BookatlasPiano Rabbit Hole: Improvisation Theory & Practice
4078 / 18210 · Workshop 23 — “Night and Day”: Pedal Tones, Chromatic Descent, Repeated Motifs, and Making One Harmonic Idea Sustain a Long Phrase← prev⊞ allnext →

23.21Repeated melody notes are reharmonization opportunities

This is a key principle.

If melody repeats:

you can vary harmony underneath without making the tune unrecognizable.

The repeated pitch acts as glue.