PART WRITING FOR GUITAR MUSIC
Western classical music is generally composed on the basis of organum, a polyphonic structure in which the melody and the counterpoint are harmonized to produce a complete effect, and generally written separately in two or more parts on different staffs.
Solo guitar music may be written in two parts on a single staff, i.e. by separating the melody lines from that of the counterpoint (counter-melody). In such cases, it is essential to show some of the stems of the notes pointing upwards and some downwards. The leading melodic line, whether in the bass or the treble, should be written separately as shown in the following examples.
In example (a), the stems of the notes pointing upward make the melody lines while the stems pointing downward – and while reading horizontally form the counterpoint. The vertical combinations of the notes in each measure make the harmony. Make sure that the counterpoint notes are sounded in their full written value.
In example (b), the same thing
applies as in example (a) – except for that the counterpoint
notes move with the equivalent rests.
CHORD SHAPES IN PART WRITING
In polyphonic system, chord shapes for guitar are written
in the following manner.
TRIPLET ARPEGGIOS
Regular practice of the following triplet arpeggios helps
your right-hand fingers develop
to a great extent
[These type of arpeggios are very common in western classical music.]
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