Piano Diana Blog: March 2011

Monday Music Quote: Louis Armstrong and Smooth Jazz Chords

"Man, if you have to ask what jazz is, you'll never know."

--- Louis Armstrong

Back in 2006 my friend, Cmajor13 in the zone, shared some smooth jazz chords with us. It's a nice ballad. The numbers that are on the side of the notes are the number of beats the chord gets.

B/ADE ... 1-2

E/AbCDF... 1-2

A/GBCE... 1-2

G/FABbD... 1

C/EABbC... 1

B/ADE... 1-2

E/AbCDF... 1-2

B, A, B, C, D... this is a melody line that you can do with both hands.

More progressions for smooth jazz lovers.

I-ii-iii-V progression in D major:

D/ADEA

E/ADG

F#/BEA

G/ADG

I-bVI-II-V progression in Cmin:

C/EbGBbD

Ab/GBbCEb

D/F#CF

G/FBEb

I-IV-V progression in Cmaj:

C/BDEG

F/ACEG

G/CEFG

or if you do it in Cm you could do:

C/DEbGBb

F/EbGAbC

G/BEbFBb

Last one in Cm:

C/BbEbG

F/AbCEbG

D/AbCF

G/BbCD

GF/BEb

Ab/BbCEbG

F/AbCEbAb

Db/CEbFAb

G/CDG

GF/BEb

C/BbEbG

F/AbCEbG

D/AbCF

G/BbCD

GF/BEb

C/BbDEbG

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

How To Play In The Mood

"By giving the public a rich and full melody, distinctly arranged and well played, all the time creating new tone colors and patterns, I feel we have a better chance of being successful. I want a kick to my band, but I don't want the rhythm to hog the spotlight."

-- Glenn Miller

In The Mood, words and music by Joe Garland in 1939, was arranged and performed by the Glenn Miller Band.
YouTube In The Mood

The song itself is a great workout!
In The Mood (Cover)

Chords to In The Mood and My Chord Breakdown
jumbojimbo.com

G
Who's the livin' daddy with the beautiful eyes?

G
What a pair of lips -- I'd like to try 'em for size.

C
I'll just tell him, "Baby, won't you swing it with me?"

G
Hope he tells me "Maybe" -- what a wing it will be.

D7                                               
So I said politely, "Darlin' may I intrude?"

Am7  G                Gdim             Am7alt  D7  G6         D7
He said don't keep me waitin' when I'm   in   the mood."


G                                               F#
First I held him lightly and we started to dance;

G                                                           
Then I held her tightly -- what a dreamy romance!

C                                                  F#
And I said, "Hey, baby, it's a quarter to three...

G
There's a mess of moonlight, won't you share it with me?"

D7
"Well," he answered, "Baby, don't you know that it's rude

Am7  G                Gdim               Am7alt  D7  G6         D7
To  keep my two lips waitin' when they're  in   the mood?"


Interlude:

G      Gdim  Am7 alt                 Cdim
In the mood    --     that's what she told me,

G      Gdim  Am7 alt              D
In the mood    --   and when she told me

G      Gdim  Am7 alt            D7sus4
In the mood   --   my heart was skippin';

   D7             Fdim              D7 Gdim  D7   G
It didn't take me long to say, "I'm in  the mood now."

G      Gdim    Am7alt            Cdim
In the mood (oh joy) for all her kissin',

G      Gdim    Am7alt           D
In the mood (oh joy) her crazy lovin',

G     Gdim     Am7alt           D7sus4
In the mood (oh boy) what I was missin' --

First Time:

   D7             Fdim             D7 Gdim  D7   G
It didn't take me long to say "I'm in  the mood now."


Instrumental Break:

G - G/B - Em  Fm7 - G    D - Am7 - D7  Am7alt - G

Last Time:

   D7             Fdim             D7 Gdim  D7   G
It didn't take me long to say "I'm in  the mood now."

How To Play These Chords in This Song:

G = GD/ BDG

C = CG/CEG

D7 = DF#C/DF#A

Am7 =AC#EG

C6 = C/ACEG

Eb7 = Eb/BbDbEbG

G6 = G/BDEG

D11 = D/ACEG

G dim = Bb/C#

D7-9 = D/CEbF#B

Hope this helps. For more music resources, visit:

Musician Transformation & Training Center 30 Day Trial

Musician Transformation 44 Pg Guide (Free Download)
"Jazz washes away the dust of every day life." -- Art Blakey

Monday Music Quote: Misty

"Or would you like to swing on a star Carry moonbeams home in a jar And be better off than you are Or would you rather be a fish?"

-- Burke, Johnny

A popular song, "Misty" was written in 1955 by Johnny Burke and Erroll Garner

Erroll Garner - Jazz Musician

Intermediate Chord Chart

A7/6      DM7        Am7          Cdim        GM7  -   G6
Look at me,   I'm as helpless as a kitten up a tree,

                     Gm             Am
And I feel like I'm clinging to a cloud; 

  DM7          Bm7         Em7        A7           F#7   B7   E7   A9
I can't understand, I get misty just holding your hand. 


