The Process of Arranging for Guitar with Laura Snowden

Summary

In this lesson, Laura Snowden, a guitarist and composer, shares her approach to arranging melodies for guitar. She highlights the importance of simplicity, creativity, and the freedom to experiment with different musical elements. Drawing from her background in both classical and folk music, Snowden emphasizes personal expression through various techniques like vibrato, slides, dynamic variation, and rhythmic experimentation. She discusses how to create harmonies and chords for melodies, focusing on intuitive trial and error rather than rigid rules. Through her personal experiences, Snowden encourages guitarists to embrace their creativity and enjoy the process of arranging.

Takeaways

• 😀 Laura Snowden is a guitarist and composer who has worked in both classical music and folk music, including performing, arranging, and writing songs.
• 😀 She grew up with Celtic music from her Breton mother and Cornish father, which influenced her musical style.
• 😀 Snowden formed a folk group called Tyrolus in her late teens, playing Celtic, English, French, and Swedish folk music.
• 😀 She emphasizes the importance of simplicity in arranging folk melodies, highlighting the beauty of just playing the melody expressively.
• 😀 The beauty of arranging lies in the creativity and personal expression it allows, with no right or wrong way to approach it.
• 😀 Snowden encourages experimentation and learning through trial and error, understanding that mistakes are part of the creative process.
• 😀 Arranging doesn't require fluency in reading music, and one can rely on playing by ear or using informal notation to aid the process.
• 😀 Variations in melody can include changes in octave, vibrato, slides, dynamics, fingering, and rhythm to add variety and personal touch.
• 😀 When arranging folk music, different musical traditions, like those of Benjamin Britten, influence the harmony and expression in an arrangement.
• 😀 For chord progressions, listening to different versions of a song and experimenting with trial and error are helpful, but there are no 'correct' versions in folk arrangements.
• 😀 Folk melodies often have several verses, and subtle changes in the arrangement across these verses (such as in ornaments or dynamics) can make a big impact.

Q & A

What is Laura Snowden's background in music?

Laura Snowden is a guitarist and composer who works in both classical and folk music. She has experience as a performer and composer in the classical field, as well as in folk music, including performing, arranging, and writing songs.

How did Laura Snowden’s upbringing influence her music?

Laura Snowden was born to a Breton mother and a Cornish father, which exposed her to a rich environment of Celtic music. This cultural background greatly influenced her musical style, especially her involvement in both Celtic and folk music.

What is the significance of her group 'Tyrolus'?

'Tyrolus' was a five-part folk group that Laura formed after moving to London. The group played not just Celtic music but also English, French, and Swedish folk music. They even recorded an album and performed at prestigious venues like Shakespeare's Globe in London.

Why does Laura Snowden emphasize simplicity when arranging melodies?

Laura Snowden believes that the beauty of many folk melodies lies in their simplicity. She advocates for giving the melody space, allowing it to be expressed in a personal and expressive way, which often results in a more moving and beautiful performance.

What does Laura mean by 'there's no right or wrong' in arranging folk music?

Laura emphasizes that arranging folk music is highly subjective. There is no one 'correct' version of a melody, as different arrangers bring their personal tastes and experiences to the music. This is evident in how various artists interpret the same folk melody differently.

What role does trial and error play in arranging music, according to Laura Snowden?

Laura Snowden suggests that arranging music involves a lot of experimentation and trial and error. She compares it to composing, where creating a lot of ideas, even those that don’t work, is part of the learning process and helps refine one’s creativity.

Can someone without formal music notation skills arrange music, according to the script?

Yes, Laura Snowden notes that you do not need to be fluent in reading or writing music to arrange music. You can work by ear, and even write down your ideas in shorthand or a 'scruffy' form that helps you remember the arrangement. This makes arranging accessible to those who may not be formally trained in music notation.

How does Laura recommend creating variation in a musical arrangement?

Laura suggests several techniques for creating variation, such as changing the octave of the melody, using vibrato for added expression, experimenting with slides, adjusting dynamics and colors, and altering fingering. She also mentions melodic and rhythmic variations to add uniqueness to the arrangement.

What is the significance of chord progressions in arranging folk music?

Chord progressions in folk music are crucial for enhancing the melody. Laura encourages experimenting with different chord options and understanding that there is no one 'correct' chord progression. It's about finding something that complements the melody and fits the desired style or feel.

How should one approach the arrangement of a song with multiple verses?

Laura advises that when arranging a song with multiple verses, it's important to think about the overall structure of the song and how to vary it across verses. Changes could include altering ornaments, rhythms, harmony, melody, or dynamics. She emphasizes that subtle changes can make a significant impact on the song’s feel.