Chords on Command course thumbnail

🎸 Sick of playing just melody or just chords?


🎸 Jealous of how piano players can do both at once?


🎸 Want a tested & reliable way to play ANY song as a chord melody arrangement on the guitar?

Introducing

Chord Melody Magic

by Jared Borkowski

An innovative plug-and-play system for speaking the language of chord melody on the guitar


Enrollment for Chord Melody Magic is currently closed. 

Join my email list HERE to get notified when CMM opens again.
(I send out free weekly lesson videos and very occasional course promotions.)

Chord melody is a popular guitar topic.


You'll easily find information about it if you search for it. 


But inevitably, that information is either:


• Incomplete (a lick here, a lick there)

or

• So overly complex that it's not useful.

What we need is a thorough and trustworthy method for adding any chord shape to any melody note over any type of harmony. 

We need a set of rules and guidelines to help us make arrangement decisions when in doubt. 

And we need guidance on how to turn our arrangements into unique and individual works that express something joyful and genuine—how to turn them into music that we love.

Like many, I was enamored by the sound of chord melodies when I first heard them played by jazz greats such as Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, and Barney Kessel.

I also discovered that chord melodies are commonly played in contexts far outside of just jazz guitar. Passages of classical guitar repertoire, African pop guitar, folk music, country guitar, bluegrass, and many other genres can incorporate chord melodies as well.

I explored trying to play chord melodies myself, seeking out information from books, teachers, the internet, learning from any source I could find.

I was disappointed to discover that each tidbit of chord melody knowledge did not seem to connect to the next. What worked on one chord type didn't translate to another, which left me with a disjointed sound as a result. 

I kept hitting dead end after dead end when trying to make my own arrangements. 

Often chord melody is framed as something you can do starting with certain chord shapes to make them more dynamic. On its own, that's a fine idea, but it lacks a fluid, connected logic; it lacks a completeness.

I discovered that in order to be fluent and seamless in my chord melody playing, I needed to start with the melody, not the chord, and find a way to harmonize it along multiple strings. And I needed to be able to do that with any note over any chord type. 

I started filling in all the gaps. Little by little I created an organized and linear approach that I could walk through to ensure that every melody note was harmonized with a correct sounding chord. There were no more missing pieces, no more dead ends, no more disjointed sounds.

I finally could confidently create an accurate chord melody arrangement using a set of clear parameters without getting confused or lost.

From there I was able to tear down the very structure I created, choosing to skip certain chords, choosing to break them up, change voicings, arpeggiate here, strum there, experiment with internal moving lines, etc...

I was able to discovery my own individual voice and creative expression after having built a plug-and-play, reliable, and accurate chord melody version of the song I was trying to arrange.

Since then, I've used this system on hundreds of songs, I've taught it to students, I've refined it even further, and it's become a critical part of my guitar playing.

Playing chord melodies has been everything I hoped it would be and more. Nothing else I've ever worked on has benefitted my overall musicianship as much as chord melody. Being able to play and hear the melody and chords at the same time enhanced my sense of harmony, composition, and emotional expression to unexpected degree, and I've never looked back.    

I'm pleased to say that after years of searching, learning, practicing, studying, strategizing, teaching, performing, and arranging, I've packaged this exact method into my course, Chord Melody Magic, so you can benefit from the same logical chord melody framework that worked for me.

Introducing...

 by Jared Borkowski

A fail-proof plug-and-play system for seamlessly adding chord shapes to any guitar melody, coupled with comprehensive training on how to deeply understand chord melody as a language.

🎸 Sick playing a melody without hearing the chords? Or playing chords without hearing the melody?

🎸 Chord Melody Magic provides a crystal clear path for you to play any melody on the guitar with chords at the same time in both jazz and popular music styles.

🎸 Use the plug-and-play formula to start playing chord melodies right away, or study the step-by-step process for deeply understanding chord melodies as a language from the ground up.

"Jared's course is all that any budding arranger could hope for . . . After looking at other peoples take on arranging and generally ending up with more questions than answers, Jared's course was so refreshingly straight forward."

- Bob Harrison

Check out the full curriculum!

