(Welling. Kent)
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Lesson Guide - Right Here Waiting
John’s notes;
This is a beautiful ballad written and recorded by Richard Marx. Check out before playing my
arrangement to get a flavour of how it goes. I have arranged this as a ‘Power Ballad’ suitable
for electric guitar.
This song is great as a melodic practicing tool because it has a strong melody
and allows for a wide variety of ‘improvisation’ techniques such as bends, pull
off’s, hammer on’s, and dynamics (playing parts quiet and loud). Once you’ve got
the timing and basic melodic structure down by following the TAB this
arrangement allows you to be very creative in your playing. From Phrase 32 to
the end I maintain the basic melodic theme but ‘improvise’ by playing phrases I
think serve the tune but allow for creativity. This is what ‘improvising’ means -
always serve the tune but feel free to express your own way of playing it! That’s
why learning by heart the 3 ‘shape’ scales ‘A’, ‘D’,and ‘E’ is essential to play over
the underling chords.
To be able to improvise (not playing random notes but always serving the tune) is a great joy,
and adds interest for the player and the listener.
I use a touch of distortion (gain/drive) on the amplifier to add a little ‘edge’ to the melody. This
helps to provide sustain (length a note lasts) which suits power ballads. I also switch between
the middle pickup and bridge pickup on the guitar when going from the verse to the chorus.
This gives the chorus more prominence and cuts through the backing better. I also pluck a
little harder to increase the volume slightly.
Backing Track
arranged and performed by
J. Edwards
Sample - Right Here Waiting (Edited)
TAB & ‘one to one’ tuition
available to members
Flat Picking / Chordal melody version
(perfect for acoustic guitars)
John’s notes;
I’ve always enjoy converting a good ballad into a “Flat Picking / Chordal” arrangement. A single
guitar (acoustic or electric) without any accompaniment can give a tune a fresh life when mixing
melody with harmony (chords), and give freedom to the player to express the tune in so many
different ways depending on their own creativity.
So when a fellow member suggested this tune so she could play it to her husband on their
upcoming anniversary I jumped at the opportunity.
Give it a go, adapt to your liking, and add it to your set list.