“Sentimental Mood” – Full Walkthrough
Welcome to the final lesson in our exploration of the jazz standard “In a Sentimental Mood” for beginners. Throughout this course, we’ve broken down each section of the tune, focusing on the A and B sections individually, and now we’ll combine everything we’ve learned to perform the song in its entirety.
This lesson will provide insights into how to approach the final performance, including voicing techniques, melodic embellishments like grace notes, and clearly visualising each section of the tune.
Combining A and B Sections
As we bring together the A and B sections, pay attention to how each part flows into the next. The A sections, played twice at the beginning, are rooted in D minor which creates a somber and melancholy tone. As we move into the B section the a key modulates to Db major which introduces a brighter and happier vibe. The juxtaposition between minor and major keys is a hallmark of jazz, adding depth and emotional contrast to jazz standard performance.
Grace Notes & Melodic Embellishments
In jazz, grace notes and other melodic embellishments are essential for adding character and personality to our playing. As you play through the A section, try incorporating subtle grace notes to enhance the bluesy quality of the melody. These quick, ornamental notes can transform a simple phrase into something more expressive and soulful. Experiment with how you place these embellishments to create a performance that’s uniquely yours.
Pulling & Pushing on Time
An interesting aspect of playing a jazz ballad for solo piano is mastering the art of rhythmic flexibility and phrasing. Notice how slight delays or accelerations in timing can dramatically affect the mood and feel of the piece. This technique, often referred to as “pulling and pushing” on the time, allows you to inject more emotion and spontaneity into your performance. Practice playing through the piece slowly, focusing on where you can add these time-based nuances to create a more unique and expressive performance.
Related Lessons
We take each bar of the A Section and apply licks, fills, and melodic ornamentation that we can use to create a soulful bluesy vibe.
Lead sheets are a useful tool when starting out with jazz, but by learning tunes by memory, it will benefit your playing in a number of ways.
Using the tune “Georgia” – we will also explore the concept of the major blues scale and how to apply this to major 251 progressions.
Practice Tips
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Focus on Smooth Transitions: Practice moving smoothly between the A and B sections, ensuring that the key modulations are fluid and seamless.
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Grace Notes: Experiment with grace notes in different parts of the melody to see how they affect the overall sound and make the performance uniquely your own.
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Play with Timing: Don’t be afraid to slow down or speed up slightly in certain phrases to add emotional depth and contrast.
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Visualise Chord Movements: Clearly visualise related blocks of harmony; especially the minor line cliché sections and the 2-5-1 progressions.
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Listen to Multiple Recordings: Refer to different versions of "In a Sentimental Mood" by various jazz artists to inspire your interpretation. Check out the Spotify playlist here.