A7/6        DM7       Am7      Cdim             GM7     G6
Walk my way     and a thousand violins begin to play

                    Gm              Am
Or it might be the sound of your hello,

     DM7      Bm7         Em7        A7             D    Gdim   D
That music I hear,  I get misty, the moment you're near.

     
Bridge:

         DM7            Am         Am+7    Am7                   
You can say that you're leading me on, 

         Cm7-5       GM7         G6
But it's just what I want you to do.  

                      F#7           E7
Don't you notice how hopelessly I'm lost?  

Bm7-5           E7          A7   Bm7-5   Cdim   A7
That's why I'm fol - lowing you. 


A7/6      DM7         Am7                Cdim        GM7  -  G6
On my own,   would I wander through this wonderland alone,

                  Gm                 Am   
Never knowing my right foot from my left, 

   DM7          Bm7
My hat from my glove? 

        Em7        A7           F7     B7  
I'm too misty and too much in love. 

         Em7        A7sus4 A7      DM7    G6    DM7
I'm too mist - y and  too  much in love.

Above chord chart credit Misty

Beginner Chord Chart

A       Dm7        D             D7          G
Look at me..I'm as helpless as a kitten up a tree,
        Gm7                   D          Bm7
and I'm walkin' on a cloud, I can't understand, Lord..
      G      A7           D    D Em A7
I get misty. holdin' your hand.

#2.
A7      Dm7        D        D7               G
Walk my way..and a thousand violins began to play.
                   Gm7
Or it might be the sound of your, hello,
     D       Bm7             G         A7            D   D G D
that music I hear, Lord, I'm misty the moment you're near.

CHORUS:
D7      Dm7             Am         Am7
You can say that you're leadin' me on.
D        D7          G
But it's just what I want you to do.
Gm                  Bm
Don't ya notice how hopelessly I'm lost?
E              E7        A   A7 A
that's why I'm followin' you.

#3.
A     Dm7           D                   D7
On my own..should I wander through this wonderland 
 G
alone?
                 Gm7
Never knowin' my right foot from my left,
   D           Bm7            G          A7
my hat from my glove, I'm too misty, and too
        D
much in love.

CHORUS:

D7      Dm7             Am         Am7
You can say that you're leadin' me on.
D        D7          G
But it's just what I want you to do.
Gm                  Bm
Don't ya notice how hopelessly I'm lost?
E              E7        A   A7 A
that's why I'm followin' you.

#4.
A     Dm7           D                   D7
On my own..should I wander through this wonderland 
 G
alone?
                 Gm7
Never knowin' my right foot from my left,
   D           Bm7            G          A7
my hat from my glove, I'm too misty, and too
        D
much in love.

OUTRO:
   C           D      C           D
...too much in love...too much in love...
   C           D
...too much in love...

Above chord chart credit Original Key

Advanced Chord Chart

Bb13    Ebma7     Bbmi9         Eb13(b9)    Abma7
look at me I,m as helpless as a kitten up a tree and I feel like I,m

 Abmi9         C#13    Ebma7*      Cmi7       Fmi7       Bb7          G7 C7
clinging to a cloud I Can't understand I get misty just holding your hand 

F9 Bb13       Ebma7     Bbmi9        Eb13(b9)  Abma7                   Abmi9
     walk my way and a thousand violins begin play or it might be the sound 

 Db13       Ebma7*  Cmi7       Fmi9      Bb7           Eb6 Bb9sus 
Hello that music I hear I get Misty the moment you're near


Eb6                     
 you can say that you're 

B section:

Bbmi7                  Eb7(b9)     Abma7
leading me on but its just what I want you do 

Ab6                  Ami7(add11)          D7            F7        Bb7 Edim7
dont you notice how hopelessly I am lost thats why I'M following you 

Fmi7 Bb13     Ebma7       Bbmi9               Eb13(b9)     abma7
       on my own would I wander through this wonderland a lone never 

            Abmi9              Db13    Ebma7*      Cmi7          Fmi7
knowing my right foot from my left my hat from my glove I'm too misty and

Bb7          Eb6
too much in love

*can also be played as Gm7

Above chord chart credit Intermediate-Advanced

So, here's the song I'm talking about from a cool piano player:

For more music resources to take your jazz playing to the next level, visit:

Jazz101

Jazz201

If you've heard about all the talk from Hear and Play regarding the new music software, the Virtual Keyboard, stop by and take a look at SongRobot

So, I was wondering... are you familiar with the song Misty and have you played this piece before?

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

Music Quotes: Albert Einstein and Les Paul

 "It occurred to me by intuition, and music was the driving force behind
that intuition. My discovery was the result of musical perception."
(When asked about his theory of relativity)

- Albert Einstein

Here's a 50's smash hit from Les Paul and Mary Ford

A7                Dm7                  Dm7  G7
Somewhere there's music, how faint the tune.
                  Cm7                  Cm7    F7
Somewhere there's heaven, how high the moon?
Bb+7        Em-5            A7      Am7       Em7-5
There is no moon above when love is far away, too.
     A7       D9         Em7      A7     Fm7    F7 Em7
Till it comes true, that you love me, as I love you.

