Changes for "Diamond Dust"?

Banksia · #2 04-21-2009, 11:45 PM

I have the piano sheet for that and I have been trying to Tab the guitar part for about 2 months. I'll dig it out and post it later today - I can't even remeber what site I found it on and the guitar part I worked out by ear so I've never written it out. It was Bernie Holland, but I have no idea who he is.

Banksia · #3 04-22-2009, 06:52 AM

Here's the scan. I don't know how clear it is. If you can't read it, let me know and I'll type the chords out. If you want the melody I'll do a vid - it's quicker than waiting for me to TAB it.

Bernie Holland · #4 04-23-2009, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Banksia

I have the piano sheet for that and I have been trying to Tab the guitar part for about 2 months. I'll dig it out and post it later today - I can't even remeber what site I found it on and the guitar part I worked out by ear so I've never written it out. It was Bernie Holland, but I have no idea who he is.

I am Bernie Holland and I wrote Diamond Dust in 1973. I originally thought about using 6/4 as the time signature but I decided it worked better in 5/4 Jeff Beck recorded it on the "Blow By Blow" album. If you are having difficulty working out what the chord changes are, then maybe I am the one to help you here - but if you can work them out for yourself then I can say that you have a very good ear for harmony because some of the chords I use are unusual. I am still composing and playing guitar.

JohnW400 · #5 04-23-2009, 09:22 PM

That's very gracious of you. Thank you. I have a question , more about the process. The harmonies are indeed unusual. (But really hip especially for the early 70's) The posted chart says it's for piano. Did you write this on guitar or piano?

Banksia · #6 04-23-2009, 10:25 PM

Hello Bernie and welcome to the forum. Firstly let me say that Diamond Dust has been one of my favourite pieces for 30 years - and I own 300+ albums covering Debussy through to Metal. I liked it so much that I kept coming back to try to ear-learn it over a 20-year period! I'm not sure how you saw the piece originally but I think JB and Max Middleton did a beautiful job. As a long-time JB fan - I started playing in 66 and the first album I ever bought was Yardbirds - I still consider it one of JB's high points.

I'd love to hear some of your other stuff - I'm not fussy about genre. Thank you for taking the time to join this thread.

Bernie Holland · #7 04-24-2009, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnW400

That's very gracious of you. Thank you. I have a question , more about the process. The harmonies are indeed unusual. (But really hip especially for the early 70's) The posted chart says it's for piano. Did you write this on guitar or piano?

Hi John and thank you very much indeed for your kind comments. I feel greatly honoured that you and other musicians have shown such interest in my composition "Diamond Dust". It's amazing to think that I wrote this over 35 years ago, but if you will forgive me for saying so, I still think it sounds ok. I wrote this entirely on guitar with the bottom string dropped from E down a tone to D which produced a wonderful chord of D minor 11 as follows. 6th string open (D) 5th string open (A) 4th string stopped at 3rd fret with 3rd finger (F) 3rd string open (G) 2nd string stopped at 1st fret with 1st finger (C) and 1st string open (E). I first heard this chord voicing (albeit E minor 11th with standard tuning) by listening to some music by John McLaughlin, however, I wouldn't say that "Diamond Dust" was in any way influenced by JM - I just started playing around with this Minor 11th chord shape and as you will have already noticed, there are several transpositions of the same Minor 11th chord which appear in the sequence - I can't really offer much more insight into the process other than to say that this Minor 11th chord sent me straight into 'the muse' and within about an hour I had written this tune. Some years I actually used this piece as study material for a seminar I gave in London on the subject of "Modal Scale Forms Generated from Compound Chords". Actually I wanted Jeff to come along at that time but he was on tour in the USA so I had to take the 'guitar chair' myself and show how certain modes of the melodic minor scale (such as the altered Locrian and Lydian forms) can produce very interesting and unusual sounds, however, after 20 years or so, these theoretical constructs have now established themselves in the canon of jazz improvisation. We had a very interesting session and the great thing was that I learnt almost as much as my students did. I am still composing stuff and I have a home studio which I use for recording my stuff and also as an educational facility to help my guitar students when they come over for tutorials. Over the years since he recorded "Blow by Blow" Jeff Beck (to my ears anyway) has blossomed into a really great guitarist with a truly unique approach towards exploring the possibilities of the electric guitar. I do hope that what I have said here is of some help to you. Best Wishes - Bernie

JohnW400 · #8 04-24-2009, 10:09 AM

Thanks for the reply.

