In January I’m hosting 4 seminars which focus on Upper Structure Triad Theory - a powerful voicing technique to enhance our lead sheet harmonization skills:
These 4 seminars are mixed-level, starting with more accessible topics and progressing onto more advanced techniques towards the end of the month.
Focus Tunes For January
I have selected 3 tunes below which I will use to demonstrate the theory and concepts during my weekly seminars:
I also invite you to work on your own tunes or arrangements with my guidance throughout the month.
Please post your tunes in this thread and I will incorporate them into my seminars where possible, and share tips and guidance on arranging the tunes using upper structure triads.
I was going to suggest the tune Autumn in New,York then I saw it was already included in the Altered Harmony and UST course but maybe there is more that can be added?
This tune will be a perfect study for the 3rd seminar on UST Fills and Runs where we will explore UST voicings and arpeggios to fill in the space when the melody rests:
I’m working on Dream a Little Dream of me, but I don’t think that’s a song that’s covered on PianoGroove. If you can give some guidance, that would be great. Otherwise I’ll muddle through.
It is the same as in Real Book 1 except you also have the lyrics which helps with phrasing. Thanks for posting. Maybe Hayden can incorporate this nice tune into a future tutorial or seminar.
Thanks for suggesting this song - it fits nicely into the upcoming seminar on Upper Structures & Tritone Substitution which will take place on the 27th January.
Please find below a short video where we follow the melody identification process outlined in my seminar last week, and I touch upon some of the concepts that we will cover in this week’s seminar such as voicing USTs with the triad in the 2nd inversion for the best sound.
I will be sure to incorporate this tune into the seminars later this month and further expand on the video below.
Thank you.
Ever since I joined PianoGroove, I’ve been intimidated by upper structures. I decided to dive in, and I’m glad I did.
This is a simple song that goes through my head in two lovely, significantly different older versions by 2 significantly different (now deceased) singers: Dean Martin and Cass Elliot (of the Mamas and the Papas.)
As I worked on it, it seemed upper structures just didn’t work well in this song. Sometimes less is more. I look forward to seeing what you do it using tritone substitutions.
I’m now working on “I’ve Got You Under My Skin.” Upper structures sound much better with that tune.
Again, thank you for your very clear and timely response. You are a superb teacher.
Yes it’s true that sometimes ‘less is more’. The best way to find out is by testing different UST voicings using the cheat sheet. If the UST voicing clashes or overpowers the melody, then just drop back to a simpler voicing configuration.
Interestingly, I did like the sound of the UST voicings for the Eb7 and D7 in the 2nd A Section, whereas in the 1st A Section I felt that they overpowered the melody when played so early in the song/arrangement… So that’s something else to keep in mind - once we have stated the melody of a song with clean and simple voicings, we can then go more ‘out there’ with these complex sounds. This works well for repeating A sections, as an example.
Yes we will deep dive into this tune and tritone subs in the seminar on the 27th.
Great - I will check that tune out too and perhaps we can cover it in my seminar tomorrow.
When the community challenge for January was announced I was working on “Everything can happen to me”. That´s why I didn´t choose one of the recommended tunes. I did a full piano arrangement adding some upper structures especially in the B-section beside drop-2-voicings and quartal shapes.
I particularly like your voicing textures from 34s to 50s and from 2:40 to 3:26 - very beautifully played!
Also no problem choosing your own song to work on - I always encourage students to work on their own arrangements and so congratulations on taking the initiative to arrange this tune.
Looking forward to seeing what you work on next and keep up the great playing!