#2.
    Em7   A7      Dm7                  Dm7  G7
Somewhere there's music, how near, how far?
                  Cm7                    Cm7 F7
Somewhere there's heaven, it's where you are.
    Bb      Em7-5                A7                   Dm7
The darkest night would shine if you would come to me soon.
A7-9      Fm7       F7       Em         Em7  A7-9  D6
Until you will, how still my heart, how high the   moon???

The earliest recorded hit version was by Benny Goodman & His Orchestra. It was recorded February 7, 1940 and released by Columbia Records as catalog number 35391, with the flip side "Fable of the Rose".^[2] In 1948, bandleader Stan Kenton enjoyed some success with his version of the tune. The recording, with a vocal by June Christy, was released by Capitol Records as catalog number 911 (with the flip side "Willow, Weep for Me")^[3] and 15117(with the flip side "Interlude").^[4] It reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on July 9, 1948, its only week on the chart, at #27.^[5]
The best-known recording of the song is by Les Paul and Mary Ford, made on January 4, 1951. The record was released by Capitol Records as catalog number 1451, with the flip side "Walkin' and Whistlin' Blues",^[6] and spent 25 weeks (beginning on March 23, 1951) on the Billboard chart,^[5] 9 weeks at #1. The record was subsequently re-released by Capitol as catalog number 1675, with "Josephine" on the B-side.^[7]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_High_the_Moon

If you are looking for music software with free lifetime updates at a low cost (Hear and Play accepts PayPal now) for your PC computer that has a virtual keyboard that lights up so you can learn how to play songs from free midis, take a look at
Song Robot

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

Top Ten Jazz Piano Books

Lately, someone had asked me my opinion on music resources, like Dvds and music books, that I would recommend to them whether it was for purchase or visiting their local library for their own research.

Here are my choices. I hope you will find them helpful. Perhaps They're in your music room as well.

1. The Jazz Theory Book by Mark Levine

"The Jazz Theory Book should be in every musician's library regardless of the level of their ability." -- James Moody

The Jazz Theory Book

2. Keyboard Runs for the Pop & Jazz Stylist by Noreen Grey Lienhard

"Noreen Grey Lienhard has performed with such jazz luminaries as StanGetz and Joe Morello. She has taught at William Paterson College in Wayne, New Jersey and at the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut." -- Noreen's Bio

Keyboard Runs for the Pop & Jazz Stylist

3. Jazz Improvisation for Keyboard Players Complete Edition by Dan Haerle

"Improvisation, almost a lost art in some styles of music, is the freest form of expression, of the human spirit." -- Dan Haerle

Jazz Improvisation for Keyboard Players: Complete

4. The Jazz Piano Book by Mark Levine

"One of the best jazz piano books I've ever seen - very easy to understand."

-- Kenny Barron

The Jazz Piano Book

5. How To Play Jazz and Improvise by Jamey Aebersold

"Music is universal. If you have a desire to play, you won't be satisfied until you do. I hope this book has helped you achieve some of your musical desires."

-- Jamey Aebersold

How to Play Jazz & Improvise. Volume 1 (Paperback Book & CD Set)

6. Beginning Jazz Keyboard by Noah Baerman

"Anyone with basic keyboard skills can dig right in and begin learning jazz right away." -- Alfred Publishing Co.

Complete Jazz Keyboard Method: Beginning Jazz Keyboard

7. Jazz, Rags & Blues by Martha Mier

"Jazz is an important and distinctive American contribution to the 20th-century music." -- Martha Mier

Jazz, Rags & Blues, Book 2 (Alfred's Basic Piano Library)

8. Jazz/Rock Course by Bert Konowitz

"Jazz and rock music are an important part of today's musical scene, yet they play only a small part in most pianist's formal training."-- Bert Konowitz

Alfred's Basic Adult Jazz/Rock Course (Alfred's Basic Piano Library)

9. Beginning Jazz Improvisation (Intermediate Level) by Lee Evans

"Lee Evans as a professional artist has blended the performance of classical music and jazz in a most successful manner." -- The Publisher

Beginning Jazz Improvisation Intermediate Level (Piano Music)

10. New Orleans Jazz Style by William Gillock

"One of the really significant contributions of the twentieth century to music... and a strictly American development... is the jazz idiom." -- William Gillock

New Orleans Jazz Styles (Willis)

These are the top ten jazz books in my library. Yes, I have some more but I thought it would be a good idea to introduce these ones to you. As I mentioned earlier, perhaps you'll find them at your library, order through Amazon or find some in a used book store.

For those interested in the virtual keyboard software, check Song Robot

All the best and happy learning,
"Jazz washes away the dust of every day life." -- Art Blakey