Fundamental Arrangement Formula Package

MODULE 0

Chord Melody Masterclass (3-Part Preliminary Series)

3 introductory videos to get your started + multi-level exercise booklet download

  • Masterclass Introduction
  • PART 1 - The Building Blocks of A Creative Chord Melody Methodology
  • PART 2 - An Overview of Five Chord Melody Approaches (Organizing Our Options Into a Language)
  • PART 3 - Documenting Your Own Arrangements

MODULE 1

Course Introduction & Roadmap - START HERE

5 video lessons

  • LESSON 1.1 - WATCH THIS FIRST: Welcome to the Life-Changing Practice of Chord Melodies!
  • LESSON 1.2 - Course Navigation Walk-Through & First Assignment
  • LESSON 1.3 - Defining Chord Melodies and Chord Solos
  • LESSON 1.4 - The Chord Melody Magic Formula Explained (My Unique Plug-And-Play System)
  • LESSON 1.5 - Prerequisites & Realistic Expectations (How to get through the roadblocks ahead)

MODULE 2

Resource Downloads (Everything You Need to Succeed)

4 resource downloads each with a video lesson explanation

  • 2.1 - RESOURCE DOWNLOAD: Chord Melody Dictionary (Your ultimate resource for chord melody making)
  • 2.2 - RESOURCE DOWNLOAD: Chord Melody Magic Supplementary Guidebook
  • 2.3 - RESOURCE DOWNLOAD: Jazz Tune Lead Sheets for Applying the Chord Melody Magic Formula
  • 2.4 - RESOURCE DOWNLOAD: Popular Song Lead Sheets for Applying the Chord Melody Magic Formula

MODULE 3

Plug-And-Play Right Away - Hear Yourself Playing Chord Melodies Today! (Step-by-Step Instructions)

7 video lessons breaking down the five steps of chord melody arranging

  • LESSON 3.1 - The Instant “Plug-And-Play” Approach Explained - Module 3 Introduction
  • LESSON 3.2 - STEP 1: Get Ahold of the Melody and Chords (by any means necessary)
  • LESSON 3.3 - STEP 2: How to Decipher the Melody as Chord Tones
  • LESSON 3.4 - STEP 3: Choose Chord Shapes from the Chord Melody Dictionary Download
  • LESSON 3.5 - STEP 4: Decide Which Melody Notes Get Harmonized for Your Arrangement
  • LESSON 3.6 - STEP 5: Practice Away and Experience the Magic of Chord Melody!
  • LESSON 3.7 - Now You Can Design a Chord Melody from ANY Song in Existence!

MODULE 4

Five Chord Melody Approaches as Languages

6 video lessons breaking down the five chord melody approaches

  • LESSON 4.1 - From Craft to Art (Part 1) - Module 4 Introduction
  • LESSON 4.2 - APPROACH #1: Three-Note Block Chord Melody (Great for all genres)
  • LESSON 4.3 - APPROACH #2: Four-Note Traditional Jazz Chord Melody
  • LESSON 4.4 - APPROACH #3: Block Chord Pillars With Melodic Liberties
  • LESSON 4.5 - APPROACH #4: Open Harmonization (two-note accompaniment with guide tones)
  • LESSON 4.6 - APPROACH #5: Creative Combo! (mix & match to taste)

MODULE 5

Accompaniment Styles & Embellishment Options

8 video lessons

  • LESSON 5.1 - From Craft to Art (Part 2) - Module 5 Introduction
  • LESSON 5.2 - Right Hand Articulation Options (pick, thumb, fingers, or hybrid)
  • LESSON 5.3 - Chord With Every Melody Note (That Classic Block Chord Sound)
  • LESSON 5.4 - Melody Then Chord or Chord Then Melody (When, Why, & How to Break up the Block Sound)
  • LESSON 5.5 - Single Note Articulation (Arpeggiating Chords Between Melody Notes)
  • LESSON 5.6 - Sustained Harmony, Moving Melody (Chord Rings for as Long as Possible)
  • LESSON 5.7 - Continuous Accompaniment Pattern Underneath the Melody
  • LESSON 5.8 - Three Simple Chord & Melody Embellishment Options

MODULE 6

Chord Melody Examples Part 1:
Popular Songs (From Your Lead Sheets Download)

5 videos, 4 chord melody demonstrations

  • LESSON 6.1 - Module 6 Introduction: Popular Song Chord Melody Examples
  • LESSON 6.2 - Amazing Grace Chord Melody Demonstration (low range)
  • LESSON 6.3 - Amazing Grace Chord Melody Demonstration (high range)
  • LESSON 6.4 - Silent Night Chord Melody Demonstration
  • LESSON 6.5 - Rock-A-Bye Baby Chord Melody Demonstration

