BookatlasPiano Rabbit Hole: Improvisation Theory & Practice
11883 / 18210 · Workshop 96 — Real-Time Harmonization by Ear: Going from a Melody You Can Sing to a Full Piano Arrangement Without Stopping to Analyze Every Chord← prev⊞ allnext →

96.154Try “Happy Birthday” in E♭ by degrees

Original degrees:

5 5 6 5 1 7 5 5 6 5 2 1 5 5 5 3 1 7 6 4 4 3 1 2 1

E♭ major scale:

E♭ F G A♭ B♭ C D.

Therefore:

Phrase 1:

B♭ B♭ C B♭ E♭ D.

Phrase 2:

B♭ B♭ C B♭ F E♭.

Phrase 3:

B♭ B♭ B♭ G E♭ D C.

Phrase 4:

A♭ A♭ G E♭ F E♭.

Now harmonize without memorizing a new melody.