What’s the Difference between Arranging a Song and Improvising a Song?

There are two main differences between a song that is “arranged” and one that is “improvised”.

1. How the song appears in manuscript
2. How the song is performed on a repetitive basis

Manuscript

When you look at an arranged song in its manuscript format, you will clearly be able to identify the harmony lines. These will have been carefully worked out by the composer to provide clear tones, that are intentional and precise. The composer develops the harmonies that he feels best fit the melody line and uses his musical skill to create chords and even discords that complement the main theme of the song and add interest. It is often arranged to suit a particular type of voice, orchestration or even occasion.

A song that is improvised will often have little by way of harmony on the actual manuscript. It could be that the sheet music for the song contains a melody, and perhaps some chord suggestions. It’s also possible that the song is only presented to the player as words on a piece of paper and a tune played to them – it’s up to them to add depth to the song by using improvisation techniques to add harmony.

Performance

A song that is arranged in a specific way will be performed the same way each time that arrangement is played. There will usually be no variation from one musician to the next, the musician changes but not the musical arrangement. Often an arrangement is created specifically for a particular performer which can lead to the song being linked to that performer when it’s played in that particular style.

When the performance is improvised, then the way the song is played each time is at the discretion of the musician. It could that the song was composed in one style, but with a little improvised syncopation the song takes on an entirely different rhythm and can reach a whole new audience. The improvisation doesn’t alter the main melody, it just changes the overall sound. If ten piano players were given the same song and asked to play it using improvisation, they’d each create something different from the others.

While it is possible for a piano player to work with both arranged and improvised work, usually a player will be skilled one way or the other and have a greater strength in that area. The player used to playing pieces of music that are arranged will not be as quick to improvise as a player who does this regularly. Likewise a player who usually improvises will not like the rigidity of the arranged song that allows little, if any, room for individualism by way of improvisation. Some musicians who are good improvisers create “signature notes/phrases” that audiences come to expect. Unless the song was arranged specifically for them, the inflexible arrangement may not allow them to add this signature.

If you want to learn piano arranging, take our course on “How to dress up Naked Music!”

If you want to learn piano improvising, take “How To Improvise On The Piano!”

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