BookatlasPiano Rabbit Hole: Improvisation Theory & Practice
9673 / 18210 · Workshop 79 — Harmonic Density vs. Melodic Freedom: How Much Harmony Is Enough, When to Leave Space, and How to Avoid “Over-Explaining” Every Note← prev⊞ allnext →

79.104Apply it to “The Bare Necessities”

This tune benefits enormously from restraint.

Let the melody be:

light

playful

exposed.

Use full harmony for:

  • punchlines
  • stop-time hits
  • phrase endings
  • stylistic exaggerations

A giant cartoon-like chord is funny precisely because the preceding texture was small.