Learn Can't We Be friends?

                                     photo credit: 藍川芥 aikawake FILM | Happy Childhood via photopin (license)

 The 1929 musical revue "The Little Show" was the showcase for this song. Since that time it has been welcomed into the world of jazz as a classic and recorded by such greats as Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, Art Tatum, George Shearing, Benny Goodman and his Orchestra and Frank Sinatra. ASCAP rated this song among the top hits of 1929.

,

"Can't We Be Friends?" (Chords and Lyrics)

Music by Kay Swift
Words by Paul James

Key: Ab
Time: 4/4 Andantino

Fm                    Fm/Ab        G7 G7-5  G7
I took each word he said as gospel truth,
C7                             Db/F  C7
The way a silly little child would.
Fm           Fm/Ab            G7       G7-5  G7
I can't excuse it on the grounds of youth,
C7                             Fm Bb Fm
I was no babe in the wild wood.
Bbm         Fm/Ab
He didn't mean it,
G7-5              Fm
I should have seen it,
E6/C  C7+5  F  C/E  Ab7/Eb
Now it's too late!


Key of F (modulation)

G7/D  G7                        C7               C9

I thought I'd found the man of my dreams.

F         Db7      Dm7/C           D/A Db7/Ab C7/G

Now it seems, this is how the story ends:

C7     Dm       G9        C7

He's going to turn me down and say,

F            Bb7    F     Dm  Dm7/C

Can't we be friends?

G9   G7                    C7

I thought for once it couldn't go wrong.

F         Db7 Dm7/C           Dm/A    Db7/Ab C7/G

Not for long! I can see the way this ends:

C7  Dm        G9        C7

He's goin' to turn me down and say,

F           Bb7   F      Dm  F7

Can't we be friends?

Bb7    C  Bb9

Never again!

Bb7               F

Through with love,

      Fdim7       F

Through with men! 

        F+    Fm6  Fm6              Eb           Cm/Eb Eb7  D+

They play their game without shame, and who's to blame?

D  D7  A7+5  D  Gb6/Db  D9/C

G7                            C7 

I thought I'd found a man I could trust.

F          Db7  Dm7/C            Dm/A Db7/Ab C7/G

What a bust! This is how the story ends:

C7   Dm       G9           C7

He's going to turn me down and say,

F           Bb7   F  F6  F

Can't we be friends?

Rainy Night In Georgia is a popular song from the 60s. I have posted the chord progressions to Tony Joe White's piece. Also, Billy Vera's At This Moment is from the best of the 80s music!

Two great resources you may want to have and use in your music library are Jazz 101 and Jazz 201.

All the best,

-- LadyD

"Jazz washes away the dust of everyday life." -- Art Blakey

Learn To Play How High The Moon

How High The Moon (Chords and Lyrics)

Words by Nancy Hamilton

Music by Morgan Lewis (1940)

Sung by Ella Fitzgerald from album, Priceless Jazz (1997)

Les Paul and Mary Ford recording (1951)

Somewhere there's music
How faint the tune
Somewhere there's heaven
How high the moon
There is no moon above
When love is far away too
Till it comes true
That you love me as I love you

Somewhere there's music
It's where you are
Somewhere there's heaven
How near, how far
The darkest night would shine
If you would come to me soon
Until you will, how still my heart
How high the moon

How high the moon
is the name of this song
How high the moon
Though the words may be wrong
We're singing it 
Because you ask for it
So we're swinging it just for you

How high the moon
Does it touch the stars
How high the moon
Does it reach up to Mars
Though the words may be wrong
to this song
We're asking how high, high, high
high, high is the moon

Chord Breakdown

L.H. / R.H. (single melody notes)

G / A, B then D, E, D, C#, D, G, G, A, A

Gm7  / Bb, C, 

Db7 /  Bb, C, Bb

C7 / C

Gm7 / F

C7 / G

F / G, A then C, D, C, B, C, F, F, G, G

Fm7 / Ab then B, A, Bb, A

Bb7 / D

Fm / Eb

Bb7 / F

Eb / Eb and G together 5 x's

A/Cm  (Eb/G)

D7 / FA

Gm7 / GBb

A/Cm (EbG)

D7 / F#A, EG, F#A

G / GB

Db7 / GB

C / CA, DB, EC

Bm7 / AD

Bb7 / AbD, AbD, GD

Am7 / D

D/Am7 (G)

