One way to add notes to a melodic line and make a so-called chord melody arrangement is to add a pedal tone. Also known as pedal point, organ point, and pedal note, this added note is meant to sustain and fill the harmony. Being able to add notes to a lead sheet is the basis for improvisation. Let’s look at example – a hymn called “Bless This House” in which we add pedal tones to the lead sheet.
One summer I found a handwritten hymn in my pile of music. It brought back memories of Maui.
Curious how it would sound on the ukulele, I transcribed a lead sheet from it. However, I didn’t do more with this lovely hymn on the ukulele. So here goes.
A lead sheet shows the melody, lyrics, and chords. It’s the bare skeleton. Harmonizing the melody is like adding flesh to the bones. A simple way to do so is to add bass notes, that is, bass notes of the chords.
Let’s change the quarter notes into eighth notes and add the bass notes between the melody notes.
Adding pedal notes is one way to fill harmony. Another is to add notes from the chords. That will be the subject of another blog post.
Practice suggestions
Listen to different interpretations of this song to get the tempo (speed and mood).
Learn the song.
Treat the song as an instrumental piece for the ukulele.
Besides adding the pedal tones, what else can you change or add?
More information
Get access to the sheet music, notification of new work, and table of contents of this Daily Music Writing Project.
