To develop students music reading skills we play duet pieces together to ensure that they’ve learnt their part while developing independent counting/timing. For these duets I like to use the pieces from Modern Method For Guitar Volume 1 by William Leavitt.
However since being in lockdown and teaching online Zoom guitar lessons we’ve been unable to play in time due to the video conferencing delay.
So to resolve this time delay issue I created a series of YouTube videos for the duet pieces from Modern Method For Guitar. In the videos both parts are played together then separately so if you have the book you can play along with either part.
These duets are great reading exercises that help to develop note and rhythm reading as both parts are quite independent with counter-melodies and chords. There are no tabs here just proper music notation so time to brush up your reading skills!
You cna buy Modern Method For Guitar Volume 1 by William Leavitt https://amzn.to/3b5MDru Modern Method For Guitar Volumes 1 2 3 Complete by William Leavitt https://amzn.to/3a37LgD on Amazon (affiliate links)
Etude 1
Set in the key of C major so no sharps or flats. When it comes to reading chords work them out one note at a time. The chords in this piece are based around C major, G7 and F major. In bar 9 for the part 1 (top part) the whole bar is C major just played in parts. So hold the regular C chord shape and pluck the correct strings to play the right notes.
Duet in G
Set in the key of G major so watch for the F# notes. In this tune look out for the accidentals (other sharps) and when they reset to natural notes. Chords used here include G major, C major, D7 and A7#5. Rhythmically watch for the dotted quarter note and the eighth note pair in bar 2 (part 1). The count here is 1 2+ “and” with the second note (F#) in the bar on the “and” after 2.
Duet in F
Set in the key of F major so watch for the Bb notes. Like Duet in G look out for the accidentals (other sharps) and when they reset to natural notes. Chords used here include F major, F# diminished and C7. For part 1 in the third line note the down/up picking directions while holding down the fret 1 C note to create the 2 note arpeggio patterns.
Pretty Picking
In the key of G major so watch for the F# notes. Part 1 here is based around arpeggios while Part 2 plays the melody. For Part 1 arpeggios observe the down/up picking directions plus again watch for the accidentals (other sharps and flats) and when they reset to natural notes. Final thing to take note of here is the ¾ time signature with 3 beats in the bar.
Take Your Pick
Another tune featuring arpeggios however this is in the key of C major and in 4/4 with 4 beats in the bar. In Part 1 the slurs (curved lines) indicate which notes are meant to be held down to ring out as chords. Chord used here include C major, F major, G7, F# diminished and D7. In the middle section of the tune watch for the accidentals (other sharps and flats) and when they reset to natural notes.
Duet in D
Set in the key of D major with F# and C# notes. Rhythmically look out for the ties (e.g. in bars 3 and 4) and in Part 1 watch the syncopation (playing the “and” off beats) in bars 9 and 11. The only chord featured here is the 2nd position D chord at the end of the piece. You should be able to work out the fingering from the video.
Ballad
The Ballad piece includes more “jazz” chords such as D7sus4 (bar 3), D half diminished (bar 4), C69 and E diminished (bar 7), Fadd9 and F diminished add 9 (bar 8). For Part 1 in line 4 watch for the fingering of the A9 and F# diminished chords.
Another Duet in F
Like the first Duet in F it is set in the key of F major so watch for the Bb notes. Rhythmically it’s in ¾ and watch for the dotted quarter note/eighth note pairs in the second line (Part 1). Overall here Part 1 is fairly easy while Part 2 is more challenging with the F and C7 chords being played as arpeggios plus other chords Gm7/Bb, B diminished being used in the middle of the piece.
Play It Pretty
Back in the key of C but with some accidentals to watch for. Part 1 is fairly easy just look out for the C69 chord at the end. Part 2 again is more difficult dealing with the chords including C, Dm and Em triads. Other chords include Bb9, A9, D half diminished, Cmajor7, F# diminished and F/G.
Blues in G
This tune is a bit different to others following the 12 bard blues pattern in G. For Part 1 play it using palm muting (aka the muffled effect!) to keep the notes short. Part 2 plays a chord based melody using the G, C9 and D9 chords. In the last bar look out for the 12th fret harmonics in Part 2.
Short and Sweet
Set in the key of G Part 1 features the melody while Part 2 handles the chords. The roles are reversed towards the end with Part 1 playing F7, G major, G minor, C69, F minor 9 and G major 7 chords. Chords played by Part 2 earlier in the piece include C9/G and A minor 7.
Tres Sharp
This piece is the final duet in Modern Method for Guitar Volume 1 and is set in the key of A with 3 sharps C# F# and G# = Tres Sharp – get it? Part 1 here plays chord/melody style guitar where both parts are blended together. There is a nice mixture of counter-melodies and switching of chords between the parts throughout the piece. Chords here include A, A major 7, F# minor 7, B minor and E7.