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