7176 / 18210 · Workshop 54 — “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy”: Soul-Jazz Harmony, Gospel Cadences, Backbeat Feel, Repeated Hooks, and Making Simple Chords Sound Warm Instead of Plain← prev⊞ allnext →
54.83Apply it to “Happy Birthday”
This version should be warm rather than clever.
Intro
B♭ pedal with suspended upper structures.
Phrase 1
simple melody, B♭6/9.
Phrase 2
E♭ response.
Phrase 3
minor-IV color appears briefly.
Phrase 4
F7sus→F7→B♭.
Then a short hook made from the melody fragment.
Final:
B♭6/9.
The result should feel like a soulful arrangement rather than a reharmonization exercise.