You're right about what happens with all the fresh and exciting new things that come out like the concepts you presented at that seminar. Now 20 years or so later they're considered common knowledge.

I had a hunch that you wrote Diamond Dust on guitar since , when you ignore the tab and look at the way the notes flow, the keyboard parts fits nicely on guitar as the compound chords you mention.

I'll bet this piece would make a great guitar duo arrangement on say nylon and steel string guitars.

As far as Jeff Beck and John Mc, I think they are two of the overall best players in the world. I definately count JM as a major influnce back in the 70's.

Nice to chat with you. JW

Bernie Holland · #9 04-24-2009, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnW400

Thanks for the reply.

You're right about what happens with all the fresh and exciting new things that come out like the concepts you presented at that seminar. Now 20 years or so later they're considered common knowledge.

I had a hunch that you wrote Diamond Dust on guitar since , when you ignore the tab and look at the way the notes flow, the keyboard parts fits nicely on guitar as the compound chords you mention.

I'll bet this piece would make a great guitar duo arrangement on say nylon and steel string guitars.

As far as Jeff Beck and John Mc, I think they are two of the overall best players in the world. I definately count JM as a major influnce back in the 70's.

Nice to chat with you. JW

Here is the original manuscript for the guitar changes for Diamond Dust - there are three pages - I just hope they have uploaded ok and that you get them - these are the actual chords and the voicings that were used by Max Middleton for the keyboard part.

Bernie Holland · #10 04-24-2009, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bernie Holland

Here is the original manuscript for the guitar changes for Diamond Dust - there are three pages - I just hope they have uploaded ok and that you get them - these are the actual chords and the voicings that were used by Max Middleton for the keyboard part.

or if this hasn't come out in a legible way then maybe I could send you the jpegs if you let me have an e-mail address

JohnW400 · #11 04-24-2009, 01:17 PM

I just converted them to pdf's and printed them out. Thank you. It doesn't get any better than this. The chart from the composer.

Thanks again.

Bernie Holland · #12 04-24-2009, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnW400

I just converted them to pdf's and printed them out. Thank you. It doesn't get any better than this. The chart from the composer.

Thanks again.

Good that you were able to convert them - that has saved me having to try again - hope you find them interesting

Good Luck

Paul J Edwards · #13 04-26-2009, 08:36 PM

Hey Mr.Holland I would love to hear some other stuff you have done. Anything online I can listen to. Heck I'd buy a CD of your stuff to check out.

I'm a total JB groupie. He has been a big influence on my playiong for the past 40 odd years. I'd love to combine his stuff with Charlie Parker. That would be a bit different.

An honor talking with you.

Banksia · #14 04-27-2009, 03:57 AM

Bernie I just want to add my thanks to others' for the time you've given. Steve Vai would have just sued our asses off by now.

Bernie Holland · #15 04-27-2009, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul J Edwards

Hey Mr.Holland I would love to hear some other stuff you have done. Anything online I can listen to. Heck I'd buy a CD of your stuff to check out.

I'm a total JB groupie. He has been a big influence on my playiong for the past 40 odd years. I'd love to combine his stuff with Charlie Parker. That would be a bit different.

An honor talking with you.

