Hi Folks, This week we work on my arrangement of the head to Mood Indigo. The first part is as a chord melody and then the second section is single notes for the Harry Carney clarinet melody. Of there are many ways to harmonize the melody but I chose to start with major 6th chords which are beautifully melodic and when going to the Bb 7 chord adding a ninth on top keeps it close voiced which gives it a Ellingtonian flair. Have fun learning this beautiful piece of music.
Enjoy!
Duke
Topics and/or subjects covered in this lesson:
Jazz
Loop 1:06 Breakdown of Chord Melody
Loop 12:10 Practice Loop of Chord Melody
Loop 13:20 Variations and Closing Thoughts
Comments
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Sorry about the background noise on the video by the way - it's not my playing! there was another culprit in the room!
Hi Duke - I am new to sonic junction (based in Bristol, UK) but really enjoying your enthusiasm and old school approach. I have uploaded my bash at mood indigo chord melody first section. Any feedback welcome.
Many thanks. Steve
Hello Stephen, Welcome to Sonic Junction. Glad to have you aboard! You really nailed this and got every nuance of my arrangement. Thanks for signing up! Duke
Had sound trouble on my last attempt, so will delete that and post this. Absolutley loving this lesson - thanks Duke. Here I've done chord melody, rhythm and then tried to improvise a little solo.
Hi Charlie, Good work. nice solo section and rhythm too. The only spot that needs work is on the melody in the beggining on the E Eb change. Altogether you sound very good playing this. What guitar are you playing? Very nice tone. Duke
Thanks Duke! : ) The guitar is a Gretsch New Yorker http://acousticguitar.com/gretsch-g9550-new-yorker-big-apple-to-the-core/ Pretty decent, low cost archtop. They recently brought out a model with a pickup as well, but this one's without (nowhere to hide ; )
Hi Duke! Beatiful arrangement! I didn't know that voicing for 6th chords. I get what you're saying about the dissonance, but I didn't like hearing the Gb in the Eb minor chord on the 11th fret. So I changed the voicing slightly by dropping the note on the G string down a fret to an F, so that the chord becomes Db F Bb Eb, making it a Bb minor 11. Thanks for the great lesson, can't wait for the next one! Best, Bruce
Good Job Bruce, Sounds really nice! Duke
My Pleasure Tom. On of my favs!
Nice chords . Very smooth . Thanks Duke .