In this lesson, I'd like to focus on one way to use quintal harmonies in a melodic way on the guitar. What is a quintal
harmony? Basically, It's a series of 5ths stacked on top of a root note. This is depicted on the right side of the staff on
the picture below. With the root note C, the next note on top of that would be G, a perfect 5th higher. On top of that
note is D, a perfect 5th higher than G, then A above that, etc., etc. Because of the number of strings on the standard
guitar, we'll only be working with a 6 note quintal idea, but you may certainly devise ways to arranger quintal ideas with
more or less than 6 notes. The harmony conveyed by this idea is that of a Major scale or that of a Lydian scale. By
collapsing the notes into a tertian sonority (Seen on the left side of the staff below), you can see a C Major scale without
the 4th note, F. It can also be seen as a C Lydian scale without the #4, F#.
harmony? Basically, It's a series of 5ths stacked on top of a root note. This is depicted on the right side of the staff on
the picture below. With the root note C, the next note on top of that would be G, a perfect 5th higher. On top of that
note is D, a perfect 5th higher than G, then A above that, etc., etc. Because of the number of strings on the standard
guitar, we'll only be working with a 6 note quintal idea, but you may certainly devise ways to arranger quintal ideas with
more or less than 6 notes. The harmony conveyed by this idea is that of a Major scale or that of a Lydian scale. By
collapsing the notes into a tertian sonority (Seen on the left side of the staff below), you can see a C Major scale without
the 4th note, F. It can also be seen as a C Lydian scale without the #4, F#.
To play this idea, there will be multiple cases of one note being played twice in a row but with a different finger of the left
hand each time. For instance, the note G is fretted with the left hand ring finger the first time it is played, then with the
index finger of the left hand immediately after that. Without these seemingly awkward fingerings, there would be no way
to execute a melodic idea of this type and range on the guitar. The exact fingerings of every note are written below the
tab.
hand each time. For instance, the note G is fretted with the left hand ring finger the first time it is played, then with the
index finger of the left hand immediately after that. Without these seemingly awkward fingerings, there would be no way
to execute a melodic idea of this type and range on the guitar. The exact fingerings of every note are written below the
tab.
Now, take this idea and expand on it. Create a quintal idea that has more or less than six notes. Find out where this
kind of idea can be theoretically and musically. Repeat each note 3, 4 ,5 or more times. Get crazy!
kind of idea can be theoretically and musically. Repeat each note 3, 4 ,5 or more times. Get crazy!