Follow Through: Piano/Vocal/Chords

This collection captures DeGraw's strongest material across his early career, and the inclusion of previously unpublished arrangements from Sweeter and Free makes it genuinely valuable for pianists and guitarists who've wanted to play these songs. The mix of up-tempo pop-rockers and introspective ballads gives you real programming flexibility, whether you're building a recital or selecting standout pieces for a student showcase.

These songs occupy the intersection of introspection and infectious groove. The arrangements balance vulnerability in the vocals with driving rhythmic support, creating a sound that feels both intimate and energized. Whether you're navigating the soulful melancholy of 'Not Over You' or the propulsive swagger of 'Dancing Shoes,' you're engaging with pop-rock writing that respects both the listener and the player.

This collection belongs in the hands of pianists and guitarists who already connect with DeGraw's catalog or who are looking for contemporary pop-rock material with real songwriting substance. It's equally valuable for music students building audition or recital repertoire and for adult players returning to music who want accessible but musically rewarding songs to work through.

• Lock the vocal melody and chord changes together in your head before you sit down; DeGraw's phrasing often pushes slightly ahead of or behind the beat, so map out where the song breathes rather than relying on strict click-track timing.
• On piano, balance the accompaniment with the vocal line. These arrangements sit the chords in a range that can easily overshadow the voice, so listen critically to whether your left hand is supporting or dominating.
• If you're working from the guitar voicings, stay flexible with substitutions and inversions; the slash chords and extended harmonies in these charts leave room for personal interpretation based on your tuning and hand position.
• Pay attention to the rhythmic feel of each track. 'I Don't Want to Be' and 'Not Over You' sit in very different grooves, so shifting your articulation and touch from song to song will make the set feel cohesive rather than repetitive.

Build a recital set around the variety here: open with an uptempo piece like 'Follow Through' or 'Dancing Shoes,' anchor the middle with a ballad like 'I Don't Want to Be' or 'Spell It Out,' and close with something that lands with emotional weight. This collection also works beautifully as a source for coffeehouse or informal performance settings, where the songs' accessibility and emotional directness connect immediately with audiences.

• Playing through extended harmonies and jazz-influenced voicings in a pop-rock context
• Balancing vocal melody with accompaniment texture on piano or guitar
• Interpreting rhythmic flexibility and phrasing in contemporary song arrangements
• Sight-reading lead sheets with slash chords and chord variations