FAT DOG GUITAR ENSEMBLE MUSIC

This is a bright, cheerful 16th note Latin/Rock chart which sounds sophisticated but is very accessible to the performers. The 2nd acoustic guitar part often doubles with the bass in horizontal, rhythmical patterns and the 3rd guitar part is mostly finger patterns over easy but interesting chords. Acoustic guitar 1 has a catchy, highly syncopated melody line and a fully notated solo section which should present few technical demands. This chart is an absolute favourite with Murray’s own guitar ensemble.

• Acoustic Guitar 1 (Lead Guitar): Medium/Advanced
• Acoustic Guitar 2: Medium
• Acoustic Guitar 3: Medium/Easy
• Bass/Drums: Medium

Here is a great sounding 16th note Sing Funk Shuffle that is fun to play and is written for 3 acoustic guitars, electric guitar, drums and bass. The electric guitar provides the groove riff that is essential to this style and the 3rd guitar takes the rhythm guitar role with simple, contemporary chords and the occasional fingerstyle. Guitars 1 and 2 handle the catchy melody and harmony and should have few technical challenges. However, guitar 1 has a long, detailed and moderately demanding solo that your best guitarists will fight over.

• Acoustic Guitar 1 (Lead Guitar): Advanced
• Acoustic Guitar 2: Medium
• Acoustic Guitar 3: Easy
• Electric Guitar: Medium/Easy
• Bass/Drums: Medium

This is a swingin’ 2-feel Funk Shuffle that has an interesting twist in that it has a Jazz solo section. It is not a hugely technically demanding chart, but it does require a very sophisticated feel in the Jazz section from your drummer, bass player and acoustic guitar 3 (who needs to comp with energy and appropriate style). Acoustic guitar 1 has a bold, punchy melody which at times is shared by acoustic guitar 2, which also has some simple chord work. Guitar 3 has a strong arpeggio-based riff and a number of jazz chords to contend with.

• Acoustic Guitar 1 (Lead Guitar); Medium
• Acoustic Guitar 2; Medium
• Acoustic Guitar 3; Medium
• Bass/Drums; Medium

This chart is Bossa/Rock in style and is based around a catchy Latin groove played by acoustic guitar 3 and a strong, simple, riff-based melody in the acoustic guitar 1 part. Instead of a solo section it has a bridge which is built by layering a series of rhythmic/melodic grooves. Although this may be a straight-forward piece to play it sounds sophisticated and classy.

• Acoustic Guitar 1 (Lead Guitar); Medium/Easy
• Acoustic Guitar 2; Medium/Easy
• Acoustic Guitar 3; Medium
• Bass/Drums; Medium/Easy

This piece has been deliberately written to be accessable to less experienced musicians and has simple and strong themes that your students will enjoy. It is light rock in style with reggae influences and is lots of fun.

• Acoustic Guitar 1 (Lead Guitar); Easy
• Acoustic Guitar 2; Easy
• Acoustic Guitar 3; Easy
• Bass; Easy
• Drums; Medium

Here’s a bright and catchy chart. Although the melody and harmony lines are found in the Acoustic Guitar 1 and 2 parts, Guitar 3 plays the pivotal role in this piece – the chart is founded on a memorable 8-bar finger-picking sequence based on just a few open-string chords in the first position. The style is hard to pigeon-hole (having its roots somewhere between Folk and light Funk) but your students and audience will become happily hooked on ‘Strollin’’.

• Acoustic Guitar 1 (Lead Guitar); Medium
• Acoustic Guitar 2; Medium
• Acoustic Guitar 3; Medium
• Bass/Drums; Medium

This piece is based on a relaxed, contented groove which is laid down by the bass, Guitar 3 and drums with the melody and harmony lines found in the Acoustic Guitar 1 and 2 parts. The style is a shuffle, but it has shades of reggae, funk and even flamenco! 'Warming to the Groove' has been carefully written to be relatively easy to play but to sound sophisticated.

• Acoustic Guitar 1 (Lead Guitar); Medium
• Acoustic Guitar 2; Medium
• Acoustic Guitar 3; Medium
• Bass/Drums; Medium

This piece is predominantly Latin/Funk in style and is based on a groove which is laid down by the bass. It has a strong, catchy and memorable chorus section and a very manageable solo section for guitar 1. The extended Outro section is extremely cool and consists of a series of overlaid grooves. Your guitar ensemble will love playing Solitary Soul.

• Acoustic Guitar 1 (Lead Guitar); Medium
• Acoustic Guitar 2; Medium
• Acoustic Guitar 3; Medium
• Bass; Medium/easy
• Drums; Medium
• Percussion (optional); easy

This piece was created from two of the simple guitar chord shapes used in Paul McCartney's 'Blackbird'and is easy for all guitar parts. It is predominantly Bossa Nova in style in style and is based on three catchy, contrasting and straight-forward melodic ideas. Your guitar ensemble will enjoy this piece and get it together very quickly.

• Acoustic Guitar 1 (Lead Guitar); Easy
• Acoustic Guitar 2; Easy
• Acoustic Guitar 3; Easy
• Bass; Easy
• Drums; Medium/easy