Unit 31 · Upper Intermediate
Voice Leading and Chord Melody
Move chord notes with clear direction.
- Lesson
- Let each voice move on purpose
- Estimated time
- 155 minutes
- Status
- Previewing
Complete the required prior unit before this unit can be marked complete. You may still read and try every activity.
What you will learn
Connect chords with smooth inner voices, harmonize a melody on top, and build a short chord-melody passage that preserves melody, bass, and harmonic function.
Why this matters: Chord melody teaches the guitar to behave like a small ensemble. Each note has a job, and smooth voice leading can make advanced harmony sound singable.
Triad inversions · Seventh chords · Lead sheets · Voice leading · Melodic phrasing
Melody first, then voices underneath
In chord melody, the top note must remain audible as the melody. Harmony is voiced beneath it with the smallest useful movement.
Start with melody notes on strings 1 or 2, choose chord tones underneath, then simplify. A beautiful two- or three-note voicing often communicates more clearly than a full grip.
Progression · Key C · 4/4
Voice-led ii-V-I in C
Track F to F, C to B, then B to C. The small inner motion reveals the cadence without big jumps.
Read and play
Two-note shell melody
| String | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | - | - | - | - |
| 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 3 | - | - | - | - |
| 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| 5 | - | - | - | - |
| 6 | - | - | - | - |
These compact shells keep the top voice moving D-C-B-C while lower voices imply Dm7, G7, and C harmony. Start at 66 BPM.
Observe: voice-led chord melody
Observe stage for voice-led chord melody, with instructions and success criteria stated in text.
- Hear the melody alone.
- Observe the smallest lower voices that support the melody.
- Compare full grips with compact shells.
Help you can use: Complete written model · Audible comparison target
- The melody remains audible.
- Inner voices move by common tone or small interval when possible.
- Chord function is preserved with playable voicings.
Try with prompts: voice-led chord melody
Try with prompts stage for voice-led chord melody, with instructions and success criteria stated in text.
- Place melody notes on the top strings.
- Add one guide tone below each note.
- Check that the melody remains loudest.
Help you can use: Numbered decisions · One-variable revision
- The melody remains audible.
- Inner voices move by common tone or small interval when possible.
- Chord function is preserved with playable voicings.
Use fewer prompts: voice-led chord melody
Use fewer prompts stage for voice-led chord melody, with instructions and success criteria stated in text.
- Remove full chord names and use Roman function.
- Revise one inner voice for smaller motion.
- Simplify any grip that interrupts time.
Help you can use: Check the model only after the attempt
- The melody remains audible.
- Inner voices move by common tone or small interval when possible.
- Chord function is preserved with playable voicings.
Perform independently: voice-led chord melody
Perform independently stage for voice-led chord melody, with instructions and success criteria stated in text.
- Arrange an eight-bar chord melody from a lead sheet.
- Explain melody, bass, and inner-voice choices.
- Perform with clear melody and recoverable time.
Help: Complete without prompts or a model.
- The melody remains audible.
- Inner voices move by common tone or small interval when possible.
- Chord function is preserved with playable voicings.
Reflect
Trace one voice
Write the melody notes, bass or shell notes, and one inner voice. Explain where you used common tone, stepwise motion, or simplification.
Guided practice
Build the skill in manageable steps
Top voice first
Keep chord melody from burying the tune.
- Play the melody alone.
- Choose a voicing with the melody on top.
- Add only one lower note.
- Increase density only if time and tone remain clear.
- The melody is highest and clearest.
- The lower note matches the chord.
- The passage stays in time.
- Use two-note shells only.
- Add bass motion.
One smoother voice
Make voice leading visible.
- Choose a four-chord progression.
- Write one inner voice.
- Revise it to reduce leaps.
- Perform before and after.
- At least one leap is reduced.
- Chord function remains intact.
- The revised version sounds smoother.
- Use ii-V-I only.
- Add a borrowed chord.
Common mistakes
Match the problem to a better next try
The melody disappears inside the chord.
Likely cause: Voicing was chosen before melody placement.
Try: Place the melody as the highest note before adding lower voices.
Large grips interrupt timing.
Likely cause: Fullness was valued over clarity.
Try: Use two- or three-note shells and preserve pulse.
Inner voices jump without purpose.
Likely cause: Voices were not tracked separately.
Try: Write one inner voice as a line and revise leaps.
Knowledge check
Explain the practice decision
Check your work
Let each voice move on purpose assessment
Complete every required criterion and record the requested reflection or value.
You check off guitar-playing tasks yourself. FretGarden only grades tasks where you tap, click, or choose an answer on screen.
Review plan
Return before the idea fades
Play the melody alone before adding lower voices.
Arrange two measures with melody on top and one guide tone below.
Revise one inner voice for smoother motion.
Use compact shells whenever full grips hide melody or pulse.
Optional extension: Arrange the same melody once with triads and once with seventh shells.