Harmonic Expansions for Guitar
This video outlines ways to expand the chords we commonly use in songs during our sessions! Focuses on chords in the open position (D, A, G, etc). Can be done with finger picking and strumming with a pick.
Melodic Expansions for Guitar part 2
The video cut out so I am doing the rest in this video! Part two of Melodic expansions for guitar.
This video demonstrates methods for using melodic expansions in clinical practice. Melodic expansions are ways to expand on using melodic playing. This includes playing melodies in songs, and single note passages in improvisations/songs.
This content is based on materials created for the Six String Toolkit, done in partnership with the Music Therapy Academy. For more information or to sign up for a webinar please visit https://www.musictherapyacademy.com/education
Melodic Expansion Techniques for Guitar
This video demonstrates methods for using melodic expansions in clinical practice. Melodic expansions are ways to expand on using melodic playing. This includes playing melodies in songs, and single note passages in improvisations/songs.
This content is based on materials created for the Six String Toolkit, done in partnership with the Music Therapy Academy. For more information or to sign up for a webinar please visit https://www.musictherapyacademy.com/education
"Love Me Tender" melodic example with open bass notes
Using familiar melodies can be effective for melody/lyric recall exercises in both groups and 1:1 sessions, and they can be easily played on a wide variety of instruments. Using a piano can be even more useful as you can add additional harmonic notes and chords to add more context.
But what if you're like me and don't have a piano at home? In this case, the guitar can be an equally useful option! Adding bass notes with the open strings can help to provide additional harmonic and musical context.
Here is a demonstration of me using this technique for the song "Love Me Tender" by Elvis. The melody is supported by mostly open stringed notes on every second beat with only a couple of two note hand positions. At times I only need my right hand to play in this way! This can be easily be done without extensive guitar training.
Why not work on expanding your guitar skills during this time? I am happy to provide more context and answer any questions if you have any.
Happy picking!
While it's great being on the road serving so many fantastic communities, there's no place like home! Whitby is the community that serves as our home, serving as our base of operations.
Located geographically close to the centre of Durham Region, Whitby serves as an important economic and residential hub for the Region. It is also the home of numerous diverse and inclusive services such as the state of the art Abilties Centre. While very much a suburban community, its rural northern area contains numerous golf courses and hiking trails. The southern "Port Whitby" area sits on a secluded harbour offering boaters refuge and access to the community.
A great location to sit and unwind after a long busy week is the scenic Port Whitby walkway. This is where we find Danny today. The song featured is "My Bonnie", an appropriate sea song for this nautical location. While a F# on the second fret towards the end adds a degree of challenge, this short melody is relatively easy with an accessible melody and primarily open root notes.
#WhitbyON #PortWhitby #Sunny #Guitar #boardwalk #Boats #Endoftheweek
Next up in our "communities we serve" video series is the town of Port Hope! This town straddles the Ganaraska River where it meets Lake Ontario. The town might be small however it has strong community spirit, which is put on display in numerous events through out the year including the "float your fanny down the Ganny" river race held each Spring.
The town is also popular with travellers and tourists. It's historic downtown has numerous cool shops and restaurants. Being located on both the 401 and Toronto/Montreal railway corridor, hundreds of travellers pass through this town headed to points west, north, and east.
In this video Daniel stands in front of the old Memorial Park Bandstand, which stands in the heart of the town near the river. The song featured is "Peace in the Valley", an appropriate tune to be played while standing deep in the Ganaraska Valley.
This song uses G major chords, however a capo on fret two transposes it to A major. A combination of chord tones, basic harmonic structure, and easy to reach non-chord tones make this song an intermediate challenge for one looking to apply melodic expansions.
NOTE: Initially the video was to have Danny playing while standing on the bandshell stage, however the guitar audio could not be heard :(
#PortHopeON #Ganaraska #MemorialParkBandshell #NorthumberlandCounty #guitar #melodicexpansions #lakeshore
The next community to be featured is Lindsay! This small town of about 20,000 residents is particularly special as it is where Danny grew up and went to school as a child. A former railway divisional point, it once had as many as seven branch and mainlines radiating out in all directions. It now serves as the largest community in the "City of Kawartha Lakes", and as the agricultural and commercial hub for the various farm and cottage communities located all around it.
Sadly today the only trains that remain are the two on display in Memorial Park. This is where today's clip has been filmed. The melody feature today belongs to the spiritual Amazing Grace.
Played in A major, all important root notes (I, IV, V) are playable on open strings. This makes A major an excellent choice for melodic accompaniment as no additional fretting is needed. The melody is basic and singable, as well as recognizable with a wide variety of groups. It works quite well in "name that tune" lyric recall interventions.
#LindsayON #COKL #trains #guitar #amazinggrace #MemorialPark #CNR
The next community to be featured is Millbrook! Situated in the scenic Millbrook Valley, this tiny town is a popular location for artists, hikers, and other outdoor enthusiasts. It is also a popular location for the filming of movies and TV shows.
Coincidently, a movie shoot on the main street meant the need to seek out another location for this clip. Fortunately the grounds of St Thomas Anglican Church at the edge of town were accessible!
The song featured in this clip is Red River Valley. When played in G major, this old country-folk melody can be accessed primarily on the open strings present within a G major chord. This means less left hand movement, which equals easier playing. While a non-chord tone on the C major chord in the second half adds some challenge, this combination of easy chords and basic melody is pretty straight forward and a favourite in group sessions!
#MillbrookON #PeterboroughCounty #CavanMonaghanSouth #MusictherapyON #guitar #arpeggios #IVIIVIVI #StThomasAnglican #Sunny
Our first location is Peterborough Ontario, where a good portion of current clinical services are provided. The largest city in Peterborough County, it provides numerous services for its residents as well as those in the numerous small communities dotted around it. It also serves as a gateway for those heading to cottages in the Kawartha.
This video was taken on the shores of Little Lake in the heart of Peterborough. The Little Lake fountain and other landmarks stand in the background. The song demonstrated in this video is the hymn "Blessed Assurance". This version is played in D major, which allows all root notes to be accessed by open strings.
While a significant portion of the neck is used, the open root notes allow the player to focus more on the melody then the accompaniment. The notes towards the end can all be accessed while playing open chords, which helps make them easier!
Trent University Durham Music Therapy Presentation April 4th, 2019
Had the opportunity to speak at Trent University Durham about music therapy back in April. Here is the video clip of this presentation! Was great to talk to such an attentive and engaging audience.
#MToutreach
Providing music lessons to individuals of all ages and abilities I’m Danny Allen (MMT, BMT), owner of Danny Allen Music.