MODULE 7

Chord Melody Examples Part 2:
Jazz Tunes (From Your Lead Sheets Download)

4 videos, 3 chord melody demonstrations

  • LESSON 7.1 - Module 7 Introduction: Jazz Tune Chord Melody Examples
  • LESSON 7.2 - Sweet Georgia Brown Chord Melody Demonstration
  • LESSON 7.3 - I'll See You In My Dreams Chord Melody Demonstration
  • LESSON 7.4 - Ol' Man River Chord Melody Demonstration

MODULE 8

Continued Study & Next Steps

3 videos

  • LESSON 8.1 - How to Handle Chords Changing Under Sustained Melody Notes
  • LESSON 8.2 - Continued Study & Next Steps
  • LESSON 8.3 - Congratulations & Closing Remarks (Watch this before you go!)

 

 

Systematic Chord Soloing Package

Includes everything from the Fundamental Arrangement Formula Package, PLUS:

Systematic Chord Soloing

A clear-as-day practice framework for how to meticulously harmonize single note improvisations, turning them into chord melody solos.


Arranging chord melodies is one thing, but soloing with them is a whole other beast! Systematic Chord Soloing unveils the mystery of improvising solos with chord voicings on the guitar by breaking down the practice process into an organized, sequential, and gradual learning experience that any intermediate guitarist can follow.

MODULE 0

START HERE (Introduction & Curriculum Overview)

6 introductory videos + resource downloads

  • WATCH THIS FIRST: Welcome to Chord Soloing, Your New Superpower
  • Choosing a Unique Approach to Chord Soloing
  • Curriculum Overview for Improvising Chord Solos Systematically from the Ground Up
  • RESOURCE DOWNLOAD: Systematic Chord Soloing Linear Exercise Method Book
  • Chord Melody Dictionary Download (for your convenience)
  • Amazing Lead Sheet Resource

MODULE 1

Exercise Series 1 - Single Location Chord Tones (Anchoring your melodies)

6 video lessons and exercises demonstrations

  • 1.1 - Out-of-time Chord Tones in Single Locations
  • 1.2 - In-time Chord Tones in Single Locations
  • 1.3: Continuous Arpeggio Pairs Exercise (two versions)
  • 1.3a - Constant notes in time with no skips
  • 1.3b - With Musical Phrasing (skips allowed)
  • 1.4: Complete Continuous Arpeggio Exercise (two versions)
  • 1.4a - Constant notes in time with no skips (through song)
  • 1.4b - With Musical Phrasing - skips allowed (through song)

MODULE 2

Exercise Series 2 - Single Location Chord Tones With Voicings (Harmonizing your anchors)

6 video lessons and demonstrations

  • 2.1 - Out-of-time Harmonized Chord Tones
  • 2.2 - In-time Harmonized Chord Tones
  • 2.3: Continuous Harmonized Arpeggio Pairs (2 versions)
  • 2.3a - Constant chords in time with no skips
  • 2.3b - With Musical Phrasing (skips allowed)
  • 2.4: Complete Harmonized Arpeggio Exercise (2 versions)
  • 2.4a - Constant notes in time with no skips (through song)
  • 2.4b - With Musical Phrasing - skips allowed (through song)

MODULE 3

Exercise Series 3 - Adding Melody With Non-chord-tone, Diatonic Scale Degrees

6 video lessons & exercise demonstrations

  • 3.1. Out-of-time Chord Shapes With Extensions Added as Melody
  • 3.2. In-time Chord Shapes With Extensions Added as Melody
  • 3.3: Continuous Chord Tone and Melody Extension Improvisation Between Chord Pairs (2 versions)
  • 3.3a - Constant Improv in time with no skips
  • 3.3b - With Musical Phrasing (skips allowed)
  • 3.4: Full Song Improvisation with Chord Tones and Added Melody Extensions (2 versions)
  • 3.4a - Constant notes in time with no skips (through song)
  • 3.4b - With Musical Phrasing - skips allowed (through song)

