Don’t Get Around Much Anymore is a classic swing standard written by Duke Ellington, who recorded it with his orchestra in 1940 (under the title Never No Lament). Two versions of the song became a number one hit in the US R&B charts in 1943, the Duke Ellington version and a cover by The Ink Spots. In this lesson, you will learn a chord melody version of Don’t Get Around Much Anymore.
The form of Don’t Get Around Much Anymore is 32 bars long and follows the classic AABA structure.
The song uses a call-and-response technique between sections of the big band, comparable to Stompin’ at the Savoy, an earlier swing-era jazz standard.
The stripped-down chord progression of the A section is Cmaj7 – A7 – D7 – G7.
The B section starts with the IV (Fmaj7), before going to the IVm (Fm7).
Recommended listening:
- Ella Fitzgerald (with Barney Kessel) – Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Songbook (1957)
- Joe Pass – Portraits of Duke Ellington (1975)
Video & Guitar Tabs/Notation
Backing Track
Listen & Play-Along
Don’t Get Around Much Anymore Guitar Pro File
Hi Dirk, the right stuff for beginners!
Thank you Dirk, another great chord melody!
Thanks for this old but always refreshing to hear piece of music. I’ll have a smile on my face while learning how to master this one for sure.
Thanks Dirk,
Ray P
I read someone had this played at his father’s funeral, it’s in my Will to have this played at mine also. I don’t want no Amazing Grace. Then they can play Roll Out The Barrel, Being Polish the last one to the Bar buys first round!
Anonymous,
do me a favor and play Amazing grace at my funeral ..
with a guitar and a good old tin whistle
Jazz is for fun, traditionals are for serious things 😀
Thanks Dirk. Great song to learn.
What a nice arrangement of this classic tune. Thanks Dirk!
Thanks once more, It´s a great job, you know how make us love Jazz guitar!!!
Had harmonica ace Paul Lamb play this at my dad’s funeral 20 years ago, and the freelance organist at the service (obviously a jazzer), without prompting, played us out afterwards. Not a dry eye in the place. Now I’ll get round to playing it in dad’s memory.
Thankyou Dirk, another jazz gem arrangement and great playing, I very much appreciate all the work you’ve put into these lessons.
Very nice arrangement. Thank you.
Very smooth and cheery. I love those 13 chords. Thank you Dirk.
Thanks! Measure 6; why not play the first four notes on the B string? Choices the beauty of the guitar!
Hi, that’s a possibility, but I find it easier to play in the position of the last chord.
Nice one Dirk! Bright and optimistic. Hard to come by these days, thank you!
Clean player, nice sound, and very nice arrangements!
Most appropriate title during the COVIDemic ! Thanks for a great arrangement.
Jerry in London, Canada
I love this site , thank you so much .
What a wonderful arrangement! Really fun to play but challenging at the same time.
This song is so catchy, I’m humming it all day! Great lesson, still ways to go before I can play it like you but enjoying the journey. Thanks for all the great info on the site!
Hi, thank you so much for wonderful music. I am trying to get your free e book but onfortunately no result.
Love this song. Great arrangement. This will keep me busy for awhile. Thank you from France.
ottimo brano grazie
This is so brilliant. I (70) love this song. Decades ago we had a wonderful quartett (fl, p, g, b no dr like Duke’ s 2nd orchestra) and made a demo. Reminds me very much of that. Thank you so much.
Thank you Dirk, regards from Slovenia
Thanks, very nice arrangement
Great Arrangement……Love it!!!
Absolutely loving this arrangement. thank you!
Hi Dirk thank you 🙂
I find a super idea to include the guitar pro link!
Another great piece of work. Thank you!
Muito Bom. Obrigado
Hi Dirk, do you do any videos on how to read tab? Please.
Hi Graeme, reading tabs is very easy, do a search on Youtube, there should be plenty of videos explaining how to read tabs. Cheers!
Great arrangement !!!!
Many thanks Dirk. I’ve been trying to figure out this one for years!
Another good one and I love this new format. Great stuff. Thanks.
Thanks! (FYI, the tablature is in 3 separate images. They have to be downloaded separately and then stuck together with a PDF editor.)
You can also use the “Print & PDF” button at the bottom of the page.
i dont see the button at the bottom…
It’s supposed to be under the Guitar Pro file download link, above the comment form, between the Pinterest and the Subscribe button. If you can’t see it, please let me know which device and browser you are using. Cheers!
Dirk,
Thanks for the lesson. I’m taking your Guitar Patterns and Phrases course. I cant’ open the Guitar Pro Files either in the course materials or these lessons your are sharing via email. I can download but not open them. The message says I need a certain App (application) to be downloaded to open the file. I use a new MacBook Pro laptop and both Safari and Chrome as my browsers. Suggestions?
Tom B.
Hi Tom, these files are optional for users of Guitar Pro software.
Yes, much easier. Thank you. Really like the arrangement.
Yes, sounds great; really good arrangement, and so well played!
Thanks Dirk for the information. I always appreciate the emails I receive from you.
Dirk thanks very much for these jazz standard arrangements. Brilliant…
Formidable tema. Muchas gracias.
Thanks for this a great tune.
Great!Thank you!
Dirk, thanks so much for sharing all of this content you’ve been sending out recently. It’s exceptional in its instruction and a joy to work on guitar knowledge and techniques with real songs. You’re awesome!
Thanx Dirk, tune makes me happy! Groeten uit Amersfoort Nederland