Learn To Play Nightingale

Before I launch into a lesson with chord progressions on a top-notch song... Well, I'd like to share with you some awesome news! I was pleasantly surprised with an email announcing that my blog had been featured. It is rare in this day of competitiveness to find a talented musician and fellow blogger acknowledging my blog to his readers. I knew I had to acknowledge my sincere appreciation to Andy Kovacs for recognizing my passion for music education and blogging about it. Piano Diana shares company with many beautiful musicians and teachers on the internet as well. You can read the list at 29 Top Piano Blogs. 

Thank you, Acoustic Bridge for your kindness! Just wanted to pay it forward... Dear Readers, visit http://acousticbridge.com/ for piano, guitar, and ukelele tips and reviews.

I'm loving the badge! Awesomeness!!

Onto the song...

In 2002 Norah Jones wrote the words & music to the beautiful song Nightingale.

Key: A
Tempo: Medium Fast

Intro:
A6  Gmaj13 D(add9) A
         
        A6/9          G6/9 
Nightingale Sing us a song
D(add9)      A6/9 
Of a love that once belonged
        A 
Nightingale              

         G6/9
Tell me your tale
 D(add9)             A6/9     
Was your journey far too long?


         G6/9                         D(add9) 
Does it seem like I'm looking for an answer
A6/9                     G6/9  
  To a question I can't ask
D(add9)              A6/9 
  I don't know which way the feather falls
G6/9                     D(add9) 
  or If I should blow it to the left


        A6/9 

Nightingale
           G6/9 
Sing us a song
D(add9)             A6/9 
Of a love that once belonged
        A 

Nightingale
            G6/9
Tell me your tale
D(add9)               A6/9
Was your journey far too long?


        G6/9                      D(add9) 

All the voices that are spinnin' around me

A6/9                        G6/9
  Trying to tell me what to say
D(add9)              A6/9 
  So can I fly right behind you
G6/9                  D(add9) 

  And you can take me away


Solo
A   A/G A/D A   
A   A/G A/D A   
A   A/G A/D A   
A   A/G A/D A   


        G6/9                      D(add9) 
All the voices that are spinnin' around me
A6/9                        G6/9 
  Trying to tell me what to say
D(add9)             A6/9 
  So can I fly right behind you
G6/9                  D(add9)F# 
  And you can take me away


Outro
A/G   A/G A/D A   
A   A/G A/D A   
A   A/G A/D A   
A   A/G A/D A 

D(add9)         A6/9

you can take me away.

G6/9  D(add9)

A6/9  G6/9

D(add9) A6/9

A6/9  G6/9

D(add9)  A6/9

A6/9

You'll find mostly broken chords in the left hand but all in all, it's an easy song for the beginner to play. Here are some chords you'll be using throughout the song:

A6 = AEF#
Gmaj13 = GEF#
D(add9) = DEF#
G6/9 = GEA/GAE and GDA/D
A6/9 = AE/AC#E

An optional ending for A6/9:

C#EA/C#EA

Sometimes your L.H. will be playing these bass single notes:

D, E, A, D, E, A, D, E within one measure... or

A, D, E, A, D, E, A, E and then there's:

G, E, A, G, E, A, G, E

If you love Norah Jones style, you may want to look at the other posts. You'll find chord progressions to these popular songs, too.

Come-away-with-me

Don't-know-why

Nearness-of-you

Sunrise

Music Resources for You!

Jazz Piano Technique Exercises Etudes & Ideas for Building Chops - (Book/online audio)

Jazz101 and Jazz201 from Hear and Play are great resources for the musician wanting to learn.

Come Away with Me

All the best,

-- LadyD

"Jazz washes away the dust of everyday 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

Related articles

• 3 Easy Steps to Teach Yourself to Play Jazz (pianodiana.blogspot.com)