The Nearness Of You Tutorial
The Nearness Of You is a jazz ballad written in the key of F Major. The tune follows an A1-A2-B-A1 form and there is also a 4 bar extension at the end which makes the tune 36 measures long.
We’re going to start with some simple two handed voicings and then create a more interesting arrangement by reharmonising the changes and adding in some upper structure triads, block chords and chord substitutions.
We also look at some interesting ways to reinforce the melody by mirroring the melody in both hands, similar to four way close style piano voicings.
Related Lessons
In this lesson I explain what drop 2 voicings are, how to construct them and how to practice drop 2 so that you are familiar with them in all 12 keys.
Intros can be useful to extend the length of your performance and also to establish the tonality or the key in which the tune is being played.
We start the lesson by recapping the basic theory behind sus chords and then explore them in context of major and minor 251s
Practice Tips
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Another great tune for applying drop 2 voicings.
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Look out for this kind of step wise melody in other jazz standards and then apply similar voicing techniques.
- Don't forget about the unusual ending to this tune, it's rare to have a 4 bar extension at the end of the final A Section!
Excellent presentation and a beautiful arrangement hayden. Thank you so very much I highly enjoyed this and now i have go practice and implement such a wonderfull arrangement.
Thanks George, I’m glad you like the arrangement. I find it helps to think of the tune in terms of the form (AABA) … the A section repeats 3 times and so learning the A section will give you almost 75% of the chord changes. Remember to play through first with simple voicings (think 3rds and 7ths) and then add in extensions/alterations. Next tackle the B section separately and finally put it all together! Cheers, Hayden.