Three-note Chord Techniques

John D. Carter · From: Canton, Ohio, USA

I am finding it difficult to play three-note chords with smoothness and with equal volume on each note. It seems so much more difficult to play 3 notes simultaneously than 2. I am having difficulty with getting the picks aligned to give me the balanced sound I need when playing fast passages. Does this make sense to you seasoned players? Is the answer to this dilemma in altered grips or maybe angled picks or just practice? Any advice at all is welcomed. Thanks.

Dom Franco · From: Beaverton, OR, 97007

After a while you will be able to balance out the volume of all the notes evenly. When I play 3 note chord/melodys I usually arrange it so that the highest pitch is the melody and the harmonies play out below.
This is not due to the volume of each string being different, it is due a law of physics that the highest pitch will be percieved as louder.

It is more difficult to accent the melody when I place a harmony note above it. It can be done however, with a conscious effort to pluck the melody note louder. And sometimes I will even "trill" the note (alternate back and forth) between the two notes, or pluck the melody just a hair before the harmony. It's actually easier to do than to explain.

You'll get the idea, just try two notes at first, and accent one then the other... keep at it, it will come.

Dom Franco

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