MODULE 4

Exercise Series 3 - Adding Non-Harmonized Passing Tones Between Chord Voicings

6 video lessons & exercise demonstrations

  • 4.1. Out-of-time Chord Shapes With Non-Harmonized Passing Tones
  • 4.2. In-time Chord Shapes With Non-Harmonized Passing Tones
  • 4.3: Continuous Scale Exercise with Non-Harmonized Passing Tones (2 versions)
  • 4.3a - Constant Improv in time with no skips (using non-harmonized passing tones)
  • 4.3b - With Musical Phrasing (skips allowed)
  • 4.4: Full Song Improvisation with Chord Tones and Non-Harmonized Passing Tones (2 versions)
  • 4.4a - Constant notes in time with no skips (through song)
  • 4.4b - With Musical Phrasing - skips allowed (through song)

MODULE 5

Exercise Series 5 - Chromatically Harmonizing Passing Tones (The ultimate tension & release)

6 video lessons & exercise demonstrations

  • 5.1. Out-of-time Chord Shapes With Chromatically Harmonized Passing Tones
  • 5.2. In-time Chord Shapes With Chromatically Harmonized Passing Tones
  • 5.3: Continuous Scale Exercise with Chromatically Harmonized Passing Tones (2 versions)
  • 5.3a - Constant Improv in time with no skips (using harmonized passing tones)
  • 5.3b - With Musical Phrasing (skips allowed)
  • 5.4: Full Song Improvisation with Chromatically Harmonized Passing Tones (2 versions)
  • 5.4a - Constant notes in time with no skips (through song)
  • 5.4b - With Musical Phrasing - skips allowed (through song)

MODULE 6

Module 6: Melodic Liberties, Minimal Harmonizing, & Final Advice

5 videos

  • Combining the Extension Melody and Passing Tone Approaches
  • On Using Melodic Liberties
  • Minimal Harmonizing - “Arrival chords” only (Every measure or when chords change)
  • Final Advice on Finding Your Own Voice
  • Congratulations! Closing Thoughts - Leave a comment here :)

Maybe you're thinking, "Sounds great, but how much does it cost to invest in my chord melody skills with a program like this?"

I'm sure you can see how powerful a program like this is.

It's thorough, it's simple to understand, and best of all, it works.

I want to help as many people as possible learn how to play chord melodies.

But I also want to make sure that you're committed, that you value how useful of a program this is, and that you put in what it takes to skyrocket your playing skills.

There's a reason that students who take private lessons make huge improvements. 

It's not necessarily because of the teacher's they have.

It's because private lessons involve more of an investment, which makes students take their practice efforts more seriously. 

Many students take one lesson every week for $100 per session or more, and though they get one-on-one attention, it's rare that they get a linear, structured practice plan that targets their goals perfectly. 

At the going rate, FOR LESS THAN THREE PRIVATE LESSONS, you can become a lifetime member of Chord Melody Magic, (AND all future updates!) for a one-time investment of as little as $297. 

 If you look through the curriculum you'll see how exciting the material is. 

Like all of my courses, Chord Melody Magic is not a typical course, but a life-long resource.

If playing chord melodies is one of your goals then that goal deserves a deep and thorough guide from a teacher who is dedicated to being there for you and making the experience the best it can be.

 I'm constantly improving my courses and thinking of ways to make them better for the students inside.

I have exciting updates to CMM coming in the future. And everyone in the course gets all the updates for free. 

Choose the package that best fits your goals:

Fundamental Arrangement Formula Package

Enrollment is currently closed

The Essential "Chord Melody Magic" Curriculum

  • The full Chord Melody Magic curriculum
  • Over 40 videos
  • Lifetime access
  • Instant access
  • A complete chord melody dictionary (every chord shape needed for any melody over note any chord type!)
  • Permanent access to the 3-part chord melody masterclass series
  • Course supplementary guidebook
  • Leave questions under any video and get answers directly from me (Jared)
  • Free, automatic add-ons with all future course updates
  • Popular song lead sheets for arranging chord melodies with
  • Jazz tune lead sheets for arranging chord melodies with
  • Full arrangement demonstrations
  • Mobile access

 

Systematic Chord Soloing

Additional course!

A step-by-step, methodical practice structure for improvising chord melodies on the guitar, systematically, from the ground up.

Systematic Chord Soloing Package

Enrollment is currently closed

Everything from the other package PLUS chord soloing course!

