Reharmonization Techniques (Berklee Methods)

Comments

5 responses to “Reharmonization Techniques (Berklee Methods)”

1. 

   frankp93

   August 9, 2010

   Review by frankp93 for Reharmonization Techniques (Berklee Methods)
   Rating:
   Whether reworking fake book changes that just don’t cut it, “recoloring” a chart to adapt to particular instrumentation or just putting your own harmonic stamp on a tune
   
   (and understanding the how’s and why’s of it), “Reharmonization Techniques” by Randy Felts is an informed, well presented text that will help you construct your own “music toolkit” of
   
   techniques to express yourself through jazz and popular harmony.

   While the author doesn’t explicitly call for it, I would strongly recommend readers be familiar with basic jazz harmony as used in standard tunes to get the maximum benefit from this book. You don’t have to be an arranger or a composer but you
   
   need to understand how jazz harmony “works” functionally in terms of key centers, modulation, use of non-root, passing and chromatic bass notes. You have to first understand how a tune is “harmonized” before you can appreciate how it may be “reharmonized”.

   The book begins with a chapter on “simple” chord substitution techniques: the author introduces three functional chord families (tonic, subdominant and dominant) and
   
   demonstrates how substituting chords within the same family produces subtle reharmonization that can enhance the melody. The interaction of melody and harmony is explored,
   
   specifically, avoiding unwanted dissonant intervals between melodies and chords.

   A wide ranging survey of harmonic techniques is introduced is the succeeding chapters: the use of diatonic chords, tritone substitution, modal interchange. The techniques are described and demonstrated in depth with exercises in “lead sheet” form with chord symbols. The author assumes the player can for the most part derive their own voicings and work with the techniques in their particular instrumental/rhythmic context.
   
   There is a chapter on basic keyboard voicings however for those without such a background.

   More “contemporary” techniques such as hybrid chords and what other authors refer to as non-functional chord structures are also dealt with in later chapters.

   There is no accompanying recording however the author provides possible answers to the exercises in the back of the book.

   Personally I think the lack of a recording is a plus: this is a serious book for developing your own take on the jazz/pop harmonic vocabulary. It assumes you’re bringing a sizeable listening background to the table and that you’re far enough along in your development to have some sense of style and
   
   taste, if not all the tools to express your thoughts musically. Providing the tools is the goal of this book and it will repay careful study.

2. 

   M. Sweetz

   August 9, 2010

   Review by M. Sweetz for Reharmonization Techniques (Berklee Methods)
   Rating:
   I am totally in love with this book! It presents the ideas in a clear-cut, easy-to-follow way, and it explains things that once seemed more like rocket science. You can get alot of this same information in a jazz theory book, but this book is great because it puts it all in one place.

   Yes, like the excellent review below stated, some basic knowledge of theory is needed, and prior knowledge of jazz chord notation and use of tension notes is helpful. Other than that, this book will give it all. I’ll spare you the terminology, because if your eyeballing this book, it’s safe to assume you problem don’t know what all the terms would mean yet. After you buy this book, though, you will…and you’ll have to restrain yourself from abusing the heck out of the tricks this book will teach you. You’ll be able to turn “C, Am, F, G” into “C, Em7, F#min7(b5)-F#7, Bmin7(b5)” in no time. You’ll be able to look at lead sheets for popular songs and know why specific chords were chosen.

   This book is a high-powered, harmonic weapon. Buy it now, you’ll be glad you did!

3. 

   Fly By Light

   August 9, 2010

   Review by Fly By Light for Reharmonization Techniques (Berklee Methods)
   Rating:
   It’s too easy to buy music books that are too simple or too advanced, or just badly written. This book seemed too basic to me at first. Then, I worried because the explanation of “cadence” was not really standard. However, I plowed trough this book and found all kinds of useful techniques presented in methodical and understandable fashion.

   This book is not for beginning musicians. It assumes a degree of knowledge and experience. It would not make sense to learn “reharmonizing” before you know basic harmony. The intended audience is people playing rock, jazz, pop and film music. Because of the use of chords, it is best suited to guitarists and keyboardists. It skews toward jazz standards, but for those wanting to dress up their blues arrangements or sound more sophisticated with their rock chord choices (think “Steely Dan”), there’s plenty of material for you too.

   The ultimate goal is to enable to reader to take melodies and add chords that are more interesting than the “obvious” choices. Those playing from fake books will benefit the most, especially if they plan out songs in advance. With practice and experience, one can use some of these techniques “on the fly” (e.g. tritone substitution). The techniques in this book also apply to composition, and could be used as blueprints to construct full piano accompaniments or even orchestrations.

   I play both rock and standards, plus I write songs. I can use the techniques on my own compositions, plus I can polish my harmonies so that my standards do not all sound like the same song. If you want to take songs you already play and give them chords that make them sound more sophisticated, this book is not a bad place to start.

4. 

   Dan Primack

   August 9, 2010

   Review by Dan Primack for Reharmonization Techniques (Berklee Methods)
   Rating:
   I found every page of “Reharmonization Techniques” to be full of helpful tips to reharmonize any song. The book is written in such a universal wa that anyone can find the techniques it presents useful. The author, Randy Felts, has been a professor of jazz for over 25 years and his expertise is clearly evident from the first page onward. I highly recommend this book.

5. 

   vocalease

   August 9, 2010

   Review by vocalease for Reharmonization Techniques (Berklee Methods)
   Rating:
   I’ve only explored about 12 pages of the book and it’s made a huge difference in my song writing and comping. The concept of simple substitution is clearly explained and easy to understand if you have a little knowledge of music theory. That alone makes the $20 purchase fee well worth the money.