Wake Up Little Susie

Harmonic Analysis Worksheet (RMA/HA)

Published: 17 Nov 2023 Updated: 17 Nov 2023Visits: 20Code: ULHA-YB-253

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Wake Up Little Susie


Harmonic Analysis (RMA) Worksheet for the song: Wake Up Little Susie.

Wake Up Little Susie

Released: September 2, 1957

Wake Up Little Susie is a popular song written by Felice and Boudleaux Bryant and published in 1957.

The song is best known in a recording by The Everly Brothers , issued by Cadence Records as catalog number 1337. The Everly Brothers record reached No. 1 on the Billboard Pop chart and the Cash Box Best Selling Records chart, despite having been banned from Boston radio stations for lyrics that, at the time, were considered suggestive, according to a 1986 interview with Don Everly. "Wake Up Little Susie" also spent seven weeks atop the Billboard country chart and got to No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart. The song was ranked at No. 318 on the Rolling Stone magazine's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". (wikiwand) ·

The song is written from the point of view of a high school boy to his girlfriend, Susie. In the song, the two go out on a date to a cinema (perhaps a drive-in), only to fall asleep during the movie. They do not wake up until 4 o'clock in the morning, well after her 10 o'clock curfew. They then contemplate the reactions of her parents and their friends. The boy fears that having stayed out so late, they've both now lost their good reputations. (wikiwand) ·

Wake Up Little Susie 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

C C7 F G D7 G7

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 Root ↓ 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.

    • Wake Up Little Susie is in 4/4, Cut TIme Time and the Key of F . The original is in the Key of D , Tempo: 94 bpm

    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

    C
    C
    C
    C
    I

    C:

    C Ionian

    C
    C
    C
    C7
    I

    I7
    ( V of IV)

    C:

    C Ionian

    F
    C7
    F
    F
    C7
    F
    IV
    I7
    IV

    I7
    ( V of IV)

    IV

    C Mix

    C Mix

    F
    C7
    F
    C7
    F
    C7
    F
    IV
    I7
    IV
    I7
    IV

    I7
    ( V of IV)

    IV

    C Mix

    C Mix

    C Mix

    G
    F
    G
    G
    V
    IV
    V
    G
    D7
    G
    G
    D7
    G

    II7
    ( V of V)

    V

    II7
    ( V of V)

    V

    D Mix

    D Mix

    G
    D7
    G
    G
    G
    G7

    II7
    ( V of V)

    V
    V

    D Mix

    Fine

    C
    G7
    C
    C
    I
    VI
    IV
    V
    C
    C
    C
    C7
    I

    I7
    ( V of IV)

    C Mix

    F
    F
    F
    F
    IV
    G
    F
    G
    G7
    V
    IV
    V

    D.C. al Fine

    C
    I

    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

    Intro

    Two Measure/bar Intro then in the Chorus.

    Rhythmic Strumming Pattern for Intro and Verses. Sounds better on a Low G, C Tuning as it is closer to the guitar's liner tuning of t eh recording. Will work on High as well.

    Links & Resources

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    End of Lesson - Thanks, Hope You Enjoyed It!

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