The Shadow of Your Smile

Just because a particular song is a bossa nova or another jazz form (traditional) doesn't mean that you have to learn it as such. I was asked by a few readers on an earlier post: so what scales do I use for improvisation if I would do a smooth jazz version of the tune on my nylon string guitar. The guitar I have is a Yamaha G100A classical guitar with Savarez 520 R nylon strings. I used one Oktava MK-012-01 mic approximately 12 inches in front of me and just behind the sound hole. Because the guitar is known to have a lot of boom due to the lower overtones, I stuffed the sound hole with cloth to eliminate it. I didn't have to use a lot of e.q. in processing it as most of the time using e.q made it worse. Naturally when using e.q, you want to eliminate problems by having less of a certain frequency rather than having to add in other areas. So, I resolved my issues creatively.

The tune below, I just threw together in a few days simply for this post.



As I stated on my earlier post regarding the use of building scales within the chords themselves, eliminates the questions; should I use a melodic minor scale, mixolydian, Ionian or something else in a given song when improvising? If you know how to build chords, then you already know the scales they came from...so what's the problem? If you have no clue how to build chords let me know. If there are enough of you needing it, I will be more than happy to help out and go over it in a future post. It's not rocket science.

Below is the chords and melody lines I use for this version. I transposed it to the key of Ab only because I liked it in that key. It's only a partial but it'll do. I do the melody using octaves and harmonies much like Peter White might use.

The Shadow of Your Smile   (click to enlarge)

Here are the chords I use during my improvisation. I even included the manuscript for it so that you can take a look at it. It too is only a partial, but you'll get the idea.

My solo part for The Shadow of Your Smile  (click to enlarge)

Perhaps you might say to your self; hey wait a minute how come the chords are different from the melody? That's because I often use substitute chords which opens up more creativity rather than being restricted in my scales. When you listened to the tune in the above player, could you tell that the chords weren't the same? Probably not because everything flowed so well into each other that it just seemed so natural. Well........that's why I can do it! Although the key is Ab, notice that I use it in the Aeolian form or the relative minor key of Fm. Naturally after reading some of my posts you know that the Aeolian/relative minor scale is built, in this case, on the sixth tone of the Ab Major scale right? Of course you do!

Problems with speed? Can't quite play fast enough due to lack of technique? Stop by my page called Speed Page, I might be able to help.

Check out my music on my Jazzmeup page.

Comments Welcome!

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© Markku Vuollet

Autumn Leaves

If you're a jazz musician you've probably played this in one form or another. As a matter of fact it's one of several mandatory tunes a jazz musician needs to learn before becoming one. I've heard just about every jazz recording artist from Oscar Peterson to Kenny Burrell play it. When I saw a video of Stanley Jordan do this on youtube,

 I was inspired and also had to play it. Unfortunately not quite like him, I'm not that talented. Never the less it was still quite a challenge. The arrangement I based on a midi file I found on the internet for piano by Scott Zoggo, and I want to give credit as credit is due, (http://www.bestmp3links.com/midi/midifiles/jazz/autumn-leaves.php) a Karaoke midi file. I don't normally use midi files to create my tunes but I thought that it might be fun and challenging to see what I could do with it by making a live performance from it. This version is a little different from the midi file as I had real musicians play the parts using different chords except in the piano solo.  I transcribed the piano melody parts for guitar and added my own second solo. The first solo I transcribed from the midi guitar part. The tempos in mine range from 150bpm to 250 to 300bpm. The tempo in the midi file is at 150bpm.  It was challenging to say the least and maybe deserves me looking into a few more to see what I might be able to do with one. Got one you'd like me to take a look at?

Need the chords for it? You can find them here: Chords for Autumn Leaves.




Problems with speed? Can't quite play fast enough due to lack of technique? Stop by my page called Speed Page, I might be able to help.

Check out my music on my Jazzmeup page.

Comments Welcome!

visit the jazz shoppe

© Markku Vuollet