Easy Guitalele
Overview
Our Easy Guitalele series includes music in notation and tablature along with chord diagrams. The music is notated for a guitalele in ADGCEA tuning.
What Is Included
Music in our Easy Guitalele series includes:
- Melody in notation and tablature
- Lyrics if the music includes words
- Guitalele chord diagrams above the music
Required Skills
- Basic first position chords (if you want to play the chords). You should be able to play these chords and switch between them easily. We try to limit the speed and number of chord changes, but this isn’t always possible.
- Ability to read tablature. You will also benefit from being able to read standard notation to help with rhythms.
- Ability to play notes in first position with occasional notes further up the neck.
- Ability to play simple rhythms. Most titles include simple rhythms, but you may encounter triplets, 16th notes, etc. in some songs. It isn't possible to simplify these in all cases. A limited number of titles may include more complex rhythms, faster tempos, etc.
Chords
Below is an overview of how chords are chosen for this series:
Simplified Chords - Chords have been simplified as much as possible, but this isn't always possible since some songs only sound right with the original chords.
Chord Changes - We try to avoid more frequent changes than half notes in 4/4 at a moderate tempo. This isn't always possible where frequent chord changes are essential to the sound of the music. Simple chords or slower tempos may allow for more frequent changes.
Included Chords - Chords are generally limited to simple first position chords such as C, D, F, G, A, Dm, Am, C7, D7, E7, G7, and A7. Songs may occasionally include sus2, sus4, m7, and other similar chords with easy fingerings. More challenging chords (e.g., barre chords) are only used when there is no alternative.
Keys
Keys are selected based on their suitability for guitalele. The most commonly-used keys include C major, D major, G major, A major, and A minor.
The primary focus is on putting the melody in an easy key for guitalele. This occasionally means the music is in a key that isn't as easy for singers.
Lyrics
We try to include up to 5 or 6 verses of lyrics within the music. Other lyrics may be included as text at the end of the music. Some lyrics may be omitted, but this is usually done only when the extra lyrics are rarely sung or when there are too many verses to easily include all of them (e.g., songs that include dozens of verses).
Lyrics may vary from the version you know. Some songs exist in many different versions. Different sources may have substantial variations in lyrics. Because of this, it isn't always possible to create a version of the lyrics that is familiar to everyone.
Melody
Our priority for melodies is to make them easy to play on guitalele. Vocal range is a secondary consideration. We do try to avoid including notes that are too high or low, but some songs have a wide enough range that this isn't possible.
Rhythms, Tempo, and Time Signatures
Complex rhythms are simplified where possible. For example, we may double the value of rhythms in order to avoid 16th notes. This isn't feasible for all situations.
More difficult time signatures such as 6/8 may be changed to 3/4 when it results in simpler rhythms. This isn't done in all cases since some rhythms may become more difficult with this type of change.
Tempos are editorial suggestions in most cases. Feel free to choose your own tempo.