JazzPianoMastery - Reharmonization Course

Course Plan

Below is an overview of the entire 21-lesson course, followed by a description of each of the 15 exercises.

Lesson 1

• David explains the course's methodology
• David plays MY ROMANCE (normal speed)
• David plays MY ROMANCE (slow speed)
• Final comments and introduction to Lesson 2
• DOWNLOAD MATERIALS: My Romance (lead sheet), My Romance (first 16 bars)

Lesson 2

• Introduction to VOICINGS
• Definition of  SHELLS
• Spelling of basic chord qualities (Maj 7, 7, -7)
• Notation 
• Fingering
• Definition of Chord Progression
• How to voice the ii - V - I chord progression
• Demonstration of the first "Moving ii - V" exercise (Exercise n. 1)
• Homework
• DOWNLOAD MATERIALS: My Romance (full 32 bar reharmonization), Exercise 1

Lesson 3

• Practicing the "Moving ii - V" exercise (Exercise n. 1)
• The FORM of classic standards
• The Form and Tonal Centers of MY ROMANCE
• Demonstration of the second "Moving ii - V" exercise (Exercise n. 2)
• Homework
• DOWNLOAD MATERIALS: Exercise 2

Lesson 4

• Practicing the "Moving ii - V" exercise (Exercise n. 2)
• Discussion about REGISTER
• Chord Alterations 
• Dominant Chords
• Demonstration of Exercise n. 3
• The process of REHARMONIZATION
• Common Tonal Movements
• Homework
• DOWNLOAD MATERIALS: Exercise 3

Lesson 5

• Practicing Exercise n. 3 from Lesson 4
• Demonstration of Exercise n. 4
• Discussion of how MY ROMANCE was reharmonized
• Three important concepts for REHARMONIZATION
• Application of the three concepts to MY ROMANCE
• Homework
• DOWNLOAD MATERIALS: Exercise 4

Lesson 6

• Practice Exercise n. 4 from Lesson 5
• Review of Homework assignment from Lesson 5
• Demonstration of Exercise n. 5a
• 3 more examples of minor 11 chord in MY ROMANCE
• The TRITONE SUBSTITUTION
• Tritone Substitutions in MY ROMANCE
• Demonstration of Exercise n. 5b
• DOWNLOAD MATERIALS: Exercise 5a, Exercise 5b

Lesson 7

• Practicing Exercise n. 5b from Lesson 6
• Demonstration of Exercise n. 6
• The TURNAROUND
• Variations on the "I - vi - ii - V - I" pattern
• Homework
• DOWNLOAD MATERIALS: Exercise 6

Lesson 8

• David plays EVERY TIME WE SAY GOODBYE (normal speed)
• David plays EVERY TIME WE SAY GOODBYE (slow speed)
• Homework
• DOWNLOAD MATERIALS: Every Time We Say Goodbye (full reharmonization)

Lesson 9

• Changing the CHORD QUALITY
• Demonstration of Exercise n. 7
• David discusses EVERY TIME WE SAY GOODBYE
• Changing I chord to iii chord
• Using bII major 7 -> I major 7 on last chord
• Using bVI -> bII -> I on last chord
• DOWNLOAD MATERIALS: Every Time We Say Goodbye (lead sheet), Exercise 7

Lesson 10

• Demonstrating Exercise n. 8a
• Demonstrating Exercise n. 8b
• Demonstrating Exercise n. 8c
• Homework (part 1)
• SUPERIMPOSED TRIADS used so far
• Demonstrating Exercise n. 8d
• Demonstrating Exercise n. 8e
• Homework (part 2)
• DOWNLOAD MATERIALS: Exercise 8

Lesson 11

• Suspended 'Sus' Chords
• A way to use the Tritone Substitute
• Demonstration of Exercise n. 9
• Examples of Exercise n. 9 in EVERY TIME WE SAY GOODBYE
• Examples of Exercise n. 9 in "MY ROMANCE"
• Homework
• DOWNLOAD MATERIALS: Exercise 9

Lesson 12

• Sus chord with 3rd on top
• How to voice a minor 7(13) chord
• Changing the minor 7 chord to a 7 chord
• Tritone of ii to Sus variation
• Moving an inner voice
• Use of moving triads in MY ROMANCE
• Use of moving triads in E.T.W.S.G.
• Variation of Exercise n. 8c
• The Tritone Two Five
• Demonstration of Exercise n. 10
• Homework
• DOWNLOAD MATERIALS: Exercise 10

