Adding Depth to Simpler Sheet Music Arrangements
This article comes from musician & writer Hayley Bauer!
Simpler sheet music has so many options. While it’s easy to fall in love with an advanced arrangement, try not to overlook more basic sheet music, even if you’re an advanced musician. Simpler sheet music gives the option of “filling in the blanks” with your own embellishments and creativity.
The following techniques are excellent for many skill levels. If you’re a relatively new musician, they will spark ideas to nurture your artistry while sticking to sheet music that you’re comfortable with. For the advanced musician, these tips will give you some great ideas. Whether you are playing for your own enjoyment, or you’ve had a last-minute song request, there are many ways of adding depth to simpler sheet music arrangements.
These tips are written with the piano in mind, but some of them will be transferrable to other instruments, or even voice. Analysing sheet music and finding places to incorporate new complexities can also make a great improvisation, composition, and ear training exercise.
As a note, if you are going to be performing for an audience, you’ll have to determine whether you need permission to add personal effects, and deviate from the sheet music as written.
Enhancing the Rhythm
Sometimes, simpler sheet music doesn’t have the more complex rhythms that are found in the artist’s recording of a song. If you’re playing in a group, it’s essential for all members to be in sync with each other rhythmically. But if you are playing alone, you may be able to add some rhythmic enhancement. Listen carefully to the artists’s recording, and consider adding in some of the more nuanced rhythms that are not written into the sheet music.
Add Harmonies
Choosing single notes and adding the interval of a third is an easy and fun way to add some sparkle to the melody line. Many times, the note of the melody is on top, and the interval of a third, according to the key signature, is played below. Look for step-wise, or repeated-note passages in the music. Thirds can often work nicely in these areas, and other places as well, but ultimately, you’ll have to rely on your musician’s ear to discern where they fit best. This technique can often work with 6ths as well.
To add another layer to the bass clef line, try taking a single note in the left-hand bass clef, and turn it into a triad, or an octave. Filling in some blank spaces in the bass clef can add a lot of (literal) depth. When done artfully, it can help the melody stand out more.
Extend the Range
If you have a broken chord in the left hand, try taking the notes of that chord and extending them over more than one octave. It may sound better to change the pattern, and skip over some of the notes. The idea is not to play every note of the chord in each octave, but rather to extend the range, adding depth and complexity.
To increase the range of the melody, try moving the melody an octave or two higher than written. You may want to move both of your hands higher to avoid the bass overpowering the melody. This technique can work very well with songs that have a verse/chorus structure. Try establishing the beginning of the song at the written pitch until the end of the first chorus. For the following verse after that first chorus, try moving your hands up an octave or two, then back down to the written pitch for the second chorus. Nearing the end of the song, you may want to move your hands up again, or switch back and forth between higher and lower octaves, especially if there is some repetition at the end.
To further extend the range, you can do something as simple as taking the closing chord of the song and repeating it at a higher or lower pitch. This gives an especially effective sense of closure and a strong ending to the song. Rolled chords often sound great at the end of a song as well.
Break it Up!
One of the best ways to enhance sheet music is by creating movement. Solid chords are lovely for their place and purpose, but a lot of times a song sounds excellent with more movement in the left hand. Try taking a solid chord and turning it into a broken chord. Extend it over multiple octaves, as we discussed above. Experiment with what note to end on. Try a flexible, swaying tempo for this effect, especially for the closing of a song. Try continuing the notes of the chord into the right-hand treble clef, and end on a high note.
Make it Stand Out
If you want to make a certain note or notes stand out from the rest of the music, try experimenting with staccato. This can work for one note or a series of notes. It can also work nicely in the 1-2-3 rhythm of a waltz. If you’re using the sustain pedal, staccato won’t be as noticeable, but if you play a note staccato, and let your foot off the pedal at just the right moment, it can make the note or chord stand out and grab attention.
Have Fun!
A fun and flashy way to add pizzazz is with a glissando. There may not be an abundance of opportunities for this, but when it does fit, it adds a lot of interest.
Left-hand Melody
If you find the opportunity, playing the melody in the left-hand bass clef, with harmony in the right-hand treble can sound unique and terrific! You might even be able to cross your hands while playing to achieve this effect.
Listen Up!
Consider listening to various arrangements of your chosen song to see what ideas can be gleaned from them. Sometimes, a piano/vocal/guitar arrangement might have some great ideas that can be incorporated into your solo, or a super advanced solo might have that one ending chord that can fit seamlessly into a simpler arrangement.
Most Importantly…
Emotion is key above any perceived complexity. An advanced arrangement played with little or no emotion can’t outshine a simpler piece infused with soulfulness and joy. Simpler sheet music arrangements can truly shine, even if they are not as technically challenging. These tips for embellishment are a place to get started, and you can branch out with your own ideas.