Reply To: Guitar Ensemble Method

[nafmeadmin]

I learned a ‘quick and dirty’ ensemble technique at a MENC Guitar Workshop (hie thee there, and quickly – you’ll be glad you did). Have part of your class strum the chords of the song. Another group plays the bass note of the chord on an open string (if appropriate) or single string, using a different rhythm than the strummers. A third group (or you, as the teacher) can play the melody.
I have an electric bass in my classroom on which I allow one student to play the bass line, and an electric guitar to augment the strumming group.
It’s even effective to have just chords and melody.