| Christmas Sheet Music is generally like every | | | | everyone else the trick lies in something we call |
| other kind of sheet music except for one thing; | | | | the 2-5-1 progression or II - V - I. This basically |
| because of the well-known melodies it is more | | | | means that in front of every landing chord we |
| open to re-harmonization. What does that mean | | | | can put a II - V progression with the one (I) being |
| exactly? Well, simply by virtue of the fact that | | | | the landing chord or destination chord. |
| everyone knows the melody it's easier for the | | | | If in the chord progression above you were to |
| piano accompanist to take more harmonic | | | | put a II - V in front of the Bb landing chord you |
| chances. | | | | would get a whole new sound. What is a II - V? |
| Christmas songs like Deck the Halls, Jingle Bells, | | | | In the scale of Bb (our landing chord) C is the |
| Silent Night and Joy to the World are so | | | | second note of the scale and F is the fifth note |
| entrenched in our consciousness that few people | | | | of the scale. Therefore the chord progression |
| even have to think about the words or the | | | | would be C - F - Bb. However, because the |
| melody. It just comes naturally for most of us, at | | | | second chord of the Bb scale is a C minor chord |
| least in western culture, to sing the lyrics and | | | | the progression would be notated like this |C- | F | |
| melodies without any thought at all. | | | | Bb|. |
| That's what makes it all the more fun for pianists | | | | Would you like to try something a bit trickier? Try |
| who accompany carolers to take some really | | | | adding sevenths to each chord. That means add a |
| neat harmonic chances with the underlying chords. | | | | seventh interval, either major or minor 7th to |
| Generally speaking no matter what you do, and | | | | each chord as reflected by the Bb major scale. |
| as long as you keep the beat going, no one's | | | | Therefore the final II - V - I progression, with Bb |
| going to get lost. | | | | as the landing chord, would be notated as |C-7| F7 |
| Christmas sheet music is very often notated with | | | | | BbM7|. |
| accompanying chord symbols to help pianists | | | | So how would the chorus of Jingle Bells be |
| make good chord choices. Of course, the more | | | | notated if you used II - V's in front of each |
| talented the pianist the more interesting the | | | | landing chord? Like this; |
| choices. That's why I like chord symbols on | | | | | F | | |C-7 F7 | BbM7 | F | G-7 | C7 | |
| Christmas sheet music because, it gives me a | | | | | F | | |C-7 F7 | BbM7 | F | G-7 C7 | FM7 | |
| general guide to follow and makes it easier to add | | | | As you can likely hear if you play these chords on |
| more chords to the mix. | | | | the piano it makes the progression seem much |
| How is this done? Let's take a song like Jingle Bells | | | | more interesting and rich. So, the next time you |
| for example. If we're in the key of F, the basic | | | | pick up a sheet of Christmas music have a look |
| chord symbols at the chorus are as follows; | | | | at the landing chords and see if you can't put a II |
| | F | | | | Bb | F | C7 | | | | | | - V in front of them. You're music will have so |
| | F | | | | Bb | F | C7 | F | | | | | much extra color to it and everyone will marvel |
| Now, how would one approach re-harmonizing this | | | | at your new found ability. Merry Christmas Sheet |
| very simple chord progression? Most jazz players | | | | Music Everyone! |
| would know the answer to that question but for | | | | |