BookatlasPiano Rabbit Hole: Improvisation Theory & Practice
1324 / 18210 · Module 24 — Jazz Ballad Style: Turning Harmony Into a Complete Piano Sound← prev⊞ allnext →

24.85A stronger exercise: choose a song you actually love

This is preferable for the serious assignment.

Take a slow melody you know very well.

Without copying an existing arrangement:

  • find melody by ear,
  • find basic chords,
  • create your own ballad treatment.

Because you know the song emotionally, you'll immediately hear when an added chord improves it versus merely makes it clever.