Ornithology - harmonic analysis

[znerken]

The standard I am doing for the next 4-6 weeks is this one. Really looking forward to it. As usual, I start with a "harmonic analysis". Is this considered correct? I am thinking that an arpeggio focused approach to this song can be a good choice, as we are modulating quickly.


Also, what would you consider to be the temporary key in the green field with the Bb7 Eb7?

I would guess F minor, relative minor from F major, since that's part of the concept in the song. So melodic minor IV dominant and VII dominant from natural minor?

[znerken]

Edit that D7+9 is probably from A melodic minor?

[ragman1]

You and your colours!

I start with a "harmonic analysis". Is this considered correct?

Sure, why not? Good idea. But don't forget the idea is to clarify the tune for your playing, not do some kind of academic exam :-)

temporary key in the green field with the Bb7 Eb7?

Eb, except you have to play an Eb7, not major.

The Eb7 doesn't go to an Ab chord, major or minor, so I guess it's just dominant-to-dominant. It happens.

OR you could see the Eb7 as a sub for A7 (going to Am7b5) so you get the major to minor feel like the beginning.

OR you could see the Eb section ending at the Bb7 and the Eb7-D7-Gm as one thing, sort of a bluesy run-down to the Gm.

[lawson-stone]

Worth noting it's the changes of "How High the Moon" which I imagine you know already.

[ragman1]

Edit that D7+9 is probably from A melodic minor?

Doesn't matter. Sharpening (or flattening) the V7 chord is standard practice in a minor i-V or V-i. The b9 is more jazzy, the #9 is more bluesy.

And if that chord is actually a D7#5#9 then it's probably to accommodate the Bb's in the melody.

[znerken]

You and your colours!



Sure, why not? Good idea. But don't forget the idea is to clarify the tune for your playing, not do some kind of academic exam :-)



Eb, except you have to play an Eb7, not major.

The Eb7 doesn't go to an Ab chord, major or minor, so I guess it's just dominant-to-dominant. It happens.

OR you could see the Eb7 as a sub for A7 (going to Am7b5) so you get the major to minor feel like the beginning.

OR you could see the Eb section ending at the Bb7 and the Eb7-D7-Gm as one thing, sort of a bluesy run-down to the Gm.

This one became quite colourful! Many keys here

[lawson-stone]

This one became quite colourful! Many keys here

The whole section starting with B- is actually just a 3-6-2-5 resolving to the 1, in G Major, which brings you to the top of the form. So I'd analyze those measures as G Major.

[ragman1]

Don't encourage him, we'll get a Picasso next time

[znerken]

The whole section starting with B- is actually just a 3-6-2-5 resolving to the 1, in G Major, which brings you to the top of the form. So I'd analyze those measures as G Major.

Nice. Since How High the Moon has that D7 resolving to G major, I would also put that in G major. So like this?:

[lawson-stone]

Nice. Where would you place the D7+9 before the B- then? It’s probably from G minor?

Maybe not. In rhythm changes, we get 1 6 2 5/3 6 2 5/ notice the 5 here comes before the 3, so our D7+9 might already be pointing to the resolution to G major. If that's the case, then you have a long section here that is pretty much G major, with the outliers being the Am7b5 D7 Gm7 and that odd Eb7 which, btw, is only implied in the melody line in the held-over Db note.

I keep looking at that Am7b5 D7 Gm7 and wondering if it's working a tension of Gm resolving to Gmaj, a symmetrical reversal of the opening line, which went from G major to G minor.

I'm still a little stumped with some of this, I confess.

[ragman1]

znerken, you worry too much. Personally, I'd play it and see what sounded best. Simple as that. If you don't like something, change it.

[znerken]

znerken, you worry too much. Personally, I'd play it and see what sounded best. Simple as that. If you don't like something, change it.

I always start new standards by looking at stuff like this. I don’t worry, but I see it as great exercise. All part of the big picture.

[ragman1]

Sure, but you don't want to get hung up on it for too long!

The other thing you could check out is this. It was one of the standards we did. There's some very good stuff on there.

November 2017 - How High the Moon

[christianm77]

I think you wrote Relative Minor when you meant Parallel Minor?

This pattern, ii-V-I's descending in tones, you see this a lot

Cherokee
Recorda Me
What's New
Midnight Sun
Early Autumn
Solar
Tune Up

Just off the top of my head.
Important to remember - it's Gm first time G second time in bar 11!

OK analysis wise, I think

G
2-5-1 to F
2-5-1 to Eb7
2-5-1 to Gm
2-5-1 going into a Longgggg turnaround (3-6-2-5) in G

Second half
G
2-5-1 to F
2-5-1 to Eb7
2-5-1 to G
2-5-1 going into 2 short turnarounds (3-6-2-5, 1-6-2-5) in G

Done. Next.

[christianm77]

Oh yeah, I don't really give a shit about the D7#9. What's that about, lol?

[znerken]

I think you wrote Relative Minor when you meant Parallel Minor?

This pattern, ii-V-I's descending in tones, you see this a lot

Cherokee
Recorda Me
What's New
Midnight Sun
Early Autumn
Solar
Tune Up

Just off the top of my head.
Important to remember - it's Gm first time G second time in bar 11!

OK analysis wise, I think

G
2-5-1 to F
2-5-1 to Eb7
2-5-1 to Gm
2-5-1 going into a Longgggg turnaround (3-6-2-5) in G

Second half
G
2-5-1 to F
2-5-1 to Eb7
2-5-1 to G
2-5-1 going into 2 short turnarounds (3-6-2-5, 1-6-2-5) in G

Done. Next.

Yes, that's the exact same as I have in my latest version (If I didn't misunderstand you that is). Thanks for catching the typo.

[ragman1]

Great. So now you can play it!

[ragman1]

it's Gm first time G second time

YES!

that's the bit that gets ya

[znerken]

I am deep into this song.

However, I really like the way the melody ends the first time on the Bird movie soundtrack, instead of the triplets that seems to be in what's considered the standard versions.

[grahambop]

The triplets are in the original version, I think Bird changed it subsequently.

[christianm77]

Most people play the turnaround lick from this recording:

[znerken]

Most people play the turnaround lick from this recording:

That's the same as in the video I posted, isn't it? Know any good transcriptions of the turnaround?