On Broadway

Harmonic Analysis (RMA) Worksheet for the song: On Broadway.

Harmonic Analysis Worksheet
& Performance Notes Below

Analysis Worksheet Chords Melody Scales Performance Links

On Broadway

Released: March 1963

On Broadway "On Broadway" is a song written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil in collaboration with the team of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Weil and Mann were based at Aldon Music, located at 1650 Broadway, New York City, and the song as written by Mann/Weil was originally recorded by the Cookies (although the Crystals' version beat them to release) and featured an upbeat lyric in which the protagonist is still on her way to Broadway and sings "I got to get there soon, or I'll just die." Additionally the melody was in compound time and the backing riff modulated between the root and the minor 2nd. (wikiwand) ·

George Benson's version of On Broadway, from his 1978 album Weekend in L.A., hit #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #2 on the soul chart. The George Benson version also has had substantial adult contemporary and smooth jazz radio airplay ever since. It won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance. The song appeared in the films Big Business and American Beauty.

George Benson's performance of the song was used during the opening credits of the 1979 film All That Jazz, which featured dancers on stage auditioning for a musical similar to Chicago. George Benson also performed "On Broadway" with Clifford and The Rhythm Rats for the 1994 Muppet album Kermit Unpigged.

On Broadway in the Mixolydian mode.

On Broadway 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

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.

On Broad is a I VII a D C in D Mixolydian: D (I) Em F#dim G Am Bm C (VII). With a modulation to a I VII a G F in G Mixolydian. A bit os an A A B A for. With the V of I a A to D getting is back to D Mixolydian.

Vamp

In George Benson's version he often modulates up after each AABA. The LearningUkulele.com Premium Play along does that as well.

D

C

D

C

D

C

D

C

I

VII

I

VII

I

VII

I

VII

D Mixolydian: D Mixolydian

D Mixolydian shares the key signature of A Major. Repeat the above Line 1, then Modulate to G Mixolydian

G

F

G

F

G

F

G

A

I

VII

I

VII

I

VII

I

V of D

G Mixolydian: G Mixolydian

A Mix

Then back to the A section (line 1). Actually a pretty simple song.

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

Vamp

Listen to the LearningUkulele.com On Broadway Premium Play-along track to pickup the Montuno/Vamp feel.

Links & Resources

• (wikiwand) On Broadway
• George Benson – "On Broadway" – Jazz à Vienne 2011 •