Thank you Paul for your kind comments. Judging by the direction the music business has taken generally in recent years, I am somewhat surprised that anyone would be remotely interested in what I'm doing. However, I can let you know that regardless of what's hot and what's not, I have never stopped playing and writing. I don't have a cd to offer at the moment but I am currently working on my first solo album "Diamond Dust" which of course will include my own interpretation of my composition which was originally recorded by Jeff Beck. Please be patient as this might take some time but I'll keep you informed about this. Best wishes - Bernie

Paul J Edwards · #16 04-27-2009, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bernie Holland

Thank you Paul for your kind comments. Judging by the direction the music business has taken generally in recent years, I am somewhat surprised that anyone would be remotely interested in what I'm doing. However, I can let you know that regardless of what's hot and what's not, I have never stopped playing and writing. I don't have a cd to offer at the moment but I am currently working on my first solo album "Diamond Dust" which of course will include my own interpretation of my composition which was originally recorded by Jeff Beck. Please be patient as this might take some time but I'll keep you informed about this. Best wishes - Bernie

Music Business is an oxymoron. One of the reasons I still dig Jeff Beck is because he followed his own muse regardless of the 'business" of music.

That's what makes someone great.

I am a Charlie Parker freak right now and he did the same thing. He had a vision and followed it.

Unfortunately we all need to make a living to survive. Hard to balance them but if you can than you are one of the lucky ones.

Would love to hear some of your stuff. I wrote a 5\4 tune that was also influenced by John McLaughlin. It had lyrics and had a feel that was listenable to the general public without feeling disjointed or forced. Sort of like Money by Pink Floyd though that tune is in 7\8.

When you get your CD together let me know I will definately be one of the first to buy it.

Bernie Holland · #17 08-11-2009, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul J Edwards

Hey Mr.Holland I would love to hear some other stuff you have done. Anything online I can listen to. Heck I'd buy a CD of your stuff to check out.

I'm a total JB groupie. He has been a big influence on my playiong for the past 40 odd years. I'd love to combine his stuff with Charlie Parker. That would be a bit different.

An honor talking with you.

Hi Paul

Just to let you know that my version of Diamond Dust has now been uploaded to You Tube as "Diamond Dust" - The Bernie Holland version.
Hope you like it - if you do, then tell your friends.
Regards
Bernie

Bernie Holland · #18 08-11-2009, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnW400

I just converted them to pdf's and printed them out. Thank you. It doesn't get any better than this. The chart from the composer.

Thanks again.

Hi John

Just to let you know that my version of Diamond Dust has now been uploaded to You Tube as "Diamond Dust" - The Bernie Holland version.
Hope you like it - if you do, then tell your friends.
Regards
Bernie

Bernie Holland · #19 08-11-2009, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pseudo-Jazzy Shredder

Cool! Thanks in advance! Can't wait!

Hi There
Just to let you know that my version of Diamond Dust has now been uploaded to You Tube as "Diamond Dust" - The Bernie Holland version.
Hope you like it - if you do, then tell your friends.
Regards
Bernie

Bernie Holland · #20 08-11-2009, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Banksia

I have the piano sheet for that and I have been trying to Tab the guitar part for about 2 months. I'll dig it out and post it later today - I can't even remeber what site I found it on and the guitar part I worked out by ear so I've never written it out. It was Bernie Holland, but I have no idea who he is.

Hi
Just to let you know that my version of Diamond Dust has now been uploaded to You Tube as "Diamond Dust" - The Bernie Holland version.
Hope you like it - if you do, then tell your friends.
Regards
Bernie

JohnW400 · #21 08-11-2009, 08:45 AM

Thanks Bernie.

reventlov · #22 08-11-2009, 09:37 AM

I've just had a listen, and all I can say is it's beautiful - to anyone who hasn't checked it out yet, I strongly recommend a visit to Youtube, you won't be disappointed.

treedroppings · #23 11-10-2009, 04:05 AM

Hi, everyone! I'm going to enjoy this Jazz forum , because it has very many skilled musicians in it, but bear with me because my tastes tend to the rock and metal side. As such, you are all going to show me many new things, so muchos gracias in advance.

