# Solo Guitar Piece with the Melody on the Low Strings and the Chords on the High Strings ? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 14, 2019, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solo-guitar-piece-with-the-melody-on-the-low-strings-and-the-chords-on-the-high-strings/827723 "2019-01-14T08:57:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/les_espaces_du_sommeil/32/308_2.png) [@Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Les_Espaces_Du_Sommeil)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2019, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solo-guitar-piece-with-the-melody-on-the-low-strings-and-the-chords-on-the-high-strings/827723/1 "2019-01-14T08:57:10Z")
On the piano, it not rare to have the left hand playing the melody and the right one accompanying. The usual manner is the other way around but it’s still fairly frequent to switch, and rather trivial to do so. But I have a hard time thinking of a guitar piece which does that. Now, I can play guitar although it’s not my main instrument but it seems to me to be much more technically difficult to do. I’m not talking about a walking bass with chords above (that is absolutely doable) but a bona fide solo on the low strings while also playing the accompaniment on the upper strings. I guess someone must have pulled it off but I can’t think of any example. I’d be interested mainly in occurences in real musical pieces, songs or instrumental, not someone posting a 10-second youtube clip merely to show it can be done. Also, remember I’m looking for a solo guitar piece. Two guitars or more don’t count of course. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2019, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solo-guitar-piece-with-the-melody-on-the-low-strings-and-the-chords-on-the-high-strings/827723/2 "2019-01-14T11:15:56Z")
That’s basically what the [“Carter Scratch”](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carter_Family_picking) does. Invented by [Maybelle Carter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maybelle_Carter), it’s used in the great majority of the Carter Family’s material. Since the Carters were a singing group, Maybelle usually used the technique to play instrumental passages in vocal songs, as opposed to complete instrumental songs as you describe. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2019, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solo-guitar-piece-with-the-melody-on-the-low-strings-and-the-chords-on-the-high-strings/827723/3 "2019-01-14T11:23:38Z")
[Here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyw6G7TPLYo) is the 1928 recording of “Wildwood Flower”. I posted this song because while most of the Carter Family’s material featured both Maybelle Carter on guitar and Sarah Carter on autoharp, here there is no autoharp, just guitar. So it’s easier to hear Maybelle’s playing. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2019, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solo-guitar-piece-with-the-melody-on-the-low-strings-and-the-chords-on-the-high-strings/827723/4 "2019-01-14T11:35:07Z")
The Beatles’ “Blackbird,” perhaps? ---
**Author:** ![Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/les_espaces_du_sommeil/32/308_2.png) [@Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Les_Espaces_Du_Sommeil)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2019, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solo-guitar-piece-with-the-melody-on-the-low-strings-and-the-chords-on-the-high-strings/827723/5 "2019-01-14T12:14:33Z")
Neither of the two wikipedia examples sound convincing (they could be mere bass lines) but the _Wildwood Flower_ recording is closer to what I had in mind. As for _Blackbird_, I’m not sure. It may be a very rudimentary example of the idea but again, it sounds more like regular picking with some embellishments to me. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2019, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solo-guitar-piece-with-the-melody-on-the-low-strings-and-the-chords-on-the-high-strings/827723/6 "2019-01-14T12:19:32Z")
Certain phrases in Leo Kottke’s “Busted Bicycle” do this: [Leo Kottke - Busted Bicycle - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6aUWCSh4Cw) …but that’s mainly because it’s a 12-string guitar, where some strings are really two strings tuned an octave apart, and if you hit the lower of a pair harder (or exclusively), the melody will consequently be lower in pitch. (His “Stolen” comes close to this as well: [Stolen - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9fZt6QzwNI)) ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2019, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solo-guitar-piece-with-the-melody-on-the-low-strings-and-the-chords-on-the-high-strings/827723/7 "2019-01-14T23:22:53Z")
Maybelle used a thumbpick and a metal fingerpick on her index finger. I prefer not to use a fingerpick, which Maybelle probably began using to play with sufficient volume back before electricity. The thumb plays the melody on the bass strings, and the index finger plays the chords. Quarter note chords are played with upstrums of the fingerpick. If eighth note chords are required, the back of the index finger (really the fingernail) brushes down on the downbeat, and the fingerpick strums up on the upbeat. The Carter Scratch is a versatile technique. It can be adapted to a lot of songs with a country or blues feel. (FWIW I use it on “Dark as a Dungeon” by Merle Travis, and “I Still Miss Someone” by Johnny Cash). It’s not especially difficult to master – the trickiest part is usually the down-up strumming of chords, which requires you to pivot the index finger quickly between eighth notes. ---
**Author:** ![glowacks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/glowacks/32/5548_2.png) [@glowacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glowacks)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solo-guitar-piece-with-the-melody-on-the-low-strings-and-the-chords-on-the-high-strings/827723/8 "2019-01-15T00:37:57Z")
I don’t know if this is exactly what you’re talking about, but try “Sketches in the Sun”. A Steve Howe tune, it was released when he was with the execrable group “GTR”. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lj-k2PNFl2w/hqdefault.jpg "Steve Howe - Sketches in the Sun") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj-k2PNFl2w) ---
**Author:** ![glowacks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/glowacks/32/5548_2.png) [@glowacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glowacks)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solo-guitar-piece-with-the-melody-on-the-low-strings-and-the-chords-on-the-high-strings/827723/9 "2019-01-15T00:45:29Z")
Steve Howe was said to be heavily influenced by Chet Atkins in hybrid picking, so you might find some stuff by the latter to be your liking. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solo-guitar-piece-with-the-melody-on-the-low-strings-and-the-chords-on-the-high-strings/827723/10 "2019-01-15T00:52:26Z")