D7 / A

G / A, C, C#, D, B then D, C#, D, G, G, A, A

Gm7 / Bb, C, Bb, C, Bb

Db7 / Bb

C7 / C

Gm7 / F

C7 / G

F / G, A#, B, C, A# then C, B, C, F, F, G, G

Fm7 / Ab, Bb, Ab, Bb, Ab

Bb7 / D

Fm7 Eb

Bb7 / F

Eb / EbG 6 x's

A/Cm (EbG)

D7 / FA, EG, FA

G / GB

Db7 / GB

C / CEGA, CEGB, EGAC

Bm7 / F#ABD 2 x's

Bb7 / FAbBbD, EGAD

Am7 / EGAD
D/Am7 (ACEG

D7 / CEF#A

G7 / BEG

E7 /

Am7 / D

D/Am7 (G)

D7 / A

G / A, B then D, E, D, C#, D, G, G, A, A

Gm7 / Bb, C

Db7 / B, C, B

C7 / C

Gm7 / F

C7 / G

F / G, A then C, D, C, B, C, F, F, G, G

Fm7 / Ab, Bb, A, Bb, A

Bb7 / D

Fm / Eb

Bb7 / F

Eb / EbG (6 x's)

A/Cm (EbG)

D7 / FA, EbG, FA

Gm7 / GBb, GBb

A/Cm (EbG)

D7 / F#A, EG, F#A

G / GB

Db7 / GB

C / CA, DB, EC

Bm7 / AD, AD

Bb7 / AbD, AbD, GD

Am7 / D

D/Am7 (G)

D7 / A

G / A, C, C#, D, B then D, C#, D, G, G, A, A

Gm7 / Bb, C, Bb, C, Bb

Db7 / Bb

C7 / C

Gm7 / F

C7 / G

F / G, A#, B, C, A then C, B, C, F, F, G, G

Fm7 / Ab, B, Ab, Bb, Ab

Bb7 / D

Fm7 / Eb

Bb7 / F

Eb / EbG (6 x's)

A/Cm (EbG)

D7 / FA, EG, FA

G / GB

Db7 / GB

C / CEGA, CEGB, EGAC

Bm7 / F#ABD (2 x's)

Bb7 / FAbBbD, FAbBbD, EGAD

Am7 / CEGA

D7 / CEF#D, EF#AC

Bm7 / F#ABD

Bb7 / FAbBbD, FAbBbD, EGAD

Am7 / CEGA

D7 / CEF#B, EF#AC

Bm7 / F#ABD, F#ABD

Bb7 / FAbBbD, FAbBbD, EGAD

Am7 / EGAD

D/Am7 / ACEG

Ab / CEbG

G / BDG
   /  G, DG, CE, BD, G, D, DbG, G then CG, A#G, BG, G

G7 / BEG

For more information, visit wikipedia.org

guitaretab.com, e-chords.com and tabs.ultimate-guitar.com

Jermaine Griggs, over at HearandPlay.com, is having a sale right now on music computer software, Song Robot. 

Blessings,






"Jazz washes away the dust of every day life." -- Art Blakey

It's Only A Paper Moon

G        E7    Am7   D7
Say, it's only a paper moon,

 D       D9     G    D7   G    D9
Sailing over a cardboard sea,

G       E7          Am7     D7
But it wouldn't be make believe,

   Am7    D7       G    D7
If you believed in me.


G         E7      Am7     D7
Yes, it's only a canvas sky,

  D      D9    G  D7   G     D9
Hanging over a muslin tree,

G       E7         Am7     D7
But it wouldn't be make believe,

   Am7     D7      G   G7
If you believed in me.



(Bridge:)

    Am7 Gdim Bm    Bm7
Without your love,

        Am7   D7     G     G7
It's a honky tonk parade,

    Am7 Gdim  Bm   Bm7
Without your love,

       G       E7   A9     D7+5
It's a melody played at a penny arcade.



G       E7         Am7     D7
It's a Barnum and Bailey world,

  D      D9      G   D7 G    D9
Just as phony as it can be,

G       E7         Am7     D7
But it wouldn't be make believe,

   Am7    D7       G
If you believed in me.

* * * * * * * * *

It's Only A Paper Moon

Ella Fitzgerald

	E6	Fdim7	F#m7	B7
	Say, it's	only a	paper moon

	F#m7	B9	E
	sailing	over a	cardboard sea,

	E7/G#	A6
but it	wouldn't be	make believe

	F#7/A#	B7	E	B7
	if you	believe in me

	E	Fdim7	F#m7	B7
	Yes, it's	only a	canvas sky

	F#m7	B9	E
	hanging	over a	muslim tree,

	E	E7/G#	A6
	but it	wouldn't be	make believe

	F#7/A#	B7	E
	if you	believed in me

	E7	A6	A#dim7	Em7/B
	with	out	your	love,

	F#m7	B7	E
it's a	honky	tonk par	ade

	E7	A6	A#dim7	Em7/B
	with	out	your	love,

	G#m7	C#9	F#9	B9
it's a	melody	played in a	penny ar	cade.

