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  #1  
Old 05-22-2008, 06:02 PM
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
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Guitar Guitar Friendly Jazz Ballads
I want to make a list here of ballads that work well for a chord/melody guitar arrangement.

I'll kick off with:
  • In a Sentimental Mood (transposed to Am)
  • Summertime
  • My Funny Valentine
  • Round Midnight
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  #2  
Old 05-22-2008, 07:08 PM
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Stella By Starlight
Moonlight in Vermont
Yesterdays
Days of Wine and Roses
Georgia
Body and Soul

MW
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  #3  
Old 05-23-2008, 09:01 AM
 
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Ruby My Dear
Two Lonely People
In a Sentimental Way
You Don't Know What Love Is
Angel Eyes
Naima
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  #4  
Old 05-23-2008, 10:06 AM
 
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Wha? No "Misty?"

Maybe it's not a "ballad?" I just think of a ballad as a song that is generally played slowly, with feeling, and that's Misty.

I can even do a good job with Misty, so it has to be pretty easy to work with.

Or...maybe I am just the GREATEST JAZZ GUITARIST OF OUR TIME????

Hmmm...gonna go with the first thought, I think.
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  #5  
Old 05-23-2008, 04:40 PM
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Somewhere Over The Rainbow
My Favorite Things
When You Wish Upon A Star
Call Me
The Look Of Love
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  #6  
Old 05-23-2008, 08:55 PM
 
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darn that dream
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  #7  
Old 05-27-2008, 08:50 PM
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Blue in green
Some day my prince will come
Moonlight serenade
What's new?
Come sunday
Tenderly
Last edited by montgomerwes : 05-28-2008 at 09:55 AM.
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  #8  
Old 05-29-2008, 06:19 AM
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Misty
Easy to Love
Could It Be You

any Jobim bossa novas are great for chord melody
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  #9  
Old 05-29-2008, 11:25 AM
 
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I would add Prelude To A Kiss.
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  #10  
Old 05-30-2008, 07:56 PM
 
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Sweet Great Ballads
You Stepped Out Of A Dream

I'll Remember April

Speak Low

Willow Weep For Me
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  #11  
Old 11-15-2010, 03:45 AM
 
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How about:

A Foggy Day
My One and Only Love
A Day in a Life of a Fool (Black Orpheus)
Autumn in New York

gstarfire
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  #12  
Old 11-15-2010, 10:13 AM
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the very first one i learned was "don't blame me," which because of its simple melody and 'convenient' chord changes, was relatively easy to figure out.
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  #13  
Old 11-15-2010, 10:51 AM
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"Here's That Rainy Day," lays well enough on the guitar that even I can play it.
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  #14  
Old 11-15-2010, 10:55 AM
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"Satin Doll," is another that lays well on the neck, but in starting with Am (bass note A on the sixth string), vs Dm. At least I find it easier that way.
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  #15  
Old 11-15-2010, 05:52 PM
 
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How about "Darn That Dream"? I'm working on it at the moment and it comes across very well on guitar.
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  #16  
Old 11-15-2010, 07:19 PM
 
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All the above tunes are great standards. What's fun is to improvise on the melody and thus create new and interesting choruses.

Earl of Soco
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  #17  
Old 11-15-2010, 10:45 PM
 
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The Nearness of You
Danny Boy
Polka dots and Moonbeams
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  #18  
Old 11-16-2010, 10:35 AM
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Someone to Watch Over Me
When Sunny Gets Blue
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  #19  
Old 11-16-2010, 11:32 AM
 
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soul eyes
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  #20  
Old 11-16-2010, 12:20 PM
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Default ballads
You Go To My Head (very nice in Ab)
Embraceable You
Body & Soul
The Nearness of You
Once In A While
Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most

These are some of my favorites.

wiz
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  #21  
Old 11-22-2010, 10:39 PM
 
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Come Rain or Come Shine
What's New?
Don't Know Why (Norah Jones)
Nuages
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  #22  
Old 11-22-2010, 11:26 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wizard3739 View Post
You Go To My Head (very nice in Ab)
Embraceable You
Body & Soul
The Nearness of You
Once In A While
Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most

These are some of my favorites.

wiz
You listed my two favorites that seem pretty effortlessly fun to play--
You Go to My Head
Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most

and, I would add:
End of a Love Affair
Black Orpheus dropped to a slower tempo.
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  #23  
Old 12-02-2010, 06:26 PM
 
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My Romance!

Works very well as a ballad on sologuitar!
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  #24  
Old 12-05-2010, 07:34 AM
 
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For those interested in this style -chechout Jimmy Foster -he not only plays great 6 and 7 string but builds them as well.You'll learn a lot about this style but his 7 part series on building an archtop is great!
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  #25  
Old 12-06-2010, 08:26 PM
 
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I really want to learn:

-Stella by starlight
-Misty
-Stardust
-Summertime

But i don't have any versions of these songs with just a simple melody. I have covers of these tunes that are usually extreme variations on the melody. Can anyone recommend versions that are simple so I can absorb the melody in my head?
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  #26  
Old 12-06-2010, 09:01 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wagx3 View Post
Can anyone recommend versions that are simple so I can absorb the melody in my head?
You don't absorb by reading half as well as you absorb by listening. This is why God gave us YouTube.

(Not to mention emule and The Pirate Bay, bless their little skull-and-crossbones-emblazoned cotton socks.)

No, but seriously - get yourself a fake book or two.
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Last edited by JohnRoss : 12-06-2010 at 09:04 PM.
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  #27  
Old 12-06-2010, 09:06 PM
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... and Grooveshark. At least the artist gets paid this way.
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  #28  
Old 12-08-2010, 07:09 PM
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnRoss View Post
You don't absorb by reading half as well as you absorb by listening. This is why God gave us YouTube.

(Not to mention emule and The Pirate Bay, bless their little skull-and-crossbones-emblazoned cotton socks.)

No, but seriously - get yourself a fake book or two.

what i meant was if anyone has recommendations on particular recordings of those tunes that i should listen to. wasn't talking about sheet music, but i should have made that clear.

youtube and stuff are cool, but i listen to a lot of music either while i'm walking or lying in bed. so i'd like to be able to find recordings to put on my ipod and listen to.
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  #29  
Old 12-09-2010, 04:01 AM
 
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Autumn Leaves.
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  #30  
Old 12-09-2010, 09:16 PM
 
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What about....
Laura
Mood Indigo
Jive at Five

for starters
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