Turn melody and chord symbols into an arrangement by protecting the tune and choosing the smallest accompaniment that supports it.
Trying to play every possible chord tone usually crowds the melody and makes coordination harder without improving the harmony. Your goal for this lesson is clear: Can a listener sing back the melody while your accompaniment is playing?
Separate melody from harmony
Read the written melody exactly, then treat each chord symbol as a set of available tones. Choose a compact voicing that leaves space for the tune.
Group the illustration for “Separate melody from harmony” (C3, C4, G3, G4, A3) by shared start times instead of reading it as one long row. For each event, identify the bass note, add the upper notes, and prepare the next vertical change before it arrives.
Build an accompaniment pattern
Start with one chord per change. When the harmony is secure, choose a repeated rhythm, broken-chord pattern, or bass-plus-chord texture that suits the style.
Lead Sheet Lab at the keyboard
Now take the idea to the keyboard. Arrange four measures in layers: melody first, chord shells second, and optional bass movement last.
- 1Record the melody by itself.
- 2Add only the root and third or root and seventh of each chord.
- 3Remove any accompaniment note that masks the tune or disrupts the pulse.
Lead Sheet Lab check
Trying to play every possible chord tone usually crowds the melody and makes coordination harder without improving the harmony.
Can a listener sing back the melody while your accompaniment is playing?