	E	Fdim7	F#m7	B7
	It's a	Barnum and	Bailey world

	F#m7	B9	E
	just as	phony as	it can be,

	E7/G#	A6
but it	wouldn't be	make believe

	F#7/A#	B7	E	F#m7/D7
	if you	believed in me.

	E6	Fdim7	F#m7	B7
	Say, it's	only a	paper moon

	F#m7	B9	E
	sailing	over a	cardboard sea,

	E7/G#	A6
but it	wouldn't be	make believe

	F#7/A#	B7	E	F#m7	B7
	if you	believe in me

	E	Fdim7	F#m7	B7
	Yes, it's	only a	canvas sky

	F#m7	B9	E
	hanging	over a	muslim tree,

	E	E7/G#	A6
	but it	wouldn't be	make believe

	F#7/A#	B7	E
	if you	believed in me

	E7	A6	A#dim7	Em7/B
	with	out	your	love,

	F#m7	B7	E
it's a	honky	tonk par	ade

	E7	A6	A#dim7	Em7/B
	with	out	your	love,

	G#m7	C#9	F#9	B9
it's a	melody	playedin a	penny ar	cade.

	E	Fdim7	F#m7	B7
	It's a	Barnum and	Bailey world

	F#m7	B9	E
	just as	phony as	it can be,

	E7/G#	A6
but it	wouldn't be	make believe

	F#7	B7	E	Fdim7
	if you	believed in me.

	F#7	B7	E	Fdim7
	if you	believed in me.

	F#7	B7	E	E6
	if you	believed in me.

* * * * * * * *

Here's what I'm playing:

It's Only A Paper Moon

Words by Billy Rose and E.Y. Harburg.

Music by Harold Arlen.

	G	Ddim	Am7	D6 D9
	Say, it's	only	a pape	r moon,

	Am7	D9	G	D7	G
S	ailing o	ver a c	ardbo	ard s	ea,

	Bm7-5	B7  C	Am7
	But it w	ouldn't be m	ake beli	eve,

D7	Am7	D7	G	Gdim Am7
If	you bel	ieved in	me.

	G	Ddim	Am7	D6 D9
	Yes, it's	only a c	anvas sk	y,

	Am7	D9	G	D7	G
Ha	nging o	ver a	mus	lin t	ree,

	G      Bm7-5	B7	C	Am7
	But it w	ouldn't be	make bel	ieve,

	D7	Am7	D7	G
If	you beli	eved in	me.

Bridge:

	Am7		Cm7	Gmaj7
With	out	your	love,

D9sus	Am7	D9	G
It's a h	onky t	onk par	ade,

	Am7		Cm7	Gmaj7
With	out	your l	ove,

D7+5	G      Dm	E7	A9	D9+5
It's a	melody p	layed at a	penny a	rcade.

	G	Ddim	Am7	D6 D9
	It's a B	arnum and B	ailey wo	rld,

	Am7	D9	G	D7	G
Ju	st as p	hony as	it c	an	be,

	Bm7-5	B7	D7	Am7
	But it w	ouldn't be	make bel	ieve,

	D7	Am7 D7	G
If	you bel	ieved in	me

Monday Music Quote:


"I sing like I feel." -- Ella Fitzgerald

I really like this song. I've heard it sung by many different artists. Do you have a favorite "Ella" song?

You may be interested in these video teachings offered by Hear and Play, Monthly Programs

Best,





"Jazz washes away the dust of every day life." -- Art Blakey

Duke Ellington: It Don't Mean a Thing

Cover of Duke Ellington

 "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" is a 1931 composition by Duke Ellington, with lyrics by Irving Mills, now accepted as a jazz standard. The music was written and arranged by Ellington in August 1931 during intermissions at Chicago's Lincoln Tavern and was first recorded by Ellington and his orchestra for Brunswick Records (Br 6265) on February 2, 1932. Ivie Anderson sang the vocal and trombonist Joe Nanton and alto saxophonist Johnny Hodges played the instrumental solos. The title was based on the oft stated credo of Ellington's former trumpeter Bubber Miley, who was dying of tuberculosis. The song became famous, Ellington wrote, "as the expression of a sentiment which prevailed among jazz musicians at the time." Probably the first song to use the phrase "swing" in the title, it introduced the term into everyday language and presaged the swing era by three years. The Ellington band played the song continually over the years and recorded it numerous times, most often with trumpeter Ray Nance as vocalist."

