Fingerstyle Arrangement Guide

NEILCHANMUSIC
Fingerstyle for the World
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www.neilchanmusic.com
NEILCHANMUSIC
Fingerstyle Arrangement Guide
The Fingerstyle For The World Method
Welcome! This guide is part of an entire ecosystem of materials that I’ve

prepared for you to arrange your own solo fingerstyle guitar music in a way
that is uniquely yours.
Here’s how it works:
Courses equip you with all the knowledge and technical skills you need to
arrange songs for fingerstyle guitar in 3 progressive levels.
iÉîÉä=N iÉîÉä=O iÉîÉä=P

Open Position Closed Position Improvisation
Click here to check out the courses!
Guides lay out all the concepts you’ve learnt in the course in a concise and
easily accessible manner. They are your cheatsheets you can readily refer to
as you create your arrangements. Download all the guides here!
Note: The guides assume that you are already familiar with all the concepts
covered in the courses.
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Approaching Fingerstyle Arrangement
Arranging a song for solo ngerstyle guitar basically means taking a song
and playing its various components on a single instrument simultaneously.
While this may seem like a daunting task, it actually is quite straightforward
once you’ve broken it down into a step-by-step process!
The secret is in equipping yourself with the musical tools so that you can
use them at each step of the process to create your own unique fingerstyle
arrangements.
Let’s get started!
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Step 1:
Song Foundations
First, establish what the key and meter of the song is.
Key:
- Is it major or minor?
- Which of the 12 notes is the tonal center?
- Determine the key
- Eg. E major, Ab minor
Meter:
- Is it simple or compound meter?
- How many main beats are there?
- Any other stylistic qualities? (Eg. Swing, rubato)
- Determine the meter
- Eg. 4/4, 6/8, 3/4, 4/4 Swing
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Step 2:
Selecting Fretboard Position
Next, decide if you want to arrange in open position or closed position.

You can always use a combination of both too!
Open Position: Closed Position:
Pros: Pros:
- Fuller, resonant texture - More control over articulation
- Simpler to arrange - More freedom in improvisation
- Lower bass notes - Easy to control dynamics
- Easy to play in any key
Cons:
- Less control over articulation Cons:
- More restricted improvisation - Thinner texture
- Harder to control dynamics - Limited low end range
- Limited selection of keys
- Limited high end range
Open Position Closed Position

is covered in the is covered in the
iÉîÉä=N iÉîÉä=O
course course
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Step 3:
Selecting Your Scale Position(s)
Next, select and play your scale position(s) based on the key of the song and
the fretboard position you’ve chosen (open/closed/both).
Refer to the Scale - Melody Guide for all the scale positions!
Open Position: Closed Position:
Select an open scale position Select a movable scale position
Example: Open C Major Example: 5-1 minor
5 1 4 b7 2 5
b6 b3 b6
2 5 1
b7 b3 b6 4 b7
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Step 4:
Process the Melody with Solfege
Listen to the melody of the song and identify each of the notes in solfege.
Take as long as you need! The more complex the melody, the harder it is.
Refer to the Solfege - Musicianship Guide for all the solfege syllables!
Once you’ve processed the melody in solfege,

you can immediately play it on guitar
using the scale position(s) you’ve selected.
Remember, musicianship training takes time.

Don’t be in a rush, slowly develop your skill!
You will learn

how to apply
solfege in
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of the course!
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Step 5:
Selecting the Chord Positions
Now to fill in the harmonies! Select your chord positions based on the
general fretboard position your melody is at.
Refer to the Chord - Harmony Guide for all the chord positions!
For open position, you can simply use open chord shapes. You may need
to throw in a few movable chords depending on the song you’re playing.
For closed position, you’ll mostly use movable chord shapes.
Make sure to choose chord shapes close to where your melody note is!
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Step 6:
Combining Melody and Harmony
Here comes the fun part where your arrangement comes together.
1. Hold as much of each chord shape as possible

while playing the melody over it.
2. Prioritise playing the bass note of the chord. If all

you play is just the bass with the melody, it is
good enough. (Sometimes, less is more!)
Many song examples are

included in the
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to show you how this is done
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Step 7:
Making it Uniquely Yours
In this last step, make your arrangement come

alive with your musical signature.
Articulate and Express: Add Improvisation
Select your techniques! Range from minor melodic

- Palm muting, percussion, embellishments to full on guitar
ghost notes, pitch bends, solos!
etc…
Select Improvisation Approach:
- Universal Scale
- Arpeggios
- Guide Tones
- Avoid Notes
- Modes
- Chromaticism
Improvisation
is covered in the
iÉîÉä=P
course
NEILCHANMUSIC
You’re Done!
Congratulations on your fingerstyle arrangement!

The more go through this process, the better at it
you will get.
You can even reach the point of creating a

fingerstyle arrangement of a song on the spot on
the very first listen.
It takes hard work and time to do this well, but so

do all things, and I’m here to help you out!
Study with me in the

`çìêëÉë
now!

Fingerstyle Arrangement Guide

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NEILCHANMUSIC

Fingerstyle for the World

The Fingerstyle For The World Method

Welcome! This guide is part of an entire ecosystem of materials that I’ve

Here’s how it works:

iÉîÉä=N iÉîÉä=O iÉîÉä=P

Click here to check out the courses!

Approaching Fingerstyle Arrangement

Let’s get started!

Next, decide if you want to arrange in open position or closed position.

Open Position: Closed Position:

Open Position Closed Position

Open Position: Closed Position:

Select an open scale position Select a movable scale position

Example: Open C Major Example: 5-1 minor

Once you’ve processed the melody in solfege,

Remember, musicianship training takes time.

You will learn

For closed position, you’ll mostly use movable chord shapes.

1. Hold as much of each chord shape as possible

2. Prioritise playing the bass note of the chord. If all

Many song examples are

In this last step, make your arrangement come

Articulate and Express: Add Improvisation

Select your techniques! Range from minor melodic

Congratulations on your fingerstyle arrangement!

You can even reach the point of creating a

It takes hard work and time to do this well, but so

Study with me in the

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