Four is a 1954 jazz standard first recorded and arranged by Miles Davis and released on his album Miles Davis Quartet. In this lesson, you’ll learn the melody of Four.
Although the composition is officially credited to Miles Davis, saxophonist Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson claimed that he wrote the tune and that it was later purchased by Davis.
The original recording featured:
- Miles Davis – trumpet
- Horace Silver – piano
- Percy Heath – double bass
- Art Blakey – drums
Key: Eb major
Form: A-B-A-C
A clear harmonic feature of the tune is the move from Ebmaj7 to Ebm7 (bars 2 to 3), and later from Abmaj7 (substituted by Fm7) to Abm7 (bars 6 to 7).
In both places, the melody underlines this change by moving from the natural 7 to the flat 7 (7 → b7). That half-step shift is a central melodic idea in the tune and worth paying attention to when you learn the melody.
The notes of the melody are not very difficult, but the tempo at which the tune is usually played can make it challenging at first.
Recommended listening:
- Miles Davis – Miles Davis Quartet (1954)
- Miles Davis – Workin’ with the Miles Davis Quintet (1956)
- Red Garland (with Kenny Burrell → nice solo!) – Red Garland Revisited! (1957)
- Miles Davis – Four & More (1964)
- Joe Henderson – Four (1968)
- Dexter Gordon – Bouncin’ with Dex (1975)
- Chet Baker – Chet Baker in Tokyo (1987)
- Guy Barker – The Talented Mr Ripley OST (1999)
- Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock & Jack DeJohnette – My Foolish Heart (2001)
- Peter Bernstein Quartet – Live at Smalls (2008)
Audio
More Miles Davis Lessons:
Muchas gracias maestro.
Great stuff! Can we please get a harmonic analysis as well? Would be super helpful. Thanks so much!
After nearly 50 years of playing pop and R&B, I am new to Jazz guitar and to your site. I love learning new things, but I have to admit that I now feel like a beginner again!
Your in depth technical analysis and deconstruction of these decades old recordings are an advanced education for me.
I love the presentation and detail of your lessons, even if my lack of musical education means I miss a lot of the finer points. But the performances are exemplary and help make sense of it all.
A friend once asked me: what’s the difference between a jazz guitarist and a pizza?
Answer: The pizza can actually feed a family!
I’m pleased to help contradict that idea by signing up to JGO+.
Thank you very much for sharing this melody. I love the way you play it…so smooth and easy.
Greatly appreciated,
Frank