You can see the list of notable recording artists, here.

"You've got to find some way of saying it without saying it."
Duke Ellington

 

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/d/duke_ellington.html#MuYFEjR96qSoUVGx.99

So, here I am playing this famous song that I love on my old acoustic piano,  that so badly needs tuning. I slowed the tempo down quite a bit so you can listen to the chord changes. 

  Chords I Am Playing in the Video

Gm    Gm/F   Eb7 D7    Gm  Gm/F    Em7b5  Eb7
What good is melody, what good is mu - sic

Gm     Gm/F    Em7b5    Eb7      D7#5  Gm
If it ain't possessin' something sweet?

Gm/7         Eb7 D7    Gm Gm/F   Em7b5  Eb7
It ain't the melody, it ain't the mu - sic --

Gm      Gm/F      Em7b5     Eb7       A7/E  Eb7   D7
There's something else that makes the tune complete.


   Gm                  Gm/F   Eb7  D7       Gm
It don't mean a thing, if it ain't got that swing --

C7/G             Gb7b5            Cm7/F       Bb6
Doo-wat doo-wat, doo-wat doo-wat, doo-wat doo-wat.

D7#5 Gm   Gm/F  Em7b5   Eb7    D7#5   Db7    C7          
It don't mean a thing, all you got to do is sing --

C7/G               Gb7b5               Cm7/F                   Bb6
Doo-wat doo-wat, doo-wat doo-wat, doo-wat doo-wat, doo-wat doo-wat.


F#dim7  Bb7                                    Eb
It makes no diff'rence if that rhythm's sweet or hot,

F#m7  C7       F#dim7  C7             F7   G7
Just give that rhythm ev'rything you got.


D7#5   Gm               Gm/F   Eb7   D7      Gm
It don't mean a thing, if it ain't got that swing --

C7/G             Gb7b57                             
Doo-wat doo-wat, doo-wat doo-wat, doo-wat doo-wat, doo-wat doo-wat,

Cm7/F                                Bb6
Doo-wat doo-wat, doo-wat doo-wat, doo-waaaa.

You might want to check out this software that will help you with your rhythm, 

especially for practice and recording time, Back Pocket Band Video. 

I found a chord chart, easy one online:

It Don't Mean A Thing
(If It Ain't Got That Swing)

Words & Music by Duke Ellington, 1932
Recorded by Ella Fitzgerald, 1966

Em           D        C           C7   B7
What good is melody, what good is mu - sic

Em           D         C           C7   B7
If it ain't possessin' something sweet?

Em           D       C            C7   B7
It ain't the melody, it ain't the mu - sic --

        Em                   D        C        C7   B7
There's something else that makes the tune complete.


   Em            B+          Em7            Em6
It don't mean a thing, if it ain't got that swing --

A7               D7               G6               C7  B7
Doo-wat doo-wat, doo-wat doo-wat, doo-wat doo-wat.

   Em            B+            Em7          Em6
It don't mean a thing, all you got to do is sing --

A7               D7               G6
Doo-wat doo-wat, doo-wat doo-wat, doo-wat doo-wat, doo-wat doo-wat.


Dm7          G7                CM7/6             CM7
It makes no diff'rence if that rhythm's sweet or hot,

Em7            A7     D7             C7   B7
Just give that rhythm ev'rything you got.


   Em            B+   Cdim   Em7   Cdim      Em6
It don't mean a thing, if it ain't got that swing --

A7               D7               G6               Gdim
Doo-wat doo-wat, doo-wat doo-wat, doo-wat doo-wat, doo-wat doo-wat,

A7               Cdim                  G6
Doo-wat doo-wat, doo-wat doo-wat, doo-waaaa.

Chord Credit: The Guitar Guy

From a former post, here's chords to When My Sugar Walks Down The Street.

Some more cool songs by the Duke:

Ain't Misbehaving
Blue Skies
Come Rain or Come Shine
Don't Get Around Much Anymore (Duke Ellington Version)


Many Jazz Standards, from All of Me to You Turned the tables on Me can be found in adding this songbook to your library, The Best Jazz Standards Ever (Best Ever)

Best,

 




"Jazz washes away the dust of every day life." -- Art Blakey