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OK, I know that there probably are no simple rules,but maybe you can help me some way. I know chords fairly well (but only 3, 4 note chords) and I often ˝write˝ a song. I sing it and record it. SO, now I have a melody and want to make an arrangement for voice and piano. Obviously I sing the melody, but how to make arrangment on piano?

Perhaps you should pose this question in the composer corner, heres the link

you can go to composer's corner. but i'd answer it briefly. consider the melody you have as RH part, so that to complete that song (assuming it's in a song form), then you need to write LH part following basic chord progression, such as (a major key) I-V-I, or I-VI-V-I, etc. for each phrase on RH. always choose the simplest and sparce progression at the beginning and modify it or add on more later if you need to.

the best way to do it is to imitate what others have done. that is to analyze a simple song with LH simple arrangement to see how LH chords/harmonies proceed and do the same (i.e. if it uses I you use I; if it uses V you use V) for your own song. after you finish copying it, play it to see if it sounds ok (LH+RH), then modify something here or there to make it sound better.

this is simply a way to write a piano version of your song. but to write both voice + piano arrangement part is quite different. voice part is your song/melody, but piano arrangement on both RH and LH is considered as an accompaniment. one way to do it is to take your piano version of the song, i.e. LH part of it, add RH version to it (without voice/melody part), i.e. using the same chord progression, but modify RH figurations (e.g. using arpeggios or whatever figuration you like instead of block chords, etc.), or alternate LH and RH figuration, plus some decorating or passing notes to accomodate the voice part. i know it's not that easy (as i tried myself), but if you can try it at least once, you learn how to do it.

Bradlety Sowash (he posts on PW) and Scott Houston, a.k.a. The Piano Guy have a book which can help. It's called The Next Step. My review is here. Making a "skeletal arrangement" using chords or bass patterns in the left hand and melody notes in the right is introduced on p.19.

You can get a lot of mileage out of this one, for very little money.

You just make patterns out of your chords.

Is it a slow or fast song. Would it have a ballad/pop feel to it? What is the chord progression? Do you know the key you want to play it in? Is this a song you could post a recording of?

This is hard to answer but easier to show. If it is in an easy key such as C, F, or G then I could post something.

Hi!
I kind of forgot on this thread but now remembered, mainly because Im still terrible at making piano plus voice arrangements. Thanks everyone for the suggestions, but is really hard.

@psychopianoman
Yes, my ˝songs˝ are for now all in C, F or G (and in D), because these are all I know
I still have only few months of learning so I dont expect myself to do magic but still it irritates me, because I would want to record it like a real song
I must say, these songs are really simple. MOst are in key of C and only C, F, G, Dm, and Am chords are used and the melody is also simple. You can probably make thousand songs like that in one hour. HOwever, I still cant make a ˝good˝ arrangements. I tried some arpeggios but it didnt sound good.
So, if anyone has any suggestions youre welcome.

Thx

PlayPianoTODAY (David Sprunger) has a course on how to accompany yourself on the piano; i.e. you sing the melody and both hands play chord patterns. You can also pick up a book like "Pop Piano" which has patterns for pop music. Or you can just experiment by playing around with your chords. I'm still learning to do this myself, so I can't offer any concrete patterns yet.

And don't forget: simple songs with simple chords are what sells. Complexity is overrated.

Oh, by the way, why not make a recording of your song and post it here. Maybe other people can lend you a hand if they have a concrete example to work from.