ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces six basic models of realizing harmonic progressions on the keyboard. These models establish the foundation for more advanced methods of keyboard realization referred to as jazz chorale five-voice and jazz chorale four-voice texture. The ability to realize harmonic progressions on the keyboard is an essential skill for the contemporary jazz musician, regardless of her/his primary instrument. The fundamental difference between the six models of keyboard playing and the two jazz chorale styles is the overall distribution of voices between hands. The aforementioned models of keyboard realization offer a solid foundation for more advanced methods of realizing chord progressions on the keyboard known as chorale style. In both realizations, the motion between chords is governed by the principles of good voice leading. A good walking bass line clearly delineates the underlying chords with stepwise motion and chordal arpeggiation. The use of chordal arpeggiation is an effective technique and it clearly captures the tonal essence of the underlying harmonies.