  • The full Chord Melody Magic curriculum
  • Over 40 videos
  • Lifetime access
  • Instant access
  • A complete chord melody dictionary (every chord shape needed for any melody over note any chord type!)
  • Permanent access to the 3-part chord melody masterclass series
  • Course supplementary guidebook
  • Leave questions under any video and get answers directly from me (Jared)
  • Free, automatic add-ons with all future course updates
  • Popular song lead sheets for arranging chord melodies with
  • Jazz tune lead sheets for arranging chord melodies with
  • Full arrangement demonstrations
  • Mobile access

PLUS:

Systematic Chord Soloing

Additional course!

A step-by-step, methodical practice structure for improvising chord melodies on the guitar, systematically, from the ground up.

If you're thinking...


🤔 What if this course doesn't deliver? 


🫤 What if I don't end up using the program? 


🧐 What if I decide that it's not the right fit for me? 

🤨 What if I just don't like the way this Jared guy teaches?

 

Worry not! You don't even have to decide at this very moment. You can sign up right now, see if you like the material, and if anytime in the first 90 days you decide it's not for you, I got you covered.

With my rock-solid, 90-day, hassle-free, super-chill, with-a-smile, no-questions-asked, 100%-money-back-guaranteed return policy, there's no harm in giving it a try :)

 

 

90 Day 100% Money Back Guarantee

30 day return policies are everywhere, and 60 day guarantee's are common as well, but you have a full 90 DAYS to try this course out and decide if it's right for you. That's how confident I am about the program. 

That's right, signing up for Chord Melody Magic is totally risk free! 

I'm confident that this course will provide immense value for your guitar playing and musicianship. However, if you decide after enrolling that it’s not the right fit for you, for any reason, just contact me within the first 90 days after your purchase and I'll give you a full refund with no hassle whatsoever :)

Even if you decide that you want your money back simply because you don't like the sound of my voice, that's no problem! Just email me within 90 days and I'll gladly return every penny (you can simply reply to your enrollment confirmation email to easily contact me directly). 


Yep, there's no risk on your shoulders at all.

Worst case you get a full refund, best case CMM becomes the smartest investment of your guitar playing life-time.

Choose the package that best fits your goals:

Fundamental Arrangement Formula Package

Enrollment is currently closed

The Essential "Chord Melody Magic" Curriculum

  • The full Chord Melody Magic curriculum
  • Over 40 videos
  • Lifetime access
  • Instant access
  • A complete chord melody dictionary (every chord shape needed for any melody over note any chord type!)
  • Permanent access to the 3-part chord melody masterclass series
  • Course supplementary guidebook
  • Leave questions under any video and get answers directly from me (Jared)
  • Free, automatic add-ons with all future course updates
  • Popular song lead sheets for arranging chord melodies with
  • Jazz tune lead sheets for arranging chord melodies with
  • Full arrangement demonstrations
  • Mobile access

 

Systematic Chord Soloing

Additional course!

A step-by-step, methodical practice structure for improvising chord melodies on the guitar, systematically, from the ground up.

Systematic Chord Soloing Package

Enrollment is currently closed

Everything from the other package PLUS chord soloing course!

  • The full Chord Melody Magic curriculum
  • Over 40 videos
  • Lifetime access
  • Instant access
  • A complete chord melody dictionary (every chord shape needed for any melody over note any chord type!)
  • Permanent access to the 3-part chord melody masterclass series
  • Course supplementary guidebook
  • Leave questions under any video and get answers directly from me (Jared)
  • Free, automatic add-ons with all future course updates
  • Popular song lead sheets for arranging chord melodies with
  • Jazz tune lead sheets for arranging chord melodies with
  • Full arrangement demonstrations
  • Mobile access

PLUS:

Systematic Chord Soloing

Additional course!

A step-by-step, methodical practice structure for improvising chord melodies on the guitar, systematically, from the ground up.

90 Day 100% Money Back Guarantee

No questions. No hassle. Join now and try it out with zero risk. 

Have we met yet? Hi! I'm Jared :)

I'm a guitarist from Seattle who has been teaching and playing professionally for twenty years.

I have a degree in Jazz Studies from the University of Washington School of Music where I also extensively studied classical guitar performance, music theory, and composition.

I post weekly lesson videos on my YouTube channel called Sound Guitar Lessons and I love playing jazz guitar, practicing classical guitar repertoire, and writing songs.

Also, I ride the unicycle, and I'm disappointed that there isn't a unicycle emoji.