The Nearness of You – Vocal Accompaniment

Welcome to this in-depth lesson on vocal accompaniment, focusing on Norah Jones’ rendition of "The Nearness of You." This lesson explores how to accompany a vocalist effectively, using simple yet expressive chord voicings, harmonic textures, and subtle fills.

Whether you’re supporting a singer or accompanying yourself, understanding these techniques will help you create a sensitive and musically supportive accompaniment.

Accompanying a Vocalist

One of the key roles of a pianist accompanying a singer is to provide harmonic support without overpowering the melody. Norah Jones’ accompaniment style showcases a balance between simplicity and subtle sophistication.

Her left hand primarily plays root, 3rd, and 7th voicings, while the right hand fills in spaces with light melodic embellishments. The aim is to outline the harmony while allowing the vocalist to take center stage.

Simple Yet Effective Voicings

Norah Jones keeps her chord voicings minimal, often avoiding tensions such as 9ths, 11ths, or 13ths in the A section. Instead, she relies on the strong foundations of triads and 7th chords to support her voice.

A typical progression in the A section follows:

• Cmaj7 → G-7 to C7 → Fmaj7
• F#dim7 → E-7 to A7 → D-7 to G7

While the minor chords remain simple, dominant chords sometimes include alterations such as flat 9ths or sharp 5ths, adding depth without overwhelming the singer.

Using Space & Fills

A crucial element of vocal accompaniment is knowing when to play and when to leave space. In "The Nearness of You," Norah Jones fills gaps in the melody with tasteful arpeggios, bluesy passing tones, and guide-tone movements.

For example, in bars 7-8 and 15-16, where the melody sustains long notes, she subtly introduces passing tones and guide-tone resolutions to maintain momentum.

A great way to practice this is to play through the melody and identify resting points, then experiment with simple fills such as:

• Arpeggiated chord tones
• Chromatic approach notes
• Guide-tone resolutions (7ths falling to 3rds)

The Bridge: Richer Harmonic Colors

The bridge introduces more harmonic complexity, with Norah Jones reharmonizing a standard 2-5-1 progression. Instead of a typical D-7 to G7, she often plays:

• G7sus4 (flat 9) instead of D-7
• G7 altered (sharp 5, sharp 9) before resolving to Cmaj7

This approach introduces unexpected harmonic motion, adding tension and interest before resolving back to the home key.

Blues Influence & Walkups

A standout feature in Norah Jones’ accompaniment is her use of blues vocabulary. In the B section, she incorporates a bluesy walk-up in bars 21-23, reminiscent of New Orleans-style playing.

For example, in a G-7 to C7 to Fmaj7 progression, she introduces:

• A C triad run over G-7
• Blues-inflected grace notes over C7
• Descending guide tones resolving to Fmaj7

This technique adds warmth and swing to the accompaniment while keeping the harmonic foundation intact.

Practice Tips

1. Start with Simple Voicings – Use root, 3rd, and 7th voicings as a foundation before adding extensions.

2. Listen & Transcribe – Isolate the piano track from vocal recordings using software like Stem Roller to analyze voicings and phrasing.

3. Fill in the Space – Identify where the melody sustains and experiment with light fills and guide-tone movements.

4. Experiment with Dominant Alterations – Try flat 9, sharp 9, or sharp 5 on dominant chords to add subtle color.

5. Internalize the Harmony Numerically – Understand the song in terms of 2-5-1 progressions and substitutions to improvise with confidence.

Final Thoughts

Accompanying a vocalist requires restraint, sensitivity, and a deep understanding of harmony. As this lesson demonstrates, Norah Jones achieves a beautiful balance of simplicity and sophistication, proving that less is often more when it comes to vocal accompaniment.

By applying these concepts, you can develop a more intuitive approach to supporting singers and creating compelling piano accompaniments. Happy practicing! 🎶