“Tenderly” For Beginners
Welcome to the second jazz standard study in our Novice course on the key of Eb major. In this lesson, we will delve into the jazz ballad “Tenderly” which follows an A-B-A-C form.
This song is known for its spacious harmony and melody, which we will explore in detail in this module.
“Tenderly” – The A Section
We begin with the A section which is the 1st 8 bars of the tune. This section repeats twice within the song and so mastering these 8 bars will give us a solid foundation for learning and memorising the whole tune.
We start by playing through using simple 7th chords in their root positions to visualise the basic harmony of the tune. We then add the melody in our right hand with the basic 7th chords underneath.
“Tenderly” Spread Voicings
To enhance the sound of our 7th chords, we spread the notes over 2 hands to create 2-handed spread voicings. This voicing approach creates a more balanced arrangement which avoids overlap between the melody and the chords and also prevents the dense note configurations that can occur with basic 7th chord voiced in root position.
By spreading the notes over 2 hands, we achieve a more balanced sound in our harmonies which forms the basis of a solo jazz piano arrangement.
Related Lessons
We introduce the concept of whole-step 251 drills, and how they can be an interesting alternative to drills around the circle of fifths.
Lead sheets are a useful tool when starting out with jazz, but by learning tunes by memory, it will benefit your playing in a number of ways.
A seventh chord is a triad which has been extended to include the 7th degree of the scale. This creates a fuller sound than simple 3-note triads.
Practice Tips
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Visualise the Form: Remember that the song follows an ABAC form. Visualising this form when playing the tune will help to memorise and internalise the song's structure.
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Voicing Transitions: Pay special attention to the 7ths falling to the 3rds in the 25 progressions. The main benefit of using 2-handed spread voicings is that we can connect the chords smoothly with minimal hand movement.
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Experiment with Voicings: Try different spread voicings to find what sounds best to you. Remember that there is usually more than one option for a specific chord.
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Practice Slowly: Practice slowly and take your time to clearly visualise the voice leading in 25, 251, and 36251 progression. This will enhance the fluidity in your playing.
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Listen! - Listen to lots of different interpretations of "Tenderly" on YouTube or Spotify to understand different approaches and styles. Remember that listening is the ultimate source of inspiration.
Hi Hayden, Apologies if I asked this question already. Did you mention which version Real Book you were using for Tenderly? I have the 6th edition but I think you mentioned a different and perhaps better version. Thanks, Eric Los Angeles
Hi Eric,
I hope you’re well!
I generally recommend to use the chord chart that is provided in the “Downloads” section of each lesson page as this most closely matches the chord changes that we are using in the lesson.
There are many editions and versions of the Real Books and each one is slightly different. The Real Books are also notorious have having mistakes and inaccuracies which can be confusing for new jazz piano students.
The Real Books can be useful to find alternate or updated chord changes, so it’s useful to have them, but understand that they are all slightly different and so it’s likely that you will see variations in the chord changes.
I hope that helps.
Best,
Hayden