Lullabye of Birdland

Harmonic Analysis Worksheet (RMA/HA)

Published: 03 Apr 2023 Updated: 03 Apr 2023Visits: 0Code: ULHA-RB1-277

Category: Harmonic-AnalysisInstrument: Any Subjects: Theory • Jazz • Progressions • Harmony • Analysis • RMA

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Lullabye of Birdland


Harmonic Analysis (RMA) Worksheet for the song: Lullabye of Birdland.

Lullabye of Birdland

Lullabye of Birdland is a jazz standard and popular song composed by George Shearing with lyrics by George David Weiss (under the pseudonym "B. Y. Forster").

George Shearing wrote "Lullaby of Birdland" in 1952 for Morris Levy, the owner of the New York jazz club Birdland. Levy had gotten in touch with Shearing and explained that he'd started a regular Birdland-sponsored disk jockey show, and he wanted Shearing to record a theme which was "to be played every hour on the hour." Levy originally wanted his own music to be recorded, but Shearing insisted he couldn't relate very well with it and wanted to compose his own music. They compromised by sharing the rights of the song; the composer's rights went to Shearing, and the publishing rights went to Levy.

Shearing stated in his autobiography that he had composed "the whole thing [...] within ten minutes." The chord changes were from Walter Donaldson's "Love me or Leave Me." (wikiwand) ·

Lullabye of Birdland is in the The Daily Ukulele 365 Songs for Better Living book.

Strum a different song every day with easy arrangements of 365 of your favorite songs in one big songbook! The Daily Ukulele features ukulele arrangements with melody, lyrics and uke chord grids and are in ukulele-friendly keys that are particularly suited for groups of one to one hundred to play and sing.

Chords

Fm7 G7 C7 Bbm7 Bbm7 Eb7 Abmaj7 Dbmaj7 Bbm7

Theses and many other chords where covered in the Learn A Chord A Day series of lessons.

C Tuning Chords

Starting Melody Note and 1st Interval

  • Start on P5 ↓ M2.
  • INTERVALS: Root=note that begins a scale of the starting key; C is C, D is D, Am is a, Em is E, etc... m=minor; M=Major; P=Perfect; D=Diminished; A=Augmented. • ↑ is up/ascending; ↓ is down/descending;

    Harmonic Analysis (HA)

    A Harmonic Analysis (RMA/HA) and its worksheet are intended to show the function of the chords, the harmonic principles used, the keys and tonalities the song explores. And, can be used for scale selections and chord and scale substitutions.

    A Harmonic Analysis Worksheet is NOT intended to be a leadsheet and minimal roadmap information such repeats, fines, D.S., D.C., codas have been used in preparing the worksheets to somewhat mirror the leadsheet in the Daily Ukulele book..

    Sections, Verse, Chorus, 1st, 2nd Ending, turnbacks …

    The worksheets will show 1st, 2nd Ending, turnbacks, etc. as in indicated the Yellow Book. You should start to recognize that 1st endings typically always return to a previous or verse or section. With a 2nd ending, a transition to a different section, a or chorus. Harmonic Principles are used for these repeats and transitions.

    If turnbacks chord are not indication for the these 1st, 2nd Ending will indicate recommended chord(s) in parentheses or as an alternate harmony in Red . Typically the last measures or turnbacks will be a chord that resolves to and harmonically leads you to the next section or turning you back to the same section.

    Reference Key

    This is the key of the source leadsheet.

    • Lullabye of Birdland is in 4/4, Common Time and the Key of Ab .

    Harmonic Principles Used:

    Harmonic Analysis (HA) Worksheet

    Visit the Harmonic Analysis for Scale and Chord Selection series of lessons for information on creating a Harmonic Analysis Worksheet

    A re-harmonization, in Red can be simple, sticking pretty close to the original composer's intentions or complex and a whole new set of chord changes.

    Fm7
    Dm7b5
    G7b9
    C7#5
    Fm7
    Bbm9
    Eb7b9
    Fm
    G7
    C7
    Fm
    Bbm7
    Eb7
    I

    II7
    ( V of V)

    V
    I
    II
    V

    Dm7b5 is the II V of V Secondary Dominant G7

    1.
    Abmaj7
    Fm7
    Bbm7
    Eb7b9
    Abmaj7
    Db7
    C7#5
    Abmaj7
    Fm7
    Bbm7
    Eb7b9
    Abmaj7
    Db7
    C7#5
    I
    VI
    II
    V
    I
    IV7
    V
    2.
    Abmaj7
    Eb7
    Abmaj7
    Abmaj7
    Eb7
    Abmaj7
    I
    V
    I
    F7b9
    Bbm7
    Eb7b9
    Abmaj7
    F7
    Bbm7
    Bbm7
    Eb7
    Abmaj7

    VI7
    ( V of II)

    II
    II
    V
    I
    F7b9
    Bbm7
    Eb7b9
    Abmaj7
    C7b9
    F7
    Bbm7
    Bbm7
    Eb7
    Abmaj7
    C7

    VI7
    ( V of II)

    II
    II
    V
    I
    V

    Lullabye of Birdland is a classic song form. Repeat the section and end on the I chord. For a realy cool ending chord make is a m6/9 .

    Nashville Number System (NNS)

    Nashville Numbering System always uses four bars/measures per line, no bar lines, and default is each number of the number of beats per bar/measure based on the time signature. If multiple chords in same bar then they are underlined. It can be as simple as convert the Roman Numerals above to Arabic number.

    Scale Selection

    Once a Harmonic Analysis has been completed then scale selections can be made. These scale selections can be either vertical and horizontal choices. And, really only needed if you are going to take a solo or embellish the melody with added notes.

    Scale Abbreviation Legend

    Traditional Scales: Maj: Major (Ionian), Dim: Diminished, WT: Whole Tone, Har Min: Harmonic Minor,
    Contemporary Scales: Minor Pent: Minor Pentatonic, Pent: Major Pentatonic, Blues,
    Scale/Mode Names: Ion: Ionian (Major), Dor: Dorian (Minor), Phrygian: Phrygian, Lyd: Lydian, Mix: Mixolydian (Dominant), Aeol: Aeolian (Natural Minor), Loc: Locrian

    Checkout LESSONSeries : Harmonic Analysis for Scale and Chord Selection or download the Harmonic Analysis for Scale and Chord Selection book. And the QuickStart Series of Scale and Arpeggio books.

    RMA book cover QS1UKES book cover

    Performance Notes

    Links & Resources

    Sign-IN — it's FREE — to view, un-blur any additional content for this lesson.

    End of Lesson - Thanks, Hope You Enjoyed It!

    Related Lessons, Videos, Lesson Series, Songs, Books & Reference Charts, Resources & Assets, Workshops are below.

    Related Lesson Series

    Related Lessons Series for Lullabye of Birdland.

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    A Selection of Books & Reference Charts that are recommended for creating a solid foundation with your chosen instrument and music in general.

    Books

    Learning the Ukulele Fingerboard – C Tuning

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    Reference Charts

    Ukulele Fingerboard Chart for C Tuning, Low or High G - G C E A

    Ukulele Fingerboard Chart for C Tuning, Low or High G – G C E A

    Ukulele Fingerboard Chart for G Tuning, Low or High A – D G B E

    Ukulele Fingerboard Chart for G Tuning, Low or High A – D G B E

    Key Signatures — Circle of Fourths and Fifths – ANSI A & A4 sizes

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