Arranging Chord Melody for Summertime

"Summertime" from Gershwin's Porgy and Bess (1935) is one of the most recorded songs in history and a perennial chord melody subject. The melody is simple and largely pentatonic, moving slowly — perfect for expressive chord placement. The minor key (A minor or D minor depending on the arrangement) and the languid tempo invite elaborate reharmonisation and voicing choices. Miles Davis's instrumental arrangement and Chet Baker's vocal version are both worth hearing before arranging it yourself.

The Form and Key

"Summertime" is often played in A minor (or D minor, E minor on guitar).
The original is in A minor. Form: 16-bar ABAB variant.

Typical chord changes (A minor):
Am  | Am  | E7  | Am |
Am  | Am  | E7  | Am |
C   | G7  | Cmaj7 | F  |
Dm7 | E7  | Am  | E7 |

The E7 chord (the V7 in A minor) uses G# — the raised 7th of harmonic minor. This is the classical minor cadence: the E7 → Am resolution is the most important moment in the tune.

The Melody

The opening melody notes of "Summertime" — E, C, A (repeated, descending) — are the 5th, 3rd, and root of Am. These are maximally easy chord tones to voice underneath. The melody's pentatonic simplicity is an invitation to make the harmony more complex underneath, since the melody won't clash with ambitious voicings.

Reharmonisation Opportunities

Standard:     Am  | Am  | E7  | Am
Reharmonised: Am  | C9  | Dm7 G7 | Cmaj7

The Am → C9 move (tonic to relative major with added 9th) brightens the opening.
The Dm7 → G7 → Cmaj7 is a ii-V-I in C major — creates harmonic momentum
before returning to A minor.

Bridge (C → G7 → Cmaj7 → F):
Could become: Cmaj7 → G♭7 → Bmaj7 → Fm7   (tritone subs on the V chords)
Or more simply: Cmaj7 → G7♭13 → Cmaj7 → Fmaj7

Voicing the E7 Chord

The E7 (or E7♭9 for more tension) is the pivotal chord — it always resolves to Am. In a chord melody arrangement this is the moment to be most expressive with the voicing:

E7♭9 options (the G# and F in the chord do the work):
Shell: E G# D      (root, maj3rd, ♭7 — sparse, clean)
With ♭9: E G# D F  (adds the ♭9 = F natural in harmonic minor context)
Rootless: G# D F B (3rd, ♭7, ♭9, 5th — dense, dramatic)

The F natural (♭9 of E7) is the note borrowed from A natural minor — it creates the tension that makes the E7 → Am resolution so satisfying. Lean into this voicing.

Tempo and Feel

"Summertime" can be played as a slow ballad (the classic interpretation) or with a medium swing feel. For chord melody, ballad tempo gives you the most room — you can sustain chords, add bass movement between chord changes, and let the voicings ring. At medium swing, you need a more rhythmic approach with chord hits on the beat and walking bass on the offbeats. Both work; the slow ballad version is more forgiving for developing the arrangement.