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