In this lesson you'll learn Arirang (아리랑), a Korean guk ak (국악) song. Arirang is the final piece in the treble string series.
Arirang Musings
Korea
Located in East Asia, Korea is an ancient civilization with a rich 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 old and is often considered to be the unofficial anthem of Korea. It is on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list. According to Korean folklore, Arirang is based on a story about a young man and woman smitten with love while picking camellia blossoms near the wharf at Auraji (아우라지). 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 this 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 may require spot practicing.
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. Learning may be enhanced by practicing each line separately. Once individual lines are smooth, practice the entire piece as a cohesive whole. Play along with the audio or video to tighten up your rhythm.
Arirang (아리랑) | Melody only. Play along!
Once the melody of Arirang flows smoothy, work on the chords.
Chords
In contrast to the melody, Arirang's chords are relatively easy: you know the chords from prior pieces and there is only one chord per measure.
Arirang (아리랑) Flat-Three Strum "How to" | Peter Kun Frary
Flat-Three Strum
Arirang is in triple meter and, thus, goes well with the flat-three strum: three quarter note strums per measure. Place an accent on the downbeat strum to reinforce the triple meter feel.
Flat-Three Strum | Three down strums per measure (play along if you wish).
Arirang (아리랑) | Chords only.
Play the Chords Now!
Practice the chords until smooth. Play along with the audio track or video to help shore up your rhythm.
Arirang (아리랑) | Melody and chords. Play along!
P-i-m-a-m-i Arpeggio
The triple meter feel of Arirang goes with the P-i-m-a-m-i arpeggio you learned earlier. If you're playing with another guitarist, the P-i-m-a-m-i arpeggio and flat-three strum work great together. Click here 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
