Learning Ukulele with Curt
Hello Dolly

Harmonic Analysis (RMA) Worksheet for the song: "Hello Dolly".

Publisher: N/A Authors(s): Curt Sheller
Category: Harmonic-Analysis Instrument: Any
Subjects(s): TheoryProgressionsHarmonyAnalysisRMA
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Hello Dolly

Harmonic Analysis (RMA) Worksheet for the song: Hello Dolly.

Hello Dolly
Released: 1964

Hello Dolly is the title song of the popular 1964 musical of the same name. Louis Armstrong's version was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2001.

The music and lyrics were written by Jerry Herman, who also wrote the scores for many other popular musicals including Mame and La Cage aux Folles.

"Hello, Dolly!" was first sung by Carol Channing, who starred as Dolly Gallagher Levi in the original 1964 Broadway cast. In December 1963, at the behest of his manager, Louis Armstrong made a demonstration recording of "Hello, Dolly!" for the song's publisher to use to promote the show. Hello, Dolly! opened on January 16, 1964, at the St. James Theatre in New York City, and it quickly became a major success. (wikiwand)

Hello Dolly 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.
Ukulele Chords
G Em Gdim D7 Am F Bbdim Dm G7 C B7 Bm7 A7
Theses and many other chords are covered in the Learn A Chord A Day series of lessons.
C Tuning Chords
Starting Melody Note and 1st Interval
  • Hello Dolly is in 4/4, Common Time and the Key of G . A a Jazz standard the most common is the Key of Bb .
  • Start on M3 ↑ m3.
  • Intervals Legend: 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) Worksheet
    Visit the Harmonic Analysis for Scale and Chord Selection series of lessons for information on creating a your own Harmonic Analysis Worksheet

    As befitting of a Jazz standard and the period of the this song. Here are Curt's changes. These are the same changes ( Red ) that are on the Premium Show Medley (Hello Dolly, Mame, Cabaret) Play-along (Key of C) .

    Gmaj7
    Em7
    G
    Em
    I
    VI
    Gmaj7
    Gdim7
    Am7
    D7
    G
    Gdim
    D7
    I
    Idim7
    V
    B Diminished
    Fmaj7
    Am
    F
    II
    bVII7maj7
    F Ionian
    Am7
    D7
    Gmaj7
    Gdim7
    Am7
    D7
    Am
    D7
    G
    Bbdim
    D7
    II
    V
    I
    bIIIdim
    V
    Bb Diminished
    Gmaj7
    Em7
    G
    Em
    I
    VI
    Dm7
    G7
    Cmaj7
    F#m7b5
    B7+
    Dm
    G7
    C
    B7
    I
    VI
    Em
    Bm7
    Em
    Bm7
    I/VI
    III
    VI
    III
    Am7
    D7
    Gmaj7
    Gdim7
    Am7
    D7
    A7
    D7
    G
    II7
    ( V of V)
    V
    I
    The 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.
    NOTE: A Harmonic Analysis Worksheet is NOT intended to be a lead leadsheet. Minimal roadmap information such as repeats, fine, D.S., D.C., and codas has 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 verse or an section. With a 2nd ending, a transition to a different part of the song, a or chorus. Harmonic Principles are used for these repeats and transitions.
    If turnback chords are not indicated for the these 1st and 2nd endings in the original Yellow Book leadsheet recommended chord(s) will indicated 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. Typically a V or direct substitution of that next chord.
    Reference Key
    This is the key of the source leadsheet.
    • Hello Dolly is in 4/4, Common Time and the Key of G . A a Jazz standard the most common is the Key of Bb .
    Harmonic Principles Used:
    These are the harmonic principles used in Hello Dolly.
    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.
    At its simplest you simply replace the roman numbers with Arabic numbers. e.g., I becomes 1 , II becomes 2 , etc. The only exception is the bVII7 chord becomes 7 as this borrowed chord from the Mixolydian tonality is so common and the VII (half-diminished seventh) in a major chord is so rare (actually never). And, you could go as far as saying all the modes are numbered: I II II IV V VI VII — just as in the major scale. So calling it a 7 is not that far out.
    Check the definitive book Nashville Number System
    Scale Selection
    Once a Harmonic Analysis has been completed, scale selections can be made. These scale selections can be either vertical or 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
    RMA book cover QS1UKES book cover
    Performance Notes
    Any performance notes will show here.
    Links & Resources
    Sign-IN, for free — to View, Un-Blur Any Additional Content for This Lesson—Can't give it ALL away.
    art by Curt Sheller
    End of Lesson - Thanks, Hope You Enjoyed It!

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