Jingle Bell Rock

[Open_Tuna]

First, I want to see if anyone is interested in discussing this issue before typing in a whole bunch of specifics.

Song: Jingle Bell Rock
From: The Real Christmas Book (C instrument) - published by Hal Leonard

I have a question /issue/problem concerning the chords expressed in the first "line" of the third/last verse. Maybe I just need to hear a version of this song that uses that structure, because what I am remembering is not matching up.

In advance, thank!

[ksjazzguitar]

I'm sure you'll find someone willing to discuss just about anything, but you'll have to be more specific.

Peace,
Kevin

[Open_Tuna]

The structure of this song is
Verse 1
Verse 2
Bridge
Verse 3
with the ending of each verse being different as each one leads into a different part.
However, the part in question, the first line of each verse is the same. The same MELODY, that is.
The chords supporting the same melody in the third verse are different.
(This is not an uncommon technique; you’re probably familiar with it in another song, if not this one.)

So, here are the specifics:

(Verses 1 & 2):

C_______Cmaj7____C6_____C____
Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock.

With the chords containing the descending melody notes
c, b, a and e.

In the Verse 3,
the melody is still the same, yet here are the chords as written.

C6______F9#11____E-7_____D-7_G7
Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock.

The first two chords I get; it’s the E-7, D-7, and G7 that don’t make sense to me. I went back and checked the lead line, and it’s the same melody, including an e note corresponding to the word “Rock.”

1. Am I missing something?
2. If this is “a publication error," does anyone have an idea of some chords that would work here that satisfy the following:
a. Chords are different from those in V1 &V2, and
b. still contain the (main) melody notes.
(A-7 will work for one of these, but I was kinda aiming for something "saucier.")

[ksjazzguitar]

OK, just as a point of terminology, I think that you are not referring to "verses" but to "A sections." Yes, if this were a rock/pop song, those 8 bar sections would be called "verses", but we would call them A sections, and the bridge would be the B section (but the term "bridge" can be used in jazz too.) The term "verse" has a specific meaning, usually the intro section to a song from the Great American Songbook.

And the lyric to that third A section should be "Giddy up, jingle horse, pick up your feet"? Just trying to make sure we're on the same page.

Realize that the first 2 and half measure of all the A sections are just really a big I chord. There are different ways to expand a I chord, or make it more interesting. The way this song typically does is with a line progression, so, there is a moving line of C->B->A->G->A->Bb, that comes out as C->CMaj7->C6->C->C6->C#dim7. You could even say that it continues as the C and B are brought out by the Dm7 and G7. Follow this so far? The first 2 1/2 bars are really just "C" that has been made more interesting by moving a line through it, a line that was implied by the melody.

Now, what HL is doing on the last A section is just choosing a different way to make that 2 1/2 bars of C more interesting. He's choosing to make some chord subs, that are also supported by the melody. This is a pretty standard way to expand a I chord, nothing too bizarre here. I don't think that this is what is on the original, but they are just doing what jazz guys do all the time - look for a more intersting way to do it. Doing that same line progression on every A section will get a little boring to most jazz guys, so sometimes they'll do something different.

For that last A, I would actually prefer: C / F9#11 / | Em7 / A7 / | Dm7 / G7 / | Em7b5 / A7 / | FMaj7 ...

That fits the melody well to my ear. But there are a thousand ways to do it.

As far as publication error? Anything is possible. It's hard to tell without seeing it. Something this recent I would expect it to be pretty good. Some of the old pop charts are atrocious as are a few of the old jazz ones. But the recent HL stuff has been pretty good.

Let me know if anything wasn't clear enough.

Peace,
Kevin

[ksjazzguitar]

Another cool option occurred to me: F#m7b5 / F9#11 / | Em7 / A7 / | Dm7 / G7 / | Em7b5 / A7 / | FMaj7 ...

That's a pretty common reharm and it fits nicely here.

Peace,
Kevin

[matt.guitarteacher]

Originally Posted by ksjazzguitar

Now, what HL is doing on the last A section is just choosing a different way to make that 2 1/2 bars of C more interesting. He's choosing to make some chord subs, that are also supported by the melody. This is a pretty standard way to expand a I chord, nothing too bizarre here. I don't think that this is what is on the original, but they are just doing what jazz guys do all the time - look for a more intersting way to do it. Doing that same line progression on every A section will get a little boring to most jazz guys, so sometimes they'll do something different.

Yeah this book is a jazz book. They've added some jazzier changes to kind of "move" things toward that A7 chord and to just add some interest in the ending. You can make it what you want it to be. Use what sounds good to you or any of the suggestions that Kevin offered.

This is a jazz players' gig book. The idea with a book like this is that it gives you a standard "go to" book that your group could play from for a gig without having to write in jazz chord changes for all the songs in a generic christmas song book. Any of these tunes could be reharmonized different ways. There's not necessarily a right or wrong. The "standard" for Jingle Bell Rock would be the original tune which isn't really jazz. If you're playing solo or for yourself, play it the way you like. If you're playing with others and want to play it a different way, make your own chart.

I really like this book. It's the only book I have that has the traditional Christmas carols with jazz changes.

Merry Christmas, BTW. :-)

[Open_Tuna]

Yeah, I really like this book. If this WAS a mistake, the book is still very much worth it to me.

Although I have come up with something, I'm gonna try these two out. Thanks, this is exactly what I was looking for!