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Beyond Chord Melody, Volumes One and Two (eBook + Online Audio)
The Art of Arranging and Performing for Solo Guitar
by Stan Ayeroff
It is satisfying to play a piece of music that sounds great on just one guitar. Beethoven said, “The guitar is a miniature orchestra in itself.”

Beyond Chord Melody concentrates on the advanced concepts that distinguish the beginning guitarist from someone on the road to mastering this style of playing.

Volume 1 prepares you to play the arrangements in Volume 2. It contains 490 examples and exercises, along with note-by-note recording ...more
Product Number:
31247MEB
Format:
eBook + Online Audio
Skill Level:
Intermediate-Advanced
Notation Type:
Standard Notation
Pages:
332
Binding:
eBook
ISBN:
1-5134-8424-9
ISBN13:
978-15134-8424-2
Publisher:
Mel Bay Publications, Inc.
Date Published:
9/29/2025
It is satisfying to play a piece of music that sounds great on just one guitar. Beethoven said, “The guitar is a miniature orchestra in itself.”

Beyond Chord Melody concentrates on the advanced concepts that distinguish the beginning guitarist from someone on the road to mastering this style of playing.

Volume 1 prepares you to play the arrangements in Volume 2. It contains 490 examples and exercises, along with note-by-note recordings of all the material that illustrate the concepts used in creating the arrangements.

There is an emphasis on how to get a good sound while playing solo. A lot of attention is spent on fingerings. Sometimes, unusual fingerings can achieve a musical goal that once seemed unattainable.

You will also learn about the great solo guitar players, arrangers, and singers, as well as cover songs to listen to for inspiration.

Volume Two of Beyond Chord Melody adds 36 songs to your repertoire. All these songs are performance-ready. They are interesting, challenging, and fun to play. They are drawn from Jazz and Swing, Americana, Country and Western, Folk, Blues, Gospel, and Spirituals.

With Volume Two, you gain access to note-by-note recordings of the thirty-six complete song arrangements. This will help you to follow along with the music, and they are great to listen to on their own.

There is excitement, satisfaction, and the pure pleasure of becoming proficient in arranging for and playing solo guitar. Stick with it; it's a worthwhile endeavor.

Volume One

Foreword  

Preface  

Introduction

Notation Issues

The Basics

Suggested Prerequisites for Playing and Arranging for Solo Guitar  

Picking a Song  

Tuning  

Picking a Key

The Arranger’s Toolbox  

Melody, Harmony, and Rhythm

Melody  

Harmony  

Counterpoint  

Bass Lines  

Modulation  

Rhythm  

Fingering

Left-Hand Fingering Suggestions and Examples

Maintaining a Legato Line

Fingering for Legato and Sustain

Right-Hand Fingering Suggestions

After You Have Learned a Song

Structure  

Introductions

Endings

Interludes

Turnarounds

Sound, Tone, Texture and Harmonics

Things to Think About After You’ve Learned a Song  

Practice and Studying

Practicing  

Studying  

Great Cover Songs  

Lists of Great Guitarists, Singers, Arrangers, Horn Bands and Pianists  

Closing Thoughts

Closing Thoughts  

From the Author Regarding Mel Bay Publications  

Acknowledgments  

About the Author 

Volume Two

Foreword – Jon Herington

Preface

Alphabetical Listing of Solo

Introduction

Notation Issues

Notes on the Arrangements

The Arrangements

Closing Thoughts

From the Author Regarding Mel Bay Publications

Acknowledgements

Alexander’s Ragtime Band

Always

Amazing Grace

Are You Lonesome Tonight?

Aura Lee (aka Love Me Tender)

Beautiful Dreamer

Bye Bye Blackbird

California Here I Come

Carolina in the Morning

Danny Boy

Dinah

Home on the Range

I’ll See You in My Dreams

I’ve Been Working on the Railroad

Indiana

It Had to Be You

It’s All in the Game

Ke Kali Nei Au (aka The Hawaiian Wedding Song)

Look for the Silver Lining

Manhattan

My Buddy

Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen

Old Folks at Home

Shenandoah

Somebody Loves Me

Someone to Watch Over Me

Sweet Georgia Brown

Swing Low, Sweet Chariot

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Tea for Two

The Streets of Laredo

Waltzing Matilda

Way Down Yonder in New Orleans

Wayfaring Stranger

What’ll I Do?

When the Red, Red, Robin Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin’ Along 

 
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