trial and error to find the vocal melody. Play the notes of the scale along with the song, and try to match the rise and fall of the singer’s pitch.
- Play the basic notes: Once you have identified the notes in the scale, play the basic, “cookie-cutter” notes of the vocal melody without any embellishments, such as vibrato or trills.
- Add embellishments: The final step is to add the embellishments that make the vocal melody unique. This includes adding vibrato, trills, slides, or other expressive techniques that mimic the singer’s voice.
In conclusion, playing vocal melodies on your guitar can add an exciting and expressive element to your playing. By training your ear, identifying the scale, and practicing the melody, you can create a more engaging and enjoyable listening experience for your audience. Remember to start with basic notes and gradually add embellishments to truly capture the essence of the singer’s voice on your guitar.
