Don't Get Around Much Anymore - 1st Position

[jazzdan]

I am working on Don't Get Around Much Anymore playing the melody out of the Real Little Ultimate Jazz Fake Book.

In the second measure it calls for C Dm7 C/E so the ascending melody notes would be e f f# and back to e but when I hear guys playing it sound like they keep ascending.

Then in the 4th measure it calls for A Bm7 Cdim7 A7/C#.

I don't hear the melody descending like the guys on YouTube play?

[MarkRhodes]

The fourth measure is often played C7 B7 Bb7 A7, one beat each, a straight walk-down.

As for the second measure, the conventional top notes would be E F F# and G. (The "/E" in C/E refers to the bass note.)

But I've never played this in first position....

[jazzdan]

Thanks Mark! That works except for descending to the Bb7 I substituted Dm7 for ease of play and it seems to sound alright....Dan

[mr. beaumont]

Subbed Dm for which chord?

[jazzdan]

Dm7 for Bb7....Dan

[lawson-stone]

Thanks Mark! That works except for descending to the Bb7 I substituted Dm7 for ease of play and it seems to sound alright....Dan

The reason this works is that Dm7 and Bb7 share the D and F. The bass line movement likely won't be as solid or satisfying. Dm7 is often a good sub for a Bb Maj 7 but in a pinch, especially for just one beat, can fill for the Bb

[jazzdan]

Thanks Lawson. I suppose that I will get better at making the Bb7 after much practice but right now I'll use the Dm7......Dan

[MarkRhodes]

Thanks Lawson. I suppose that I will get better at making the Bb7 after much practice but right now I'll use the Dm7......Dan

When you play this up the neck, it will come naturally. It's the same shape for all four chords, just sliding down a fret at a time.

[jazzdan]

Thanks Mark. In the 8th measure the music calls for C to Ebdim7 to Dm7 to C. I am strumming the C and then strumming the dim form with the pinky on the A at the 5th fret and back down to the Dm7 at the 1st fret and then the C. Is this right? Is there a better way?.....thanks....Dan

[MarkRhodes]

Thanks Mark. In the 8th measure the music calls for C to Ebdim7 to Dm7 to C. I am strumming the C and then strumming the dim form with the pinky on the A at the 5th fret and back down to the Dm7 at the 1st fret and then the C. Is this right? Is there a better way?.....thanks....Dan

Let's be sure we're talking about the same measures.
The opening phrase ("Missed the Saturday dance") is a pick-up measure. The first measure of the tune starts with a boom. (The guitar is at rest.) The 7th and 8th measures are a turnaround, getting back to start the first measure of the second 8-bar section.
Does this make sense?

[jazzdan]

It is the 8th measure and the word of the song is.....more..... C/e Ebdim Dm7 C are the chords called for.....thanks...Dan

[jazzdan]

The way you put it Mark it would be the 7th measure of the song.....Dan

[MarkRhodes]

The way you put it Mark it would be the 7th measure of the song.....Dan

Those two measures are a turnaround.
If you're singing the song, "Thought I'd visit a club," occupies the 8th measure. There should be a "N.C" symbol above that measure, which means no chord is played.

In "The Duke Ellington Real Book", measure 7 is given as C6 and measure 8 is G7 N.C.

Measure 7 is the I chord and measure 7 is the V7 chord. Basic turnaround.

[jazzdan]

Strumming the C chord works fine there.....thanks.....In the 22nd measure my music calls for a f#m7b5 to a B7. That doesn't work for me. The word of the song is never the less followed by the above chords....Dan

[jazzdan]

I get it....barr the c7 at the 3rd fret to the b7 to the Bb7 to the A7 works.....thanks.....Dan

[MarkRhodes]

If I get a chance this afternoon, I'll make a short video to show you how I play those chords. There are lots of ways to do it--the more you learn / know, the more options you have.

[MarkRhodes]

Here's one way to approach the bridge

[jazzdan]

Thanks Mark for the video but I'm playing the song in the first position and you are way up the neck. FM to B7 seems to sound alright....thanks....Dan

[MarkRhodes]

May I ask why you are playing this song in first position? It's an unusual choice.

[jazzdan]

I am playing it in the first position because I like to be able to place a song on my music stand and read it without making a lot of mistakes and I have difficulty doing that with songs all over the fret board. The other choice would be to memorize it but that's not so easy for me either. I do the best I can with what I've got....Dan

[MarkRhodes]

I am playing it in the first position because I like to be able to place a song on my music stand and read it without making a lot of mistakes and I have difficulty doing that with songs all over the fret board. The other choice would be to memorize it but that's not so easy for me either. I do the best I can with what I've got....Dan

I sympathize, Dan. There is an alternative. Fifth position is used by many as a starting point. And here is why: the first position is the hardest place to play on a guitar! The frets are furthest apart there and you have to twist your arm to play in that position. When you hold your guitar, before you play, just look down and see where your arm is. Wherever that is would be a good position for you to master and then branch up and back from it. Let that be your "default". I think you will find it much more convenient (and less stressful).

[jads57]

While what the video shows is correct I think it;s really important to keep the bass movement in mind as well. D6(Fmaj7), Fm6, Cma7,C7/E(3rd in the bass),E-7b5> B7, E-7>A7,D-7>G7 I always like to think bass movement so I can understand the choice of chords availble to me.

[jazzdan]

Thanks for that. I love watching you jazz guys move the bass around.....very cool.....Dan

[lawson-stone]

Thanks Mark. In the 8th measure the music calls for C to Ebdim7 to Dm7 to C. I am strumming the C and then strumming the dim form with the pinky on the A at the 5th fret and back down to the Dm7 at the 1st fret and then the C. Is this right? Is there a better way?.....thanks....Dan

that has a kind of abrupt and non-continuous sound. I suggest putting your pinky on the 3rd fret while you play the C chord. After C, play your EbDim7 with the pinky on the 2nd fret. EbDim7=Adim7=Cdim7=GbDim7. Then Dm7 and C normally. You get a chromatic movement on the first string: G-Gb-F-E

Another voice movement with that progression is E-Eb-D-C. You can work out playing this so you get that on the 2nd string.

[lawson-stone]

Here's my link to Dan 's "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" video: