Electric Blues (from "Hair"): Piano/Vocal/Chords

This collection captures the moment when Broadway finally embraced rock music as a legitimate theatrical voice. MacDermot's harmonic sophistication and rhythmic vitality make these arrangements engaging for skilled pianists and singers, while the cultural significance of Hair itself ensures your students connect immediately to the material. Programming from this book gives you access to genuinely singable, musically interesting songs that belong in any contemporary musical theatre curriculum.

These songs vibrate with the energy of a cultural awakening. You'll encounter intimate folk-inflected moments alongside driving rock grooves, emotional vulnerability sitting alongside social commentary. The musical language feels of its era yet somehow timeless, with lyrics that still provoke thought and melodies that lodge immediately in memory.

Solo singers and pianist-vocalist pairs preparing audition material, recitals, or concert programming that embraces 1960s rock-inflected musical theatre. Music theatre programs, classical voice studios, and jazz-informed pianists will all find substantial material here. This book works equally well for undergraduate performance classes and advanced high school singers building a contemporary repertoire.

• Anchor the rhythm section feel from the very first measure. These songs demand a pocket-conscious approach to the piano part; lock into the groove rather than playing strictly metronomic time.
• Explore the dynamic range in the vocal line. Many of these songs move between intimate, conversational moments and soaring, full-voiced sections. Don't let your interpretation flatten out.
• Pay attention to the jazz voicings and extended chords in the piano part. They're not decorative; they create the contemporary sound that makes Hair distinctive. Honor the harmonic color.
• Use the chord symbols as a launching point for improvisation and reharmonization. The spirit of the show invites musical risk-taking and individual expression.

Feature selections from Hair in a modern musical theatre concert or as part of a thematic program exploring how Broadway absorbed rock music in the late 1960s. Individual songs work beautifully in recital settings and audition portfolios. Consider pairing material from this collection with other contemporary Broadway scores to trace how musical theatre evolved.

• Reading chord symbols and realizing jazz voicings on piano
• Connecting lyrical content to vocal interpretation and emotional arc
• Navigating rhythmic flexibility and groove-based accompaniment patterns
• Understanding how rock and soul idioms function in theatrical contexts
• Accompanying singers while maintaining stylistic authenticity