If you have diligently worked your way through the earlier lessons on proper technique for your plucking and fretting hands, you are nearly ready to play some of my easier arrangements. Nearly all my arrangements are created using what is called chord/melody. I simply choose a key in which the notes of the melody can most easily be played while still holding down all or part of the underlying chord structure of the piece. There is NEVER a single finger picking pattern employed. Both hands have to work together to bring out the melody line over top of the bass notes and inner voices, which requires flexibility and finger independence in both hands. The lessons in chord/melody will give you enough introduction to the style that you should be able to start learning my simplest arrangements, such as Immaculate Mary or Simple Gifts (Lord of the Dance).
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