As a jazz piano player, reharmonization is an essential skill to have in order to create interest and variation in your playing. Here are some reharmonization tricks you may use:
- Substitution chords: These are chords that can replace the original chords in a progression, creating a new sound. For example, in a ii-V-I progression, you could use a tritone substitution for the V7 chord. Instead of playing a G7 chord, you could play a Db7 chord, which contains the same tritone interval (B and F) as the G7 chord.
Source: Levine, Mark. The Jazz Piano Book. Petaluma, CA: Sher Music Co., 2011. Print.
- Modal interchange: This involves borrowing chords from parallel scales to add color and interest to a progression. For example, in a song in C major, you could use a bIII chord (Eb) from the parallel minor scale (C minor) to replace the III chord (E) in the progression.
Source: Bergonzi, Jerry. Inside Improvisation Series, Vol. 3: Jazz Line. New Albany, IN: Jamey Aebersold Jazz, 2001. Print.
- Extended chords: These are chords that go beyond the basic triads and seventh chords, adding more color and tension. For example, instead of playing a C major triad, you could play a Cmaj7#11 chord, which contains the notes C, E, G, B, and F#.
Source: Dobbins, Bill. Jazz Arranging and Composing: A Linear Approach. La Jolla, CA: Kendor Music, 1991. Print.
- Reharmonizing a melody: This involves changing the chords underneath a melody to create a new harmonic structure. For example, you could change the chords underneath a simple melody like “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” to create a more complex harmonic progression.
Source: Gridley, Mark C. Jazz Styles: History and Analysis. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2008. Print.
- Chord substitutions within a chord: This technique involves changing the notes within a chord to create a new sound. For example, you could substitute the 9th or 13th of a chord for the 3rd, creating a more complex sound.
Source: Aebersold, Jamey. Jazz Piano Voicings: Transcribed Comping from Volume 1 of the Play-A-Long Series. New Albany, IN: Jamey Aebersold Jazz, 1992. Print.
By using these reharmonization techniques, jazz piano players can create new and interesting harmonic structures that add excitement and variety to their playing.
