| The secret to playing Christmas sheet music | | | | add a good dose of rich chord structures to |
| is to make the melody prominent, get some | | | | your playing. Very often Christmas sheet |
| rhythm happening underneath and bang out some | | | | music has chord symbols on it and you can |
| chords to support the harmony of the song. | | | | take your lead from those symbols. |
| And, while that may seem like a fairly simple | | | | |
| concept, for most pianists it takes some | | | | If you don’t know how to read chord |
| practice. Here are some ideas that may help | | | | symbols here’s a simple rule. If you |
| you. | | | | see a simple triad chord symbol such as |
| | | | “Gâ€. That means it’s a G |
| First let’s start with the melody. I | | | | major triad or 3-note chord. First plunk |
| think for some reason many musicians forget | | | | down a G then a major third above which is a |
| that the melody is the most important thing. | | | | “B†then a minor third above that |
| I’ll never forget this one time early | | | | which is a “D.†|
| on in my career when I got a gig with some | | | | |
| prominent local jazz musicians. It all | | | | For minor chords the intervals are inverted. |
| started out ok, but eventually we got into | | | | A minor interval first then a major interval |
| some tunes where I didn’t know the | | | | on top of that. Then if you want to get |
| melody very well. I was playing all kinds of | | | | really fancy add sevenths to your chord |
| way out improve and the bass player turned to | | | | voicings. For example; if you see a G7 chord |
| me and said, “Hey man, just play the | | | | symbol that mean a major triad with another |
| flippin melody!†| | | | minor third stacked on top. In others word |
| | | | the chord would be in order from bottom to |
| It was kind of embarrassing that’s for | | | | top; G, B, D and F. |
| sure. Anyway, I never forgot that and to | | | | |
| this day I always put the melody before | | | | If you see a Gmaj7 chord symbol it’s |
| anything else. What does that mean? It | | | | the same as a G7 chord except the top note is |
| means to get the melody right and make it the | | | | an F# instead of an F. Or, think of it as a |
| most prominent part of your playing. | | | | G major triad with another major third |
| | | | stacked on top. |
| The next thing to go along with your melody | | | | |
| is rhythm. It’s so important that | | | | The only other chord symbol is a minor |
| your playing has some feel to it. So often, | | | | seventh chord or G-7. This would be played |
| pianists focus on getting the notes right and | | | | as a G minor triad with a minor seventh |
| therefore lack the rhythm and feel of the | | | | stacked on top or; G, Bb, D and F. |
| music. If you can, play your music along | | | | |
| with the radio or a recording. That will | | | | While this may seem like a fairly simple |
| help you develop some feel. | | | | approach to playing chord symbols it covers |
| | | | at least 85% of all Christmas sheet music. |
| Feel comes from playing with others. It | | | | There are other chord symbols which you may |
| comes from bassists, drummers and other | | | | come across from time to time but, like I |
| instrumentalists. Even now when I’m | | | | said, that’s pretty much it. |
| playing solo piano concerts I can hear the | | | | |
| drums and bass in my head and that will be | | | | So, when practicing Christmas sheet music |
| very evident in my left first and sometimes | | | | play the melody prominently and correctly in |
| in the right hand as well with rhythmic | | | | the right hand, add some rhythmic feel to it |
| chords. | | | | and drop in a good helping of chords to back |
| | | | up the harmony of the song. |
| And, speaking of chords, you cannot forget to | | | | |