That's All, Melodic Analysis

Dr. Bob Lawrence
Aug 16
3 min read

Updated: Aug 16

Melody, Fingerings, Phrases, Treatments.

Mel Torme sings That's All by Alan and Bob Haymes — Billy Eckstine

That's All by Alan Brandt and Bob Haymes

“That’s All” — Discovering the Essentials of Jazz Piano Through One Beautiful Standard

Melodic Analysis of That’s All: Discovering the Beauty of Jazz Melody

Welcome back to the Jazz Piano Skills blog! I’m Dr. Bob Lawrence, and this week’s podcast episode takes us into one of my favorite parts of our monthly tune study—melodic analysis.

Last week, we focused on the harmonic framework of That’s All, studying form, harmonic function, common movement, and a variety of voicings—from traditional shells to two-handed structures. Now, it’s time to shift our attention from chords to melody.

Why Melodic Analysis Matters

Harmony may provide the foundation, but melody is the heart of a jazz standard. To truly understand and play a tune, we must explore its phrases, fingerings, target notes, and treatments. This is why every month at Jazz Piano Skills, we pair our harmonic analysis with a deep dive into melody, followed by improvisation. Together, these three studies build a functional command of jazz piano—conceptually and physically.

The Compass: Seven Facts of Music

Before diving into melody, I always return to what I call the Seven Facts of Music. These truths keep our practice focused, structured, and productive:

Music is sound and silence.
Sound is produced harmonically (chords) and melodically (scales/arpeggios).
Harmonic sound = chords/voicings.
Melodic sound = scales/arpeggios.
Melodic movement is always up or down.
We decorate melodic lines with tension and chromaticism.
Rhythm gives all of this life.

When you recognize these seven facts in everything you play, practice transforms from random information gathering into a clear roadmap to success.

Melody of That’s All

In this week’s study, we approach That’s All melodically in several steps:

Transcription: Learn the melody by ear as much as possible before checking against a lead sheet.
Fingerings: Choose efficient fingerings that keep your hand relaxed and moving fluidly.
Phrasing: Recognize that this tune follows a classic AABA form with two phrases in each section.
Target Notes: Identify anchor tones (like F, B♭, G, and A) that define each phrase. These become vital reference points for both memorization and improvisation.
Voicing Integration: Combine the melody with last week’s harmonic voicings (block and shell voicings) to hear the complete picture.

Treatments: Ballad, Bossa, Swing

One of the most enjoyable parts of melodic analysis is experimenting with different treatments. In the episode, we explore That’s All as a:

Bossa Nova – relaxed and flowing at about 110 BPM.
Swing – brisk and challenging at around 160 BPM.
Ballad – timeless, expressive, and my personal favorite setting for this tune.

By placing the melody in these contexts, we prepare ourselves for next week’s improvisation study, where we’ll take these phrases and target notes and begin reshaping them into original lines.

A Word on Practice Strategy

Many students get overwhelmed by the sheer amount of jazz information available today. Remember—consistency and focus win the day. Don’t chase every flashy idea online. Instead, stick with essential skills, build a structured practice plan, and execute it patiently. That’s how lasting progress is made.

Next Steps

As a Jazz Piano Skills member, be sure to download this week’s Podcast Packets (lead sheets, play-alongs, and illustrations). These materials will guide you step by step through transcribing, fingering, phrasing, and applying voicings to the melody of That’s All.

Whether you are a beginner, intermediate player, or seasoned professional, this melodic analysis will sharpen your ear, strengthen your technique, and deepen your understanding of how to make a melody come alive at the piano.

So grab your lead sheets, sit down at the keys, and let’s discover, learn, and play jazz piano—together.

🎧 Listen Now: [Jazz Piano Skills Podcast: “That’s All” – Melodic Analysis Episode] 📝 Become a Member: JazzPianoSkills.com 📺 Subscribe on YouTube: Jazz Piano Skills