Approaches to “What is This Thing Called Love?”
The 32-bar “Song Form” – 8 bars, repeated, followed by an 8-bar bridge, to an 8-bar repetition very similar to the first 8 bars (so-called AABA form) – has been a popular jazz structure for almost as long as the 12-bar blues. Taken from popular songs of the early-to-mid 20th Century, the AABA 32-bar form is common in jazz and Broadway musicals alike. To improvise over a 32-bar form requires a different set of principles than 12-bar structures. While both forms have connections to the specific kinds of melodies typical of their forms, looking more deeply at the harmonic progressions allows for a wider variety of improvisational approaches.
Each module contains:
- A set of concepts and approaches
- Suggested ways to practice and apply new ideas
- Creative ways to broaden the application of concepts
- Goals and projects to demonstrate developing vocabulary and concepts
What Is This Thing Called Love Chord Progressions
WITTCL – Chord Progression – Bb Instruments
WITTCL – Chord Progression – C Instruments
WITTCL – Chord Progression – Eb Instruments
WITTCL – Chord Progression – Bass Clef
Refer to the following Spotify Playlist – What is This Thing Called Love? for many examples.
Remember, listening is just as important as practicing.
*Try playing through the chords according to the steps below by yourself (a cappella) with a metronome. Once you are comfortable playing through the form in time, try it with “What Is This Thing Called Love?” play-along track.
Refer to the playing examples of every variation below.
Bass Only
Drums Only
Bass and Drums
Piano and Drums
Full Rhythm
- Play triads: 1,3,5 in time through the progression
- Walk a bass line with triads connecting the root by a 1/2 step below
- Walk a bass line with triads connecting the root by a 1/2 step above
- Walk a bass line with triads connecting the root by a 1/2 step below or above
- Play triads in other inversions: 5,1,3, etc. (try a few combinations)
- Improvise with triads only
- Improvise with triads and connect by half step to 1,3 or 5
- Play 7th chords: 1,3,5,7
- Play 7th chord inversions: Your choice – there are 24 combinations
- Guide tones: Map out the 3rd’s and 7’s (Just like you did with the blues)
- Incorporate the scales into improvisation. Remember, the chord tones are still your best note choices. Try filling in the chord tones with some of the scale notes.
- Improvise using the harmonic generalization scales (keys above brackets)
