A Section Harmonic Analysis
In this lesson we analyse the A section of the tune “Body & Soul”. We begin by evaluating and analysing the melody and harmony. We then build upon the concepts covered in the previous lesson by playing the A section with 3-note spread voicings and the melody on top.
Isolate the Melody Line
First we isolate the melody to familiarise ourselves with the melodic contours and large interval jumps. Varying the rhythm and accents of the melody not only adds variety to our interpretations of the tune but also expands the palette of expression when playing solo jazz piano.
Two-Handed Spread Voicings with Melody
We take the voicing configurations demonstrated in the previous lesson and show how we can apply this to the harmony of the A section of “Body & Soul”.
The basic formula is to play the root with the left hand pinky finger, the melody note with the right hand pinky finger (of sometimes the right hand 4th finger) and then we fill in the 3rd and 7th of the chord in between which can be played with either hand. The 5th is an optional note which can be used to add more ‘weight’ to our voicings.
This two-handed spread voicings technique allows us to play both the melody and the harmony simultaneously. This is the most basic way to harmonise a jazz lead sheet.
Lesson Downloads
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A Section Harmony File Type: pdf
Related Lessons
This is a simplified foundations practice guide which focuses on the most important theory areas needed to progress onto the next courses.
In this lesson, we are going to learn about incorporating the voice into our playing, right from the beginning of learning a tune – Body & Soul.
A seventh chord is a triad which has been extended to include the 7th degree of the scale. This creates a fuller sound than simple 3-note triads.
Practice Tips
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Identify the common chord progressions before starting to play the tune. This includes 251s and 36251 progressions.
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Isolate the melody to familiarise yourself with the melodic contours and the large interval jumps.
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Always remember that the melody on a lead sheet is simply a guide. If you listen to 10 different recordings of a jazz standard, you will hear that each artist interprets the melody differently and adds their own creative nuances.