On a prefatory note, I'd like to give a 'thumbs up to bernie holland for posting in Jeff Beck's youtube 'Diamond Dust'. I know you are in here, and I'd like to say very favorite tune, thanks for writing that. I enjoyed that on 8track in my Pinto. running up and down palo alto's hills in the early 80s

kuhlmikeb · #24 12-17-2009, 04:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bernie Holland

Hi Paul

Just to let you know that my version of Diamond Dust has now been uploaded to You Tube as "Diamond Dust" - The Bernie Holland version.
Hope you like it - if you do, then tell your friends.
Regards
Bernie

Amazing song! As unique as the Jeff Beck version. Very Jazzy, Pat Martino like. I can't wait to hear your album. Also checked out your post with Long John Baldry. What a history!

PentaPaul · #25 01-07-2011, 03:39 PM

Thank you Bernie Holland for sharing your transcript of this wonderful tune. I am not surprised to read John McLaughlin mentioned. Blow by Blow was heavily influenced by the Mahavishnu Orchestra Inner Mounting Flame and Birds of Fire recordings. Diamond Dust is by far the best song on Blow by Blow, this is a masterpiece, again thanks for sharing. Your comments on using the modes of the melodic minor scale to construct this tune are also very interesting.

Bernie Holland · #26 01-07-2011, 05:04 PM

I have done my own version of Diamond Dust, along with a lot of compositions that I have recorded and posted on You Tube

Here are the links, if you are interested in listening to them:

“Diamond Dust”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgoFjdB0c7w&feature=related

“The Three Chimneys”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbCIxlYPlwI

“African Flower”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqIRDe8WEYA

“Think I’m Gonna Cry”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WEDsS3CSwg

“Stormy Monday Blues” with Long John Baldry on vocals
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVkQcFm7WSA&feature=channel

“Lady of Perfidy” (based on traditional song ‘Lovely Joan’)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AyBD-TD-FY

“Le Petit Mambo”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2giZdBBqUIo

“Nardis”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1o2o-mGiYfQ

“Greensleeves – Theme & Variations”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQXeX-q5dv4

“Digital Porke”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcZoDbEsTYU

Bernie Holland · #27 01-07-2011, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Banksia

Hello Bernie and welcome to the forum. Firstly let me say that Diamond Dust has been one of my favourite pieces for 30 years - and I own 300+ albums covering Debussy through to Metal. I liked it so much that I kept coming back to try to ear-learn it over a 20-year period! I'm not sure how you saw the piece originally but I think JB and Max Middleton did a beautiful job. As a long-time JB fan - I started playing in 66 and the first album I ever bought was Yardbirds - I still consider it one of JB's high points.

I'd love to hear some of your other stuff - I'm not fussy about genre. Thank you for taking the time to join this thread.

Bernie Holland · #28 01-07-2011, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnW400

Thanks for the reply.

You're right about what happens with all the fresh and exciting new things that come out like the concepts you presented at that seminar. Now 20 years or so later they're considered common knowledge.

I had a hunch that you wrote Diamond Dust on guitar since , when you ignore the tab and look at the way the notes flow, the keyboard parts fits nicely on guitar as the compound chords you mention.

I'll bet this piece would make a great guitar duo arrangement on say nylon and steel string guitars.

As far as Jeff Beck and John Mc, I think they are two of the overall best players in the world. I definately count JM as a major influnce back in the 70's.

Nice to chat with you. JW

Bernie Holland · #29 01-07-2011, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul J Edwards

Hey Mr.Holland I would love to hear some other stuff you have done. Anything online I can listen to. Heck I'd buy a CD of your stuff to check out.

I'm a total JB groupie. He has been a big influence on my playiong for the past 40 odd years. I'd love to combine his stuff with Charlie Parker. That would be a bit different.

An honor talking with you.

Bernie Holland · #30 01-07-2011, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reventlov

I've just had a listen, and all I can say is it's beautiful - to anyone who hasn't checked it out yet, I strongly recommend a visit to Youtube, you won't be disappointed.