"Greensleeves" in 2+2 chord arrangement

[harry likas]

I’ve arranged “Greensleeves” using my 2+2 chord method for solo piano; the tune itself is a traditional English folk song dating to the late 1500s, first documented in 1580, and often interpreted as a lament for an unfaithful lover.
In 2+2 chord arranging, the left hand anchors the harmony, typically playing root and 7th, root and 3rd, or root and 5th intervals on tonic chords. The right hand uses its thumb to complete the chord (with the 3rd or 7th), while the remaining fingers carry the melody above.
2+2 voicings are hand-friendly, balanced, and versatile. The left-hand notes can stand alone as a complete accompaniment, while the right hand adds fills or improvisation. With regular practice, the 2+2 system helps pianists move from guessing at chords to playing confident, expressive harmony in just a few weeks.
I’ve created over 1,400 solo jazz piano arrangements using the 2+2 method and produced 65 tutorials, all available at www.Patreon.com/HarryLikas. I was also the technical editor for Mark Levine’s The Jazz Theory Book and a contributor to The Jazz Piano Book.

[industrial]

This is a great explanation of the 2+2 chord approach. I really like how clearly you describe the left-hand harmony versus the right-hand melody — it makes the method feel very approachable, especially for solo piano players. The Greensleeves example works beautifully to show how flexible and musical the system can be. Thanks for sharing both the arrangement and the insight behind it.

[harry likas]

Thanks so much! I’m really glad the 2+2 approach made sense and that the Greensleeves example clicked. That’s exactly the kind of flexibility I love about it, and it’s awesome to hear it comes across that way.