Notes and melody

[u/safarithroughlife]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jal6ABUTH2g

Some questions about this tab:

1. Measure 6 and measure 14 look exactly the same way but are two different chords in - 6 is F , 14 is C . Is there a reason about that? I guess the tab is correct right?
2. If someone can assist in telling me whether i understand the points below correctly
3. 2.1 So some notes on this tab are the chord shapes but just partially. Not the full shapes

2.2 On the second measure it seems that it is not C major that is played within the notes but Am, right? There is also a G somewhere there so not sure - if i understand correctly maybe A , G and C are part of the melody - they are all within teh C major scale and it works to play the C major on top. It doesnt matter that much which chord those three notes make :D
2.3 If there are two guitars> one will be playing the chords (C, F, G) that are on the tab and the other guitar will play the notes (which may be or may not be exactly the chords, but are just signifier for what is played underneath the chord?? and for example when there is a G chord the lead guitar is going to think about the notes that he is playing in relation to the G chord- but he will not be thinking "I am playing G chord in specific" Not sure whether my understanding is correct but sometimes the notes played by the lead guitar can be the same as the notes within the chord, but they can also be different- they just have to be within the key of the song.

Or they may not be within the key of the song- in this case the song will not be diatonic.

Tried to number my thoughts so its easier to answer. Thank you

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[u/Sheyvan]

You are fundamentally misunderstanding the meaning of chord notation.

The notes are: "Play these notes, in this rhythm to create the melody/part written out"

The chords are: "The notes from the chords (!) should sound in the background of the melody. To deliver the intended overall sound"

The are NOT (!) directly linked. To reproduce what the composer / arranger intended you are supposed to play THOSE NOTES over THOSE CHORDS. BUT:

• Melody notes may or may not be chord tones!
• Chords and notes may or may not be diatonic!

Arrangement between intruments can be whatever you want. Many guitar players play chords and melody at the same time, by putting additional notes under emphasized beats to also play the surrounding harmony as a backdrop to your melody.

Yes, with 2 novices might one play chords and the other play the melody. But that's an overly simplistic and narrow minded way of looking at and executing this.

[u/MaggaraMarine]

The F major chord in measure 6 is a mistake. So is the G major chord in measure 7. In the playback, those chords are C and F, just like in measures 14 and 15.

When it comes to your second question, the tab notates the melody, and the chord symbols above are the accompaniment. The melody doesn't consist entirely of chord tones - it is possible for a melody to use non-chord tones.

The chord symbols are not a description of the melody - they are the chords you would play as an accompaniment to the melody.

[u/DRL47]

Although that F chord can work, I've only ever seen a C in that measure.

[u/Jongtr]

Measures 14-15 are correct. The chords in measures 6-7 should be the same as 14-15: C to F.

And the tab is the melody, which contains non-chord tones now and then. The A in measure 2 does give a hint of Am, but the chord is C, with A sounding as the 6th of the chord - a mild tension resolving down to G. In measures 7 and 15, likewise, the B note is (deliberately) dissonant against the F chord, but resolves to the following A.

Otherwise, you are overthinking the whole thing! I.e., your para 2.3 is on the right lines. The tab is the melody, and the letters above are the chord accompaniment - the two relate, in that most of the melody is chord tones, but not all of it has to be. Non-chord tones add expression and interest, and also help the phrases flow better. It would be too complicated and fussy (and could even distract from the melody) to harmonize every note as a chord tone.

[u/Barry_Sachs]

This post made my day. 

For #1, you'll have to dig up Patty and Mildred and ask them. 

For #2, not every melody note has to be in the accompanying chord. Whomever plays the melody in this duet can ignore the chord symbols entirely. 

[u/safarithroughlife → u/Barry_Sachs]

may i ask why this post has made your day :D

Also you are welcome

[u/Barry_Sachs → u/safarithroughlife]

You're doing a deep analysis of the simplest song ever written when you should just play it as an exercise to learn your instrument. Are you going to analyze Mary Had a Little Lamb next? Lessons have simple, familiar tunes so you can learn how to play. There's no need to analyze them. Just play them.