"Samba At Purchase" Tutorial
In this lesson Jovino breaks down his composition "Samba at Purchase" which was composed in a student workshop at Purchase College in New York.
Starting With Chord Changes
The compositional process for this tune started with the chord changes. Jovino wanted to create a tune that followed an AABA form and so the first step was to create the chord changes for the first 8-bar A Section.
The Melodic Component
As discussed in the previous lesson, avoiding redundancy in the melody is an effective way to construct our melodic ideas.
Jovino uses a slight variation to the melody which differentiates the first 2 A Sections. The melody of the bridge introduces a chromatic component which provides a nice contrast to the A Sections.
For the final A Section, Jovino applies the initial A section melody over a different set of chord changes.
Lesson Downloads
-
“Samba At Purchase” Lead Sheet File Type: pdf
Related Lessons
In this lesson we will explore the tune “Agua De Beber” written by Antonio Carlos Jobim and the lyrics written by Vinicius de Moraes.
The title is interesting as it combines the word “Samba” and “Bolero”. “Sambolero” is a term that was used in Brazil back in the 1950s.
In this lesson, we will explore a simple Samba groove that will be effective for working with all kinds of Brazilian Samba and Bossa Nova tunes.
Practice Tips
-
In an AABA form, there is often a slight variation in the melody of each section.
-
In this tune, the changes of the A Sections remain the same and a slight modification to the melody adds interest and variety.
-
Experiment with chromaticism in your melodies as demonstrated in Jovino's composition.
- Superimpose the same melodic ideas over different harmonies to add tension and a natural sense of progression in our compositions.
