Help Learning a song.

[Weasel3000]

Heres my problem....

I dont know how to tackle the song Fine and mellow by billie holiday, Mainly because of the dual assignments of rythem bass and melody.

Of any one would care to help me out i would grately appreciate it. :D

[Weasel3000]

5 views and 29 people who have looked in this thread and nothin :confused:

[UKRuss]

Hey weasel, haven't looked at it close close but to me it clearly look as though you have to finger pick this tune.

The main bass notes through the song are E and A, therefore using your thumb to pick these bass notes on the open 5th and 6th strings at the right time will run your bassline while you fingers will pick the melody out over the top.

Just got to work through it slowly and you'll be off in no time.

Hope thats of some help...

[oRg]

Correct me if I'm wrong but usually with these types of songs there were two guitars. One playing the low melody and the other playing the higher melody. Though there are classical guitarists which play both at once.

If you do need to play it then I'd play it with fingerpicking like Russ said. Though I'm pretty sure two guitars played this song. Once again I'm not dead positive about it so I may be wrong.

[Weasel3000]

Hey weasel, haven't looked at it close close but to me it clearly look as though you have to finger pick this tune.

The main bass notes through the song are E and A, therefore using your thumb to pick these bass notes on the open 5th and 6th strings at the right time will run your bassline while you fingers will pick the melody out over the top.

Just got to work through it slowly and you'll be off in no time.

Hope thats of some help...
Yes, im semi fingerpicking using both the pick and my fingers(I cant get a bright sound using my fingers and I dont have nails like most finger pickers)

My problem begins right off the bat of bar 6 were the guitarist plays the E9 chord for a 8th note but then lets the E bass ring(2nd fret on the D string) and goes on with the melody. Kind of confusing and the scary thing is that its like that trough out the whole song :eek:.

Correct me if I'm wrong but usually with these types of songs there were two guitars. One playing the low melody and the other playing the higher melody. Though there are classical guitarists which play both at once.

If you do need to play it then I'd play it with fingerpicking like Russ said. Though I'm pretty sure two guitars played this song. Once again I'm not dead positive about it so I may be wrong.
Its one guitar which is the beauty of this piece. Its really kind of a tounge twister trying to play bass and melody.

[UKRuss]

...I'm looking at the music but I can't see where the E on the D string is allowed to ring on in Bar 6.

It stops with the chord.

I'm not sure about in the real life recording of it as I don't know the song that well, but certainly in the music notation you provided theres no indication the note should ring on.

I would ditch the pick too and go for finger style, what you lose in attack will certainly be more than compensated for in ease of playing...i.e;. yoiu have 5 fingers to pluck with...much easier.

[Weasel3000]

its the bass note that last a quarter note while the chord(or melody) is only a eight note, which is the confuising thing about the song.

[Skeletor]

This is supposed to be just a guitar? It sounds like it should atleast have a bass playing the bass line... Are you sure it's not just supposed to be a bass playing that?

[UKRuss]

I see where your confusion lies, the note is marked as a crotchet yes, but it still is only played on the beat.

Therefore the whole chord starts and stops on the 2nd beat of the bar, the melody then continues as it started with the rhythmic pattern of the quavers.

The bass note your worrying about does not ring on beyond the 2nd beat it is only played at the same time as the rest of the chord on the 2nd beat.

If it was meant to ring on for two beats it would be written as a minim. If it was meant to last one and half beats it would be written as a dotted crotchet. That seems to be what your assuming the music wants yout to do.

It doesnt tell you to do that.

The bass note is played on the 2nd beat of the bar and for that beat only in line with the rest of the chord which also falls on the 2nd beat of the bar.

Don't let the fact that the melody is written in quavers throw you.

Only play the bass notes written as crotchets for the one beat only.

That'll solve you problem and is what the music says.

The note does not ring on.

Hope that helps.

[Weasel3000]

This is supposed to be just a guitar? It sounds like it should atleast have a bass playing the bass line... Are you sure it's not just supposed to be a bass playing that?
Its just one guitar. Its just playing bass lines and the melody.

I see what your saying tough. Im not saying your suppose to let it ring but,that the note value is different. Its just confusing separating the bass and melody were some bass notes(or most of them on the song) are quarter notes. The other confusing thing is that i have to keep the timing between both melody and bass.

Im still skepticle on throwing away the pick though :D

[oRg]

Now that I take a look at it again I can see that it can be played by one guitar. I would say play it slowly and count it out. Make sure your playing in a slower tempo. Then slowly move it up to pace.

This basically applies to any song that has two different melodies being played at the same time. Chances are you will have to drop the pick though. IMO it would be alot more comfortable to pplay with my thumb, index, and middle fingers instead of play with the pick, middle, and ring fingers.

[Weasel3000]

would a thumb pick do any good or difference?

[UKRuss]

yes. I think you're going to struggle trying to thumb pick the bass and use a flat pick for the melody.

Either just use your fingers and thumb or use a full set of finger picks.

It's also going to be tough if you're struggling to decipher the note values in a rhythmic sense.

I agree with Org. Play it slowly and make sure you have the rhythm correct before bring it up to full speed.

[mattblack850]

It's definately a finger-picking piece. If you're having trouble with not having nails, then have a look out for some new type finger and thumb-picks, which, unlike the old sort clip around the finger BUT have a piece of wire instead of a 'nail-like' protrusion. These are far less of a pain to get used to and produce a really nice bright tone!!

[Weasel3000]

yes. I think you're going to struggle trying to thumb pick the bass and use a flat pick for the melody.

Either just use your fingers and thumb or use a full set of finger picks.

It's also going to be tough if you're struggling to decipher the note values in a rhythmic sense.

I agree with Org. Play it slowly and make sure you have the rhythm correct before bring it up to full speed.
In no way would i use both!!! :p

Im using just my fingers and im gettin down on time. So far everything is going well now. But i still cant get the separation sounds between bass and melody. The sound im getting is similar to the song....but not to my liking.


I really have to try that finger stuff!!!

[UKRuss]

Good stuff!Good luck!