What a pleasure to see Mother Maybelle Carter and Chet Atkins in the same thread. Thanks for all the memories. I saw Mother Maybelle perform once, with the Carter girls and Johnny Cash. One of my best afternoons. ---
**Author:** ![rat\_avatar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rat_avatar/32/255_2.png) [@rat\_avatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rat_avatar)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solo-guitar-piece-with-the-melody-on-the-low-strings-and-the-chords-on-the-high-strings/827723/11 "2019-01-15T03:03:33Z")
In a semi-related topic, If you like finger style and self accompaniment bee sure to check out Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar. I would highly recommend Ledward Kaapana, Kawika Kahiapo and George Kahumoku, Jr. or some of the other masters live if you can. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/bTfmNdfnzjY/maxresdefault.jpg "Ledward Kaapana - Opihi Moe Moe (HiSessions.com Acoustic Live!)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTfmNdfnzjY) To quote Mark Knopfler on finger picking; You’ve got to really want to play… because your fingers don’t want to. Personally I am hoping to just to the point where I don’t annoy neighborhood cats with my playing by the time they put me in the cold ground. ---
**Author:** ![Turble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Turble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turble)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solo-guitar-piece-with-the-melody-on-the-low-strings-and-the-chords-on-the-high-strings/827723/12 "2019-01-15T15:05:02Z")
I think this might fit the OP: [Etude, Op. 60, No. 6 (Matteo Carcassi)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4XtPsl3dt0) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solo-guitar-piece-with-the-melody-on-the-low-strings-and-the-chords-on-the-high-strings/827723/13 "2019-01-15T15:35:08Z")
Only thing that came to mind is guitar versions of Schumann’s “The Merry/Happy Farmer.” Don’t know if that’s the kind of thing you’re looking for, as it was originally written for piano. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solo-guitar-piece-with-the-melody-on-the-low-strings-and-the-chords-on-the-high-strings/827723/14 "2019-01-15T16:37:51Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Only thing that came to mind is guitar versions of Schumann’s “The Merry/Happy Farmer.” Don’t know if that’s the kind of thing you’re looking for, as it was originally written for piano. Ha! I was going to mention that, but didn’t realize there were guitar versions. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solo-guitar-piece-with-the-melody-on-the-low-strings-and-the-chords-on-the-high-strings/827723/15 "2019-01-15T20:14:52Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > Ha! I was going to mention that, but didn’t realize there were guitar versions. Yeah, you can find all sorts of guitar adaptations of classical pieces not originally written for guitar. [Here’s just one easier version](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKhdtxerYWw). Of course, you’ll have to adapt based on the constraints of the guitar, like the key is different here and not all the notes are played, but the spirit is the same. You can also bar that F in the second measure and bring out a treble “F” or even “FC” to keep that chord motif going, though not with exactly the same voicing as the piano. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solo-guitar-piece-with-the-melody-on-the-low-strings-and-the-chords-on-the-high-strings/827723/16 "2019-01-15T21:37:11Z")
The person you are looking for is [Lenny Breau](https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/lenny-breau-forgotten-genius). His whole deal was he wanted to be able to play the guitar like a piano. He had 7-string classical guitars custom made to assist the technique. Listening to him, it seems _impossible_ that’s all coming out of one guy simultaneously, but it totally is. Anything you find on him will likely feature this technique of his, but here’s as good a place to start as any: [Lenny Breau - Stella By Starlight - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EKnCEWaETI) ---
**Author:** ![Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/les_espaces_du_sommeil/32/308_2.png) [@Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Les_Espaces_Du_Sommeil)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2019, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solo-guitar-piece-with-the-melody-on-the-low-strings-and-the-chords-on-the-high-strings/827723/17 "2019-01-16T14:43:31Z")
I’d heard a bit of **Lenny Breau** and I agree he’s amazing but I’m not sure that the videos I’ve seen include the technique I was thinking of. They all seemed to have the melody on top, as usual. Still, awesome playing. So far, I’d say that _The Happy Farmer_ and _Wildwood Flower_ are the closest to what I had in mind. ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2019, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solo-guitar-piece-with-the-melody-on-the-low-strings-and-the-chords-on-the-high-strings/827723/18 "2019-01-16T21:48:47Z")
Isaac Albeniz’s _Leyenda_ and Francisco Tarrega’s \*Recuerdos de la Alhambra [/I]kind of qualify I think. ---
**Author:** ![Steven\_Maven](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steven_maven/32/3272_2.png) [@Steven\_Maven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steven_Maven)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2019, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solo-guitar-piece-with-the-melody-on-the-low-strings-and-the-chords-on-the-high-strings/827723/19 "2019-01-20T17:36:00Z")
Rumble by Link Wray had a very low guitar melody. Is that what you have in mind? PS: I only dabble in piano, but I think of left hand for chords & bass with right hand for melody. Am I confused? ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2019, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solo-guitar-piece-with-the-melody-on-the-low-strings-and-the-chords-on-the-high-strings/827723/20 "2019-01-20T17:47:25Z")
> [@Steven\_Maven](#): > > Rumble by Link Wray had a very low guitar melody. Is that what you have in mind? > > PS: I only dabble in piano, but I think of left hand for chords & bass with right hand for melody. Am I confused? No, not confused – that applies to maybe 97% of music where there is a clear distinction between melody and chords/bass. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solo-guitar-piece-with-the-melody-on-the-low-strings-and-the-chords-on-the-high-strings/827723.md?page=2)