That's All, Harmonic Analysis
- Dr. Bob Lawrence
- Aug 5
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 9
Form, Changes, Function, Voicings.
That's All by Alan Brandt and Bob Haymes
“That’s All” — Discovering the Essentials of Jazz Piano Through One Beautiful Standard
Welcome to a New Month of Jazz Piano Study
At Jazz Piano Skills, the beginning of each month always brings something special: a brand-new jazz standard to explore in depth. But while the tune may change, our approach stays the same—thorough, structured, skill-centric, and logical. This consistency is key because every tune we study is more than a song; it’s an opportunity to uncover and sharpen the essential jazz piano skills required to play music artistically and accurately.
This month, we turn our attention to one of the most beautiful jazz standards ever written—“That’s All,” composed in 1952 by Alan Brandt and Bob Haymes. From its elegant harmonic structure to its timeless melody, “That’s All” offers a perfect framework for developing the three core categories of jazz piano performance: harmony, melody, and improvisation.
Why Tunes Matter—and How They Reveal Your Weaknesses
Dr. Bob Lawrence reminds us that tunes have a funny way of exposing the gaps in our playing. You can’t fake your way through a tune without bumping into your musical blind spots. And that’s a good thing. At Jazz Piano Skills, we use standards to illuminate the essential techniques you must master to play jazz fluently.
We organize our study into three essential camps:
Harmony – Understanding form, harmonic function, and playing voicings (block chords, shells, two-handed structures).
Melody – Hearing, identifying, and articulating the tune’s melodic line and phrase structure.
Improvisation – Developing rhythmic and melodic ideas based on proper chord-scale relationships.
Each tune (That's All) gives us a new perspective on familiar skills.
The Seven Facts of Music: A Foundation for Jazz Understanding
Before digging into “That’s All,” Dr. Lawrence revisits the Seven Facts of Music—the conceptual lens we use to understand every jazz tune:
Music is the production of sound and silence.
Sound is shaped harmonically and melodically into five primary types: major, minor, dominant, half-diminished, and diminished.
Harmonic shapes = voicings (chords).
Melodic shapes = scales and arpeggios (melodies).
Melodic direction is up or down—simple as that.
Melodies are decorated with chromaticism and tension.
Rhythm is what makes everything musically interesting.
Understanding and framing our study around these facts ensures we’re not just learning songs—we’re mastering the building blocks of jazz.
Podcast Spotlight: Harmonic Analysis of “That’s All”
In this first episode of our “That’s All” series, Dr. Lawrence walks through a complete harmonic analysis of the tune. Here’s what you’ll discover:
How to analyze form (AABA, 32-bar standard form)
A breakdown of the 15 unique chord changes in “That’s All”
How to pair lead sheet notation with harmonic function
The importance of common progressions like ii-V-I, I-VI-ii-V, and more
The difference between block voicings, shell voicings, and two-handed voicings
How to practice these voicings methodically, depending on your current jazz piano skill level
Ken’s Question: Why Can’t I Play Through a Lead Sheet?
Listener Ken Miles from Columbia, SC, writes in with a classic struggle: he can play chords in root position and inversions, but he can’t make it through a lead sheet without stopping.
Dr. Lawrence’s answer? Stop trying to play the whole tune as one big block. Instead, practice common chord progressions found in nearly every standard. He offers a “Top 12” list of progressions to master in all 12 keys—everything from ii-V-I to 3-6-2-5 to 1-4♯dim-1 and more.
This practice method trains your hands and your ears, allowing you to approach tunes with a vocabulary of motion, not isolated chords.
Ear Training Through Harmonic Motion
A major takeaway from this episode is a new way to think about ear training. While most players associate ear training with melody, Dr. Lawrence emphasizes the power of training your ear to recognize harmonic motion—especially root movement.
With the common harmonic progressions highlighted in Lead Sheet #5, you can begin to hear the motion of jazz standards in real-time. Set up simple backing tracks that establish the tonic followed by the progression. Say the numbers (1-6-2-5) aloud as you play them. You’ll be amazed at how quickly your ears evolve.
Practicing Voicings: Meet You Where You Are
Whether you’re working on:
…the key is to focus on where you are, not where you think you should be. Don’t rush to master two-handed structures if you're still working on block chords. The Jazz Piano Skills approach encourages gradual, deliberate mastery.
Each voicing type is demonstrated in the podcast, complete with backing track accompaniment and melodic overlays via trumpet. This allows you to hear how each voicing interacts with the melody—a powerful, practical tool for developing your jazz vocabulary.
Listening: A Community-Based Approach
This year, all recommended listening is posted in the Jazz Piano Skills online community forums, where members can explore multiple interpretations of “That’s All” by a variety of artists and styles. This shift gives us more room in the podcast for educational content while encouraging richer listening habits through curated playlists in the community.
Are You a Member Yet?
If you’re not a Jazz Piano Skills member, now is the time to join. Membership includes:
Full podcast episodes (lesson demonstrations and assignments)
Weekly podcast packets (lead sheets, illustrations, play-alongs)
Access to all online courses
Weekly live Masterclass on Zoom (recorded for convenience)
Entry to the private online community
Ongoing educational support directly from Dr. Lawrence
Everything is designed to help you discover, learn, and play jazz piano the right way.
Final Thoughts
The study of “That’s All” is not just about playing a beautiful standard. It’s about using that tune to reveal your strengths, expose your weaknesses, and sharpen your essential jazz piano skills.
Whether you're a beginner or a pro, this episode—and the full monthly series—offers a structured, musical path forward.
Now it’s your turn. Download the podcast packets, grab your lead sheets, do your listening, and start practicing. Your jazz journey continues—one tune, one skill, one step at a time.
🎧 Listen Now: [Jazz Piano Skills Podcast: “That’s All” – Harmonic Analysis Episode] 📝 Become a Member: JazzPianoSkills.com 📺 Subscribe on YouTube: Jazz Piano Skills
Warm Regards, Dr. Bob Lawrence
Jazz Piano Skills
Comments