Blue Skies

Harmonic Analysis (RMA) Worksheet for the Irving Berlin class song: Blue Skies.

Harmonic Analysis Worksheet
& Performance Notes Below

Analysis Worksheet Chords Melody Scales Performance Links

Blue Skies

Published: 1926 by Irving Berlin, Inc.

Blue Skies is a popular song, written by Irving Berlin in 1926. The song was as a last-minute addition to the Rodgers and Hart musical Betsy. Although the show ran for only 39 performances, "Blue Skies" was an instant success, with audiences on opening night demanding 24 encores of the piece from star Belle Baker. During the final repetition, Ms. Baker forgot her lyrics, prompting Berlin to sing them from his seat in the front row.

Blue Skies is one of many popular songs whose lyrics use a "bluebird of happiness" as a symbol of cheer: "Bluebirds singing a song/Nothing but bluebirds all day long." The sunny optimism of the lyrics are undercut by the minor key giving the words an ironic feeling. (wikiwand) ·

Blue Skies is on my, 2015 How About More Uke?, The Curt Sheller Jazz Trio CD.

“Curt, your CD was fantastic. You are amongst the ukulele masters of our day.” — John K.

Blue Skies 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.

The Daily Ukulele — 365 Songs for Better Living • INDEX of Songs

Chords

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

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.

Harmonic Analysis (HA) Worksheet

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

Blue Skies modulates between in Minor and Relative Major keys of Am/C .

A re-harmonizarion in Red can stick pretty close the the original composers intentions as we have here and I used on my How About More Uke version of Blues Skies. Or, can go all in and totally change the chords.

Am

E+

C

D7

Fm

I

V

III

IIV7

VIm

Am:

E Whole Tone

D Mix

NOTE: This is one of the songs that has a pretty strange analysis for the chord progression as written in the Yellow book. It really (see my re-harmonization below) should be Am Am/G♯ Am7/G Am/F♯ . This is the Minor Cliche Line — basically Am tonality for the first four measure with a chromatically descending bass line. (A G♯ G F♯) for Am, Am/G♯ is the same pitches as E+, Am/G is Am7 the same as is C6 (C), D7 is Am/F♯ (D9). As written that is not way you'll get that great descending bass of (A G♯ G F♯) with the chords written as in the Daily Ukulele book.

1.

C

C

G+

C

C

I

I

V

I

I

C)

G Whole Tone

Am) turnback to A section

Re-harmonization: is a I VI7 II V I in C Major and II V turnback to Am.

2.

C

I

C)

NOTE: The Fm9 Bb9 is a backdoor II V resolution from the Minor Third Substitution principle to resolve to its Tonic I .

C

Fm

C

Fm

C

Fm

C

I

IV

I

IV

I

IV

I

C:

C

Fm

C

Fm

C

G7

C

I

IV

I

IV

I

V

I

Am:

Ralph Patt Vanilla Book

Checkout the Ralph Patt Vanilla Book Vanilla changes for Blue Skies • The Vanilla Book uncovers the basic ("Vanilla") chord changes to over 400 of the most commonly played jazz standards to help the jazz player learn the basic changes and allow the player to add embellishments and substitutions on a solid framework.

Embellishments to basic chords such as added 6ths, 9ths, 13ths, flat 5ths etc. are usually determined by the melody notes and the style of music being played.

                                             Pickup    |          A7   |
            [:  Dm        |  Dm maj7     |   Dm7       |  Dm6          |
                                         1.____________________________
            |   F         |  Gm7    C7   |   F         |  Em7b5   A7  :]
            2.________________________
            |   F    Bbm  |  F           |   F         |  Bbm     F    |
            |   Bbm   F   |  Bbm    F    |   F         |  Bbm     F    |
            |   Bbm   F   |  Bbm / F A7 ||   Dm        |  Dm maj7      |
            |   Dm7       |  Dm6         |   F         |  Gm7     C7   |
            |   F         |  F           |
            

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.

Performance Notes

Links & Resources

• (wikiwand) Blue Skies
• Will's Ukulele Tutorial - Blue Skies
• Nat King Cole & Patti Page - Blue Skies (1958)
• Ella Fitzgerald Blue Skies High Quality Remastered
• Blue Skies - Playback jazz manouche - Gypsy jazz backing track / play along
• Doris Day-Blue Skies