Auld Lang Syne

As we come to the end of the year, let’s celebrate with a Lyle Ritz–inspired chord melody arrangement of “Auld Lang Syne.”

I’ll also take you behind the scenes of how I approach chord melody arranging, using Barry Harris’ scales-of-chords approach to harmony. This method encourages us to think of every chord not just as a static shape, but as a complete sound with its own internal movement—containing both tension and release. We’ll look closely at the specific chord scales used to create this arrangement, then build the piece step by step so the process is clear and manageable.

By the end of the lesson, we’ll put it all together and play through the entire arrangement with a backing track, giving you the experience of playing as part of a band rather than practicing alone.

If you were with us last week in the Magic Ukulele Club, you’ll recognize these same concepts from our chord melody arrangement of “Let It Snow.” This lesson continues that journey, helping you deepen your understanding of harmony while expanding your chord melody vocabulary in a musical, practical way.