{"id":11636,"date":"2019-04-01T13:26:25","date_gmt":"2019-04-01T11:26:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/?p=11636"},"modified":"2026-02-15T22:02:37","modified_gmt":"2026-02-15T21:02:37","slug":"stella-by-starlight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/stella-by-starlight\/","title":{"rendered":"Stella By Starlight"},"content":{"rendered":"

In this lesson, you will learn how to play the classic jazz standard Stella By Starlight, written by Victor Young. Stella is one of the most popular jazz standards played today and one every jazz guitarist should have under his fingers.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The harmony and melody of Stella By Starlight are derived from the soundtrack of the movie The Uninvited (1944).<\/p>\n

The song has been recorded by numerous jazz musicians, including Charlie Parker<\/a> (with strings), Frank Sinatra, Stan Getz, Chet Baker, Miles Davis, Joe Pass<\/a>, Larry Coryell, Ella Fitzgerald, and many more.<\/p>\n

Stella is a harmonically complex, but also a versatile standard because it can be played as a ballad, at medium tempos, as well as fast tempos.<\/p>\n

This chord melody arrangement of Stella by Starlight is meant to be played in a typical jazz guitar trio (guitar, drum, and bass).<\/p>\n

In a jazz trio without piano, there is no one to play the chords but you. Since you are also the one to play the melody, you have to combine playing chords and melody notes.<\/p>\n

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Stella By Starlight – Chord Melody Arrangement<\/h2>\n

Something to look out for in a chord melody arrangement like this is that the chords don’t get in the way of the melody.<\/p>\n

When playing a chord melody arrangement, the melody notes are what’s important, and the chords are there to support the theme rhythmically and harmonically, but they may not overshadow the notes of the theme.<\/p>\n

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Backing Track<\/em><\/p>\n

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Listen & Play Along<\/em><\/p>\n

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\"Stella \"Stella<\/p>\n

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Some clarification about what I’m playing (I omitted the obvious):<\/p>\n