Tangerine, Melodic Analysis
- Dr. Bob Lawrence
- Oct 18
- 4 min read
Melody, Phrases, and Treatments.
Discovering “Tangerine” Melodically
Welcome to Jazz Piano Skills! I’m Dr. Bob Lawrence — and this week, we’re diving into Week Two of our monthly study of the classic 1941 standard, Tangerine. If you’re a regular listener, you know what Week Two means — it’s Melodic Analysis Week.
Last week, we dissected Tangerine harmonically — form, changes, harmonic function, common movement, voicings, shells, and two-handed structures. This week, we shift our focus to the melodic side of the tune — learning the melody by ear, exploring fingerings, phrases, target notes, and of course, a variety of standard jazz treatments.
But before touching a single note, we must talk about something even more foundational: the conceptual simplicity of music.
The Seven Facts of Music
To truly play jazz piano — or any music — we must first understand it conceptually. I often say:
“If music does not become simple for you conceptually, then you have absolutely zero shot of having success with it physically.”
That’s why I emphasize what I call the Seven Facts of Music — the conceptual compass that guides everything we do:
Music is the production of sound and silence.
Sound is produced harmonically and melodically.
When sound is produced harmonically, we play chords or voicings.
When sound is produced melodically, we play arpeggios and scales.
Arpeggios and scales move only in two directions — up or down.
We decorate those arpeggios and scales with tension — chromaticism.
And finally, we make it all come alive with rhythm
When you understand that music is simply harmonic and melodic shapes moving up and down the piano, dressed with chromaticism and expressed rhythmically — everything begins to click. That’s when you can design an intelligent practice strategy grounded in truth, not guesswork.
From Concept to Practice: The Monthly Tune
Every month at Jazz Piano Skills, we take a tune and explore it through the three great musical camps:
Harmonic
Melodic
Improvisational
This structure mirrors the Seven Facts of Music — theory and practice aligned. This week, our mission is melodic: learning Tangerine by ear, analyzing its phrases, and performing it in several stylistic treatments.
Question of the Week: Breaking Free from the Page
This week’s question came from Deborah Garza in Boulder, Colorado:
“How do I break out of playing the melody exactly as written after years of classical training? And how much freedom do I have when interpreting a melody?”
A fantastic question — and one that resonates with many classically trained pianists exploring jazz.
Here’s the truth: it all starts with listening. Your hands and your ears can never go where they have never been. If you’re not immersing your ears in jazz — its phrasing, time feel, articulation, and expression — it will be impossible to play melodies that sound like jazz. You’ll always revert to the written page.
So, begin with deep listening. Learn to hear jazz before you play jazz. Once you can internally sing a melody, your hands can take dictation from your ears.
As for freedom? You have a lot — but with one critical condition:
Your interpretation should always leave no doubt about what tune you’re playing.
If listeners can’t recognize the melody, your interpretation has gone too far. Artistic liberty, yes — but always within the framework of recognition.
The Melodic Learning Process
Here’s my personal roadmap for learning any tune — jazz, pop, folk, or otherwise:
Listen. To everything. Multiple artists, styles, tempos, and interpretations.
Harmonic Analysis. Understand the form, changes, harmonic function, and voicings.
Melodic Analysis. Learn by ear. Identify phrases, target notes, and treatments.
Improvisation. Explore chord-scale relationships, arpeggios, and chromaticism.
For Tangerine, we’re focusing on Step 3 — melodic mastery. The educational agenda for this week includes:
Listening to a curated list of Tangerine recordings (available in the Community Forum).
Learning the melody by ear.
Applying suggested fingerings.
Identifying melodic phrases and target notes.
Pairing the melody with voicings from our harmonic study.
Interpreting Tangerine through three treatments: Ballad, Contemporary Bossa, and Swing.
Inside the Lead Sheets
Each member packet includes seven lead sheets to guide you step-by-step:
Fill-in-the-Blank Template – Transcribe the melody by ear.
Melody Reference – My transcription, written rhythmically as I would play it, not as it appears in a fake book.
Suggested Fingerings – Emphasizing necessary hand shifts for proper jazz articulation.
Melodic Phrases – The tune’s five essential phrases.
Target Notes – The melodic anchors within those phrases.
Block Voicings + Melody
Shell Voicings + Melody
These materials work hand-in-hand to help you internalize Tangerine both intellectually and aurally.
Playing “Tangerine” Three Ways
Once you’ve learned the melody and harmony, it’s time to place them in musical context.I demonstrate Tangerine in three different treatments:
Ballad (Tempo 60) – Slow, lyrical, and harmonically exposed. A true test of control.
Contemporary Bossa (Tempo 120) – Loose, flowing groove; subtle rhythmic flexibility.
Swing (Tempo 160) – Classic, energetic, and idiomatic — Tangerine at its most familiar.
Each style challenges phrasing, touch, and interpretation in new ways. And yes — all play-
alongs are included in your member packets!
The Weekly Educational Agenda
I’m thrilled to share that Jazz Piano Skills now has a consistent weekly educational rhythm:
Monday: Weekly Recap Video
Tuesday: New Podcast + Educational Packets
Wednesday: Quick Tip Video
Thursday: Live Masterclass (recorded for replay)
Friday: Challenge Day
Saturday: New Blog (like this one!)
Sunday: Rest, recharge, family, church, barbecue, and a Shiner Bock beer — made right here in Texas!
After 307 episodes, we now have a sustainable and structured agenda that ties everything together for your jazz journey.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, studying Tangerine melodically will strengthen your ability to internalize melody, connect with harmony, and interpret music with jazz authenticity.
Remember — it all begins with listening, conceptual simplicity, and intentional practice grounded in the Seven Facts of Music.
So grab your lead sheets, listen to Tangerine, and let’s make some beautiful jazz together.
Discover. Learn. Play. That’s Jazz Piano Skills.
🎧 Listen Now: [Jazz Piano Skills Podcast: “Tangerine” – Melodic Analysis Episode] 📝 Become a Member: JazzPianoSkills.com 📺 Subscribe on YouTube: Jazz Piano Skills
Warm Regards, Dr. Bob Lawrence
Jazz Piano Skills
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