Arranging music can be a daunting task, not to mention something that for a lot of people, is hard to find the time for when there are so many other things to practice. Like my previous post on how to get started in re-harmonization, I will share a list of things that anyone can do, regardless of level, in order to make the pieces that they are playing their own.
1. It seems very obvious to say this but it is often overlooked. Listen to the original song. Listen to other versions and observe how the material has developed over time. There is no better way of starting out, than finding out how great musicians have treated the same material.
There are also a lot of arrangements out there that became the 'normal' way of playing the standard - but they like many others, were interpretations of the original. Take a song such as Monk's 'Round Midnight' for example. The Miles Davis version is often thought to be the definitive arrangement, but we often neglect the work by the composer himself. The two versions are quite different.
As I stated in my previous post get fully acquainted with the melody. Listen to artists that don't take too many liberties. Singers are clearly the best choice here, as they are less likely than instrumentalists to stray too much.
2. Start with the simple things first. There are many factors in an arrangement which make it unique, and some of them are the most obvious. Before starting out, have a look at factors such as tempo, key, style and instrumentation. Changing any of these can make a song sound completely different. My arrangement for 'The Days of Wine and Roses' for example is in Eb rather than the usual F. Just this alone made a big difference to the feel of the song.
Playing a tune, faster or slower than the original can also make a big difference. How about playing Giant Steps as a Ballad or a Bossa Nova?
Instrumentation is another. The temptation is often to launch into a piece without thinking too much about this, but if you were to change things up in less than usual ways, you can really have a unique version. Maybe you could start the arrangement with a drum solo? Maybe the first A is played without the bass and piano? How about having the drums enter only on the bridge? There are literally hundreds of ways you can play around.
3. Intros and outros are great ways of arranging your song without having to go into too much detail with the overall structure. Many groups also forget that having a great start and finish goes a long way to improving the overall quality of a performance. How many times has a great version of 'Stella by Starlight' been ruined because you never went to the trouble of working out and ending with your group? Like instrumentation, there are countless ways to come up with great intros and endings. Do some research, and work out some of the ones you enjoy most.
4. Sometimes a single chord is enough to make your arrangement unique. Re-harmonization does not mean that you have to tear apart a full song. I can think of many arrangements where the band has changed only one or two chords, and that has been enough to make their version stand out among the rest. Look carefully. Sometimes it is something very obvious such as a tritone substitution, or simply changing a chord from major to minor. You'd be surprised what a difference this makes when we are used to expecting certain chords.
5. Rhythm. This is a world in itself but like many of the others, small changes can make a big difference. How many standards work just as well in 3/4 as 4/4? There are quite a lot. A little clever thinking here is all that is needed. Of course more complex time signatures work well too, but you must be careful. The temptation can be to complexify things unnecessarily, and not be able to pull it off. If you can't play 'All Blues' in 11, then maybe it is better to try something easier.
Accents can also be another very easy way to alter your arrangement. Have a look at the points in the melody that the band could accent together with the drums. A few choice hits can make the difference between just playing, and having an arrangement that belongs to you.
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