She Holds a Key: Piano/Vocal/Chords

This collection assembles 18 of DeGraw's most engaging songs in one accessible package, with several cuts from Sweeter and Free appearing in print for the first time. Students find real motivation in learning contemporary material from an artist they already know, while pianists and guitarists benefit from having chord charts and vocal lines clearly laid out alongside each other. The range of song styles within the collection gives pianists and guitarists plenty of interpretive variety to explore.

These songs combine pop directness with emotional weight. Melodies feel singable and memorable, yet the chord changes often surprise; the production sensibility is polished without being slick, and DeGraw's storytelling approach gives each song a sense of genuine vulnerability beneath its accessible surface.

This book speaks directly to pianists and guitarists who already connect with DeGraw's music and want to learn it on their own instrument. It's equally useful for music teachers seeking contemporary pop-rock repertoire that students will actually want to practice, as well as for accompanists preparing to support vocalists tackling this material.

• Study the vocal melody and rhythmic phrasing first, even if you're playing accompaniment. DeGraw's vocal lines often work against the beat in ways that clarify the emotional intent of each phrase.
• Pay attention to chord voicings on the piano part. The arrangements often suggest specific voicings that create the song's character; stick with them rather than simplifying.
• If accompanying a vocalist, lock in on the harmonic rhythm rather than playing busier left-hand patterns. Many of these songs benefit from a cleaner, more restrained approach to comping.
• For guitar players working from the chord charts, experiment with both strumming patterns and fingerpicking approaches. The same chords can feel quite different depending on how you voice and articulate them.

This collection works well for student recitals, coffeehouse performances, or solo jazz trio settings where pianists can arrange the material more freely. Teachers can program individual songs in student showcases or use them as repertoire studies in song interpretation classes. For ensemble directors, several of these tracks offer strong starting points for student arrangement projects.

• Reading piano/vocal/guitar lead sheets with chord symbols
• Interpreting vocal phrasing from written notation and adapting accompaniment patterns to support it
• Understanding and performing contemporary pop-rock harmonic progressions
• Coordinating melody, harmony, and chord voicing across different instruments
• Applying rhythmic flexibility in accompaniment (varying left-hand patterns while maintaining harmonic integrity)