Bebop heads: Donna Lee

[mr. beaumont]

You're probably right. I have only studied Freddie Green from secondary sources. I am not that interested in big band style comping but I find it useful as a way of practicing moving voicings with passing chords.
When it comes to playing one voicing per beat in 4/4 time, what I work on are variations of:
The main chord (first beat) - a passing chord (second beat)- substitute of the chord (third beat) - approach to the next chord (fourth beat).

Sort of like these examples:
Harmonic Techniques to Create Moving Chord Progressions using Three Note Voicings
Part 2 - Harmonic Techniques to Create Moving Chord Progressions using Three Note Voicings

Anyway, this discussion probably belongs to your rhythm thread.

Yeah, I won't distract from Donna's head any further, but these links are good stuff.

[AllanAllen]

Oh excellent, another example of Rhythm Changes spelled out. Thanks for posting that Tal!!

[mr. beaumont]

Ok, it's Monday, right? I have no idea anymore...

Here's a 3 fingered 13-16.

[mr. beaumont]

And for giggles:

Donna about 140 (more like 150)

Donna about 180 (More like 190, I was well caffeinated yesterday)

Keeping it very simple.

EDIT: Tempos were incorrect

[alpop]

This is hilarious! (To me anyway)

I will practice and do the fast one too.

[mr. beaumont]

This is hilarious! (To me anyway)

I will practice and do the fast one too.

It's totally funny.

It also sounds good!

[alpop]

It's totally funny.

It also sounds good!

Your groove is super easy to play along to so it does sound good!

[Bobby Timmons]

The virtual jam is back!

[Christian Miller]

I'm working on this for my channel - thought I may as well pop it up for proofreading etc. That said, @Tal I think you mentioned it as a typo in an earlier chart and I usually play G-Bb-Db-Eb but having checked recordings I'm sure bar 16 is as I have it here, G-Bb-Db-Bb.

Actually I picked up on a couple of little things that had crept into my playing of the head, so it was good to check through it.

[supersoul]

my take on Donna Lee. It's the version from the Real Book and not the Omnibook.

[AllanAllen]

my take on Donna Lee. It's the version from the Real Book and not the Omnibook.

Nice, no need to raspberry it. Is that a modern, like last 5 years Casino? Thoughts on it? I had a 2000's era Cherry Red one I regret selling and have been thinking about getting a new one to replace it.

[supersoul]

Is that a modern, like last 5 years Casino? Thoughts on it? I had a 2000's era Cherry Red one I regret selling and have been thinking about getting a new one to replace it.

it's from 2022. I've been on the lookout for one for a while and finally came across this one. I've played others that I didn't like as much. It feels/sounds lively and plays good.

[Mick-7]

I'm working on this for my channel - thought I may as well pop it up for proofreading etc. That said, @Tal I think you mentioned it as a typo in an earlier chart and I usually play G-Bb-Db-Eb but having checked recordings I'm sure bar 16 is as I have it here, G-Bb-Db-Bb.

Actually I picked up on a couple of little things that had crept into my playing of the head, so it was good to check through it.

I decided I should be able to play triplet notes on two different strings as well as I can on the same string, e.g., the Gb-Ab-Gb triplet at the beginning of bar 3 in Donna Lee, which one would be inclined to play on the same string. This turned out to be a good picking exercise, the goal being to be able to phrase a line exactly as you like regardless of where it's played on the fretboard.

Speaking of picking exercises, I found the attached on Scribd, it's an interesting idea.

[pamosmusic]

I decided I should be able to play triplet notes on two different strings as well as I can on the same string, e.g., the Gb-Ab-Gb triplet at the beginning of bar 3 in Donna Lee, which one would be inclined to play on the same string. This turned out to be a good picking exercise, the goal being to be able to phrase a line exactly as you like regardless of where it's played on the fretboard.

This reminds me of that time I said playing Donna Lee in every position was really good practice.

[mr. beaumont]

my take on Donna Lee. It's the version from the Real Book and not the Omnibook.

Loving the thumb.

[supersoul]

Loving the thumb.

The thumb! for whatever reason I like it with Donna Lee. Definitely limits the positions and fingerings, but for me it really makes me think of how to phrase things with the left hand.

[lawson-stone]

Just a progress post. MM. 1-16, about 172 bpm. I played the L5ces through the Fender Tone Master Twin Reverb. I play the section twice, and on the second time on a whim I turned the tone knob all the way off, sort of old-school sound.

[mr. beaumont]

The thumb! for whatever reason I like it with Donna Lee. Definitely limits the positions and fingerings, but for me it really makes me think of how to phrase things with the left hand.

I mean, in my opinion, the greatest guitarist to ever play jazz played that way, so...good company.

I'm gonna try it!

[AllanAllen]

Nice to have two bars this week.

https://youtu.be/BqEq8yokVHY?si=AXWuG0wEwyN5tQSk

[alpop]

I did some practicing, and here is my shot at playing with Mr. B's faster rhythm track. This is pretty much maxed out tempo-wise for my abilities, although I am working on relaxing more in order to be able to play faster tempos.

I know this started out as a fingering/position thread for this tune so I'll tell you some of my thoughts on how I approached that.
I based myself on the 3rd fret Ab major scale position.
I used arpeggio shapes to accommodate the phrases and give me a context for the changes I'm playing over. Just go where the shape is regardless of position or ergonomics.
I played the B dim arp. near the end starting on the A string second fret because I don't like the tone of that first note on the low E string

[Peter C]

Excellent stuff Mr B and alpop, this is why the internet was invented. Was the first track at at 140/150 and the second at 180/190? Yes to all

Great fun. More please.

[GuyBoden]

Bars 15-17 make a nice iiVI lick.

Here is the lick transposed to C Major.



Are we moving onto bars 17-20?

They are a repeat of bars 1-4.

[pamosmusic]

How about we take the week for folks to catch up and post their takes of the full first 16?

Next week we can start with 21-24?

[AllanAllen]

How about we take the week for folks to catch up and post their takes of the full first 16?

Next week we can start with 21-24?

I like that.

[mr. beaumont]

Sounds good. I have a busy week as is and my allergies are currently set to "feel like hell."