Interpreting Lead Sheets

When confronted with a lead sheet, your interpretation depends on the context:

• Solo Piano
• With a Bass Player
• In a Band Situation

First Reading Techniques

For a first reading, the simplest approach might be to play a bass line or a shell in the left hand.

Example: Autumn Leaves

Using a well-known passage from "Autumn Leaves," play a simple melody with basic shells in the left hand:

Example melody:

• There's no embellishment here.
• The harmony is very thin.

To enhance this, you could:

• Play Three-Note Voicings in the left hand
• Introduce Rhythmic Interest by playing some chords off the beat.

You might also choose to revert to playing a bass line if you're soloing, putting all the harmony in the right hand, utilizing block chords.

Block Chords Technique

In this case, use:

• Four-Note Chords with the melody note uppermost.

This requires a solid knowledge of your inversions. For instance:

• Notice the flat nine in the D7 chord.
• The melody's the fifth, leading to a diminished shape.

Accompanying with a Bass Player

If you have a bass player, playing a bass line isn't an option. Instead:

• Play Block Chords but consider doubling the melody in the left hand.

This technique creates a great sound and was popularised by George Shearing, often referred to as the "locked hands technique." Here, the arrangement is:

• Hands An Octave Apart
• Four Notes in the Right Hand
• One Note in the Left Hand

Common Interpretation Method

The most common way of interpreting lead sheets is:

• Left Hand: Play the chords
• Right Hand: Play the single-note melody

Example: Someday My Prince Will Come

For example, with "Someday My Prince Will Come" in 3/4 time:

• Liven it up by incorporating more rhythm in the left hand.
• Consider going deeper by splitting the chords and bass notes in the left hand, using a bit of pedal.

Adding a Latin Feel

If there's a Latin feel in a tune like "Blue Bossa," you can imply the Latin rhythm in the left hand.

Melodic Example

Here's how you could play the chords:

• The first chord is on the two, check out that rhythm.

If working with a bass player:

• Limit the rhythmic embellishments.
• Aim for Rootless Chords in the left hand.

Rhythm Establishment

Establish a two-bar rhythm in the left hand:

• 1, 2, 3, 4, 1
• Focus on both on-beat and off-beat placements.

This method of playing rootless voicings in the left hand with a single-note melody in the right hand is typical for most jazz pianists, especially in a band setting.

Demonstration Track

In the next track, I will demonstrate this technique using "Indiana." The last time we play this tune will be with rootless voicings in the left hand.