Lesson 13

• Rootless Voicings
• 'A' Position rootless voicings
• 'B' Position rootless voicings
• Introduction to the minor 7b5 chord
• Examples of the minor 7b5 chord in MY ROMANCE
• Demonstration of Exercise n. 11
• DOWNLOAD MATERIALS: Exercise 11

Lesson 14

• David plays YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT LOVE IS (normal speed)
• David plays YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT LOVE IS (slow speed)
• Homework
• DOWNLOAD MATERIALS: You Don't Know What Love Is (full reharmonization)

Lesson 15

• David discusses the structure of YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT LOVE IS
• Melodic structure of 'A' section
• The harmonic structure of 32 bar standards
• David's reharmonization of YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT LOVE IS
• The melodic structure of the 'bridge'
• Demonstration of Exercise n. 12
• DOWNLOAD MATERIALS: You Don't Know What Love Is (lead sheet), Exercise 12

Lesson 16

• Exercise n.12 in YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT LOVE IS
• Exercise n. 9 in YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT LOVE IS 
• Use of the “SO WHAT” VOICING
• Exercise n. 9 in measure 21
• The chromatic (or "half-step") ii - V in EVERY TIME WE SAY GOODBYE
• Art Tatum example
• Examples of chromatic ii - V in YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT LOVE IS
• Demonstration of Exercise n. 13
• Homework
• DOWNLOAD MATERIALS: Exercise 13

Lesson 17

• David defines PASSING CHORDS
• Passing Chords applied to the 3 Tunes studied so far
• Where and how to use Passing Chords
• Demonstration of Exercise n. 14
• Homework
• DOWNLOAD MATERIALS: Exercise 14

Lesson 18

• Diminished Chords
• Function of Diminished Chords
• How to voice a Diminished Chord
• Demonstration of Exercise n. 15
• David discusses the harmonic and melodic structure of IT MIGHT AS WELL BE SPRING
• Tips for reharmonizing IT MIGHT AS WELL BE SPRINGS
• DOWNLOAD MATERIALS: It Might As Well Be Spring (lead sheet), Exercise 15

 

Lesson 19

• Diminished Chords as Passing Chords
• The Diminished Chord acting as a I chord
• David plays IT MIGHT AS WELL BE SPRING (normal speed)
• David plays IT MIGHT AS WELL BE SPRING (slow speed)
• David discusses his reharmonization of IT MIGHT AS WELL BE SPRING
• Homework
• DOWNLOAD MATERIALS: It Might As Well Be Spring (full reharmonization)

Lesson 20

• Continued discussion of the reharmonization of IT MIGHT AS WELL BE SPRING
• David introduces THE DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES
• DOWNLOAD MATERIALS: The Days Of Wine And Roses (lead sheet)

Lesson 21

• David plays THE DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES (normal speed)
• David plays THE DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES (slow speed)
• David explains his reharmonization of THE DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES
• CONVERGENT MELODY and BASS LINES
• DIVERGENT MELODY and BASS LINES
• Replacing ii with IV
• How to harmonize a RESTING MELODY
• Summary
• Six points to remember
• DOWNLOAD MATERIALS: The Days Of Wine And Roses (full reharmonization)

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Description of Exercises

• Exercise n. 1- The first "Moving ii - V" exercise
• Exercise n. 2 - The second "Moving ii - V" exercise
• Exercise n. 3 - The first "Moving ii - V - I" exercise
• Exercise n. 4 - The second "Moving ii - V - I" exercise
• Exercuse n. 5a - The third "Moving ii - V" exercise
• Exercise n. 5b - The "Moving ii - bII7 - I" exercise
• Exercise n. 6 - The third "Moving ii - V - I" exercise
• Exercise n. 7 - The "Two Dominant" exercise
• Exercise n. 8a - The "Root Position Triads" exercise
• Exercise n. 8b - The "Second Inversion Triads" exercise
• Exercise n. 8c - The "Melodic Triad" exercise
• Exercise n. 8d - The "Superimposed Triads" exercise
• Exercise n. 8e - The "Superimposed Triads (2nd inversion)" exercise
• Exercise n. 9 - The "Tritone of Two" exercise
• Exercise n. 10 - The "Tritone Two-Five" exercise
• Exercise n. 11 - The "ii m7 b5 - V (alt) - i" exercise
• Exercise n. 12 - The "ii m11 b5 - V (#9) - i" exercise
• Exercise n. 13 - The "Moving ii - V with Arpeggios" exercise
• Exercise n. 14 - The "Diatonic Passing Chord " exercise
• Exercise n. 15 - The "Diminished Chord " exercise