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4 | Playing Solos

Carcassi's Andantino in C Major

Peter Kun Frary

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This lesson visits the topics of note stem direction and chord notation in solos. We'll also begin learning a charming Andantino by Matteo Carcassi.

Lady and Lyre Guitar | Pietro Nocchi, 1783-1855 | Bowes Museum

lyre guitar

Stem Directions for Solos

In previous lessons, you learned that solos combine melody and accompaniment, and melody is played louder than accompaniment. How do you distinguish melody from accompaniment? Stem direction:

Upward stems usually indicate melody.

Downward stems normally indicate accompaniment.

Study the first phrase of Andantino:

Stem Directions | Up stems = melody | Down stems = accompaniment

stem direction

Melody consists of quarter notes whereas the accompaniment beneath are eighth notes. The combined rhythm of melody and accompaniment reduce to a flow of even eighth notes:

rhythm

The roles indicated by stem direction can't be indicated with tablature but you can peek at the staff notation to get an idea of what's going on.

Written Out Chords

We've been playing chords regularly since the beginning of this course so you know what a chord is. However, in guitar solos, instead of using chord symbols, composers write chords in notes for precision of musical voicing and texture.

Chords are Vertically Aligned

What does a written chord look like? You can easily recognize a chord because the notes are vertically aligned on the staff. Similarly, tablature chords use vertically aligned numbers.

Andantino in C Major | Matteo Carcassi | Performed by Peter Kun Frary

Study Tips

Chords and Right-Hand Technique

Matteo Carcassi's Andantino in C Major begins with two-note chords on non-adjacent strings—second and fourth strings. These types of chords are played by pinching between the thumb and a finger: p- i, p-m, p-a, etc. In the example below, play the first chord by pinching the second and fourth strings between the thumb and middle finger.

Carcassi's Andantino | First line

chords

Chord Pinch | Chords on non-adjacent strings, e.g., first and sixth strings, are pinched between thumb and finger(s): p- i, p-m, p-a, p-i-m, p-i-a, p-i-m-a, etc.

pinch

Chords on Adjacent Strings

Two and three-note chords on adjacent strings may be plucked with finger combinations of i-m, m-a and i-m-a. The fingers move together like one big finger. The stroke motion is similar to waving "bye-bye" to the strings.

The second line of Andantino features two-note chords on adjacent strings followed by a thumb stroke:

Two-Note Chords on Adjacent Strings | Carcassi's Andantino (second line)

2 note chords

Adjacent String Chords | Hold i-m or i-m-a fingers side by side and move them like one big finger (wave bye-bye)

finger stroke

Larger Chords

Chords of five or six notes are usually strummed.

The C major chord at the end of Andantino's first and third lines may be pinched between the thumb and fingers, p-i-m-a, or strummed. If you choose to strum, the strum involves only the inner four strings, so aim carefully: