Last session, We looked into how to create a piano accompaniment base on the harmony of the hymn, playing the right hand main melody, with left hand playing a bass note follows by a two notes chord in each bar. This time, we will do the same by with a three notes chord instead.
Sticking with this idea, the accompaniment we are looking into creating will be
- Three beats in a bar
- Right hand plays the main melody
- Left hand plays a bass note on the first beat follows by a three notes chord on the second
- A rest on the third beat except the penultimate bar before end of a phrase
This time, using chords I, IV and V in Bb major. The combination of possible chords follow by the bass note will be as follow:
Familiarise this style by practicing the left hand; bass note to each of these chord. This will boost up your confidence in playing in this style.
This time a well known hymn classic 51b Rock of Ages. Analysing bar by bar, first group the notes vertically and work out the harmony. Which chord out of I, IV and V to use. Starting that bar with the bass note follows by one the the three possible chords to go with it. Be careful not to use a chord that is rather high that may clashes with the right hand melody, nor too low towards the left that may sound grumpy. All these need practice, trials and errors.
Bar 11, we use the extra Eb link to chord V; FAC. This special chord is called dominant 7th. If we add the Eb in, this will enrich the sound of the chord. Splendid to conclude the hymn with a dominant 7th chord on the penultimate bar.
The end result will be
Hosanna Praise 