Melodic guitar for beginners! Learn any melody by ear and duet beautifully on the acoustic guitar.
View the full lesson at How to Play a Melody on Guitar | JustinGuitar
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Thats it, im broken 
Iāve not had much issue with anything else (duet is difficult as nobody nearby plays but I have a looper so thats ok) but this finding a melody malarky is doing me in. Iām struggling to get past the 4 note that Justin gives as a clue (for house of the rising sun). 3 days and iām nowhere. Did everyone else struggle with this or is it just me? Will I suddenly have a breakthrough? ( Im thinking I will as thats what happened with other stuff Iād never imagine I could do)
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A post was split to a new topic: What do you do if you hit all the notes of the chord and none of them sound right
First of all Iām really happy that lessons are being added to grade 3.
The lesson on writing melodies for well known songs is too complex though and it feels I am missing a vital part of information.
I am talking about this lesson: https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-play-a-melody-on-guitar-bg-1605
Justin teaches us how to play melodies but I am unsure what exactly he is doing ā¦ For example in the song āLet it Beā he starts playing certain kind of notes, however there is no guide on what and more importantly why he is playing that certain note.
Is it just improvisation and always playing the root note on the first ābeatā ?
Thanks for the help !
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Looks like heās just hearing/singing the melody and finding the notes that correspond.
The chords to the song are a starting point. The melody will usually (not always) be a note in the chord.
Take Let it Be for example. Starts on a C major chord. Notes in the C major triad are C, E, and G. The chord is only three notes even though itās played across 5 strings. The notes just repeat. CEGCe. Same with all major chord shapes basically.
The starting note is G for the vocal melody (played over a C chord). Then goes to A (not part of C major), then E (part of C major). Thereās a chord change on the word ātimesā to a G. The notes in G major triad are G, B, D. Melody is G on the word ātimes.ā Then the next note in the melody is C ( not part of G major) then up to D (part of G major). So onā¦
Mostly about listening and being able to play what you hear.
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@CorynF to add to what Joe has already mentioned the
melody note are out of the C major scale.
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Iāve not been through Grade 1 and 2 since Justin revamped the Beginner Course. So I am not sure how much theory people coming into this lesson would have? Referencing scales and notes that make up chords may be theory not yet covered?
Having watched the lesson, the crux (as Joe said) is about hearing the melody and finding the notes on the neck. Justin recommended finding the notes in the open position ie first 4 frets. Practical one can explore playing notes from the chord, without needing to know all the theory explicitly.
If I were doing this I think I would prepare by writing the lyrics out, splitting words into syllables. I think for these suggested songs generally one note per syllable. Then add the bars and the chords, which give clues to what the melody notes might be ie the notes you are playing as you strum the chord (as Joe said).
If not one of those then try others, without needing to worry if they are notes from the scale, though (as Stitch said) that would be helpful. But I canāt recall what key each suggested song is in. And Justin did say that knowing the key and the chords in the key would be helpful but not a necessity (for those people reaching this point but not yet working through additional theory)
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Hi @CorynF
You do not need theory, scales, super deep knowledge.
The main point is made early on when Justin says:
āLISTENā.
He also says, decide if the next melody note is higher or lower.
You are literally listening to the melody, really good listening, not superficial listening that is only half engaged because you already āknowā the melody.
Then you find the start note.
And playing the start chord is the biggest guide on that as the start note will be somewhere in or near to the chord notes.
Then you find the next note.
Is it higher? Lower?
By a lot or a little?
One fret?
Two frets?
Can I put my finger down and find it?
Ah yes, got it. It was actually four frets higher - could be thought of as four semitones higher if you moved to an adjacent string.
What about the next note?
Wash, rinse, repeat.
It is going to be slow and methodical.
But The principle is basic.
Hope that helps.
Cheers 
| Richard_close2u | JustinGuitar Official Guide & Moderator
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Listen, hear, find, play. 
Wash rinse repeat.
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As someone who has solely used Justinguitars lessons and zerotoheroguitar videos I must say this lesson is an insane jump in difficulty but it might be time to start working on hearing songs. I just wish there was a middle step because Iāve never struggled as hard with anything as I do on this lesson.
Thanks for the explanation everyone.
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Iām really glad I had a go at doing this after watching this lesson. I remember trying to do the āhappy birthdayā melody way back in one of the beginner modules, I think it was an ear training lesson. I was terrible at it and gave it up. However, yesterday I found all the notes for āhouse of the rising sunā without too much difficulty. Just a bit of trial and error. It was actually really satisfying and fun! And today had a go at āyellowā by Coldplay. My attempts donāt sound anywhere near as cool as Justinās with all the embellishments, but itās a start and something Iāll keep doing from now on.
Thanks for the lesson!
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This is a very good lesson. If you know at least one major scale pattern, it will be a whole lot easier to find the notes.
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I havenāt tried this one yet, but I am glad I read this thread first. Thanks!
I think I will try it gently, basically listen carefully and at a specific moment just trying a note. A one note melody! Slowly trying to find notes that fit and where to place them, building from there.
It doesnāt seem that different than improvising on a scale over a backing track.
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Great lesson. Donāt think Iāve ever come across it before. Really helpful with some of the stuff Iām currently trying to do.
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This is a great lesson. I find it quite tricky frankly. Justin goes quite fast when he gives the examples and uses some embellishments.
I found almost all the notes for the verse of House of the rising sun, but I canāt find the note thatās being played on the word āoneā. Any suggestions? 
1 Like
Thats it, im broken
Iāve not had much issue with anything else (duet is difficult as nobody nearby plays but I have a looper so thats ok) but this finding a melody malarky is doing me in. Iām struggling to get past the 4 note that Justin gives as a clue (for house of the rising sun). 3 days and iām nowhere. Did everyone else struggle with this or is it just me? Will I suddenly have a breakthrough? ( Im thinking I will as thats what happened with other stuff Iād never imagine I could do)