Q. Hey im having trouble on deciding on choosing a jazz song for music so I decided to change a song that I already know into a jazz song. I play piano and I'm going to sing to it but I dont know how to go about changing it as I've never played a jazz song before :O
Could someone point me in the direction of some jazz scales or how to go about creating the style?
Thanks heaps!
A. The cliche piano/voice duet sound usually revolves around adding extensions to chords, and adding subs, and extra leading chords into the progression.
Lets say for example you have a chord progression C Am Em G, which isn't an extremely uncommon chord progression in Pop tunes.
I would start by choosing some more interesting chords.
I would start by adding extensions to the chords: I would likely choose at first glance, Cmaj7#11, (C,E,G,B,F#), Am9 (A,C,E,G,B), Em7, (E,G,B,D), G7add13, (G,B,D,F,E). These are a little more colourful chords. Further still, lets say this progression repeats, so the G, goes back to C. Another colourful, and hip thing to do is to sub the dominant chord, (in this case G), with the Dominant chord, a tritone away from the fifth, G, so in C, this is a Db. It creates chromatic movement back to C, So I would like play G7, and then push a Db7 back to C.
Harmonizing the notes of the major scale introduces some more colourful chords, as well as an interesting harmonic idea, the functions of these chords. I find this chart helps me organize the function of chords in relation to tonic (T), sub dominant(SD), and dominant chords(D), in the key of C major,
Cmaj7 = T
Em7= T
Fmaj7 = SD
G7 = D
Am7 = SD
Bm7b5 = D
You now have potentially a whole tonne of possible harmonic substitutions to try:
Instead of Em7, you could try a Cmaj7 type chord with an E in the bass, (Cmaj7/E). Or instead of Am, you could try and squeeze in a Fmaj7 type chord. The possibilities are endless. With all this in mind, you must also consider voice leading.
A good arrangement might include a 'secondary dominant, (when functioning, leads to a chord other than the tonic' approach.
A good example would be to push a E7 sound (the fifth of Am) near the end of the measure in C, into the Am.
If you use some of these tricks, you might be able to get something good out of it, I find that if you are making a solo arrangement it is important to not be too 'floaty' with the changes, you can be more liberal in the sense that there is no rhythm section to contend with, but you still want people to hear the movement, and contrary to what some may think, sometimes it is better to play simple things right in the pocket, than to go nuts and try making something sound hip.
A good arrangement will also take into consideration the melody line. When you write it out, make sure that none of you chords clash with the melody notes.
The only real rule in jazz harmony I can think of is to 'avoid' the interval of a minor 9. Its not that you can't do it, it's just generally better if you don't. Exceptions to the m9 rule obviously include the use of chords like G7b9. But it is still considered the the most dissonant of all intervals.
You may also want to learn the Charleston Rhythm, depending on if you are arranging a ballad or a swing tune.
Can anyone tell me the chords for Out of My League by Stephen Speaks?
Q. I've found tabs on line but they are incomplete..don't have all the chord changes etc. I don't read music but use chords on piano. Thanks!
A. Intro:
F-G-C
F-G-C-Am7
F-G-C 2x
Verse:
F G C
it's her hair and her eyes today
F G Am7
that just simply take me away
F G C Am7
and the feeling that i'm falling further in love
F G Am7
makes me shiver but in a good way
(same chords)
all the times i have sat and stared
as she thoughtfully thumbs through her hair
and she purses her lips, bats her eyes as she plays,
with me sitting there slack-jawed and nothing to say
Refrain:
C
coz i love her with all that i am
C7
and my voice shakes along with my hands
F G C Am7
coz sheâs all that I see and sheâs all that I need
F G C
and i'm out of my league once again
(same chords)
it's a master for melody
when she calls out my name to me
as the world spins around her she laughs, rolls her eyes
and i feel like i'm falling but it's no surprise
Refrain2:
C
coz i love her with all that i am
C7
and my voice shakes along with my hands
F G C Am7
cause it's frightening to be swimming in this strange sea
F G C
but i'd rather be here than on land
F G C Am7
yes she's all that i see and she's all that i need
F G C
and i'm out of my league once again
(same chords)
it's her hair and her eyes today
that just simply take me away
and the feeling that i'm falling further in love
makes me shiver but in a good way
(same chords)
all the times i have sat and stared
as she thoughtfully thumbs through her hair
and she purses her lips, bats her eyes as she plays,
with me sitting there slack-jawed and nothing to say
(do refrain chords)
coz i love her with all that i am
and my voice shakes along with my hands
cause it's frightening to be swimming in this strange sea
but i'd rather be here than on land
yes she's all that i see and she's all that i need
and i'm out of my league once again
Need help with some piano chords?
Q. I've been trying to play all sorts of piano chords, to match up with the melody i'm playing, and i can't seem to find the right chords. For example if i play a E or a G#, how would i know what type of chord would go with that?
A. Write all twelve of your major chords out on a piece of paper.
Now you'll notice that each note appears in three chords. For example A is in the A chord, it's in the middle of the F chord and it's the last note in the D chord.
Now write out all twelve minor chords and you'll see that A is Am, F#m and Dm.
Now that you have all 24 M+m chords written out, if your melody contains E and G# (As in your example) Then you look for a chord that contains both those notes. In this case you would use E, or C#m The choice of which one is totally up to you, whichever one sounds best.
You can of course go into 7th chords and Major Sevenths and extend the list from above, but you'd still be working fromthe same rules. Fromthe 7 group (just write them all out again) you'll add the choice of E7 (not much difference from group one huh?) and from the Major Seventh group the AM7 and the AmM7.
Of course then theres the 9's, 11's and 13's, but the ones listed above are the real answer=choose between E Major and C#minor (Which by the way are the same chord: E6=E G# B C# and C#m7= C# E G# B = exactly the same notes.)
All the best
Cat
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