In this lesson we learn Arirang (아리랑), an example of guk ak (국악) or traditional Korean music. Arirang is the final piece in the treble string series.
Korean Fan Dancers | Peter Kun Frary
Arirang Musings
Korea
Located in East Asia, Korea is bordered by China on the north and across the Sea of Japan from Nippon. It is an ancient civilization with a rich cultural legacy extending back over four thousand years to the Gojoseon Kingdom (고조선). Westerners often view Korea through the lens of technology products and K-pop and, thus, are surprised to learn that traditional Korean music not only exists, but is prospering.
Arirang (아리랑)
The Korean folk song, Arirang (아리랑), is over six hundred years and is considered to be the unofficial anthem of Korea. It is known worldwide and is on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list. The lyrics translate as:
Arirang, Arirang, Arariyo...
You are going over Arirang hill.
Your feet will be sore before you go ten ri (5 km).
Just as there are many stars in the clear sky,
There are also many dreams in our heart.
There, over there, that mountain is Baekdu Mountain,
Where, even in the middle of winter days, flowers bloom.
Arirang was passed down orally for centuries, and exists in endless variations. Musicians often improvise ornamentation (fast decorative notes) to show off their skill and add shine to a guk ak (국악) song. Our version is stripped down to bare essentials. Nevertheless, the melody is still hauntingly beautiful.
Melody
Arirang's melody is based on the major pentatonic scale, a five-note scale consisting of C, D, E, G and A. The short cascading scales across three strings are challenging and will require spot practicing.
Watch the Video
To help develop a feel for the melody and rhythm, watch the video.
Arirang (아리랑) | Frary Guitar Duo
Play the Melody Now!
Practice slowly so you can master moving the picking hand across the first, second and third strings. Don't struggle all the way through the piece. Instead, practice each line separately. Once each line is smooth, practice the entire piece as a cohesive whole. Play with the audio track or video to tighten up your rhythm.
Arirang (아리랑) | Melody only. Play along!
Once the melody of Arirang is under your fingers, work on the chords.
Chords
In contrast to the melody, Arirang's chords are relatively easy: you know the chords from prior pieces and harmonic rhythm is mostly one chord per measure.
Flat-Three Strum
The triple meter of Arirang goes well with the Flat-Three Strum—three quarter note strums per measure. Place an accent on the downbeat strum to maintain the swing of triple meter.
Flat-Three Strum | Three down strums per measure (play along if you wish).
Arirang (아리랑) | Chords only. Strum along!
Arirang (아리랑) Flat-Three Strum "How to" | Peter Kun Frary
Here's how the melody and Flat-Three strum sound together:
Arirang (아리랑) | Melody and chords. Play along!
P-i-m-a-m-i Arpeggio
The triple meter feel of Arirang also goes well with the P-i-m-a-m-i arpeggio we learned for Cuckoo. It's challenging but a beautiful sound. If you're playing with another guitarist, the P-i-m-a-m-i arpeggio and flat-three strum work well together. Visit the Cuckoo page for a review of the P-i-m-a-m-i arpeggio.
Arirang Musings
Korea
Arirang (아리랑)
Melody
Watch the Video
Play the Melody Now!
Flat-Three Strum
P-i-m-a-m-i Arpeggio
