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Bad, Bad Leroy Brown
Harmonic Analysis (RMA) Worksheet for the song: Bad, Bad Leroy Brown.
Bad, Bad Leroy Brown
Released: March 20, 1973
Bad, Bad Leroy Brown is an uptempo, strophic story song written by American folk rock singer Jim Croce. Released as part of his 1973 album Life and Times, the song was a No. 1 hit for him, spending two weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in July 1973. Billboard ranked it as the No. 2 song for 1973.
Croce was nominated for two 1973 Grammy Awards in the Pop Male Vocalist and Record of the Year categories for "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown". It was his only number-one single before his death on September 20 of that year. (wikiwand) ·
Bad, Bad Leroy Brown 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
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.
Reference Key
This is the key of the source leadsheet.
- Bad, Bad Leroy Brown is in 4/4, Common Time and the Key of G .
Harmonic Principles Used:
- Full Diatonic
- Partial Diatonic • Full Diatonic includes Secondary Dominant chords
Harmonic Analysis (HA) Worksheet
Visit the Harmonic Analysis for Scale and Chord Selection series of lessons for information on creating a Harmonic Analysis Worksheet
Harmonically an easy song. Simple thing 1 2 3 4 5 chords and major chord types, either seventh or major.
Scale-wise the G Pentatonic scale is a great, simple scale choice: G A B C E F G` .
B Mixolydian
The B7 is not a Secondary Dominant, just sneaking in through the backdoor to the IV chord, the C .
A Mixolydian
B Mixolydian
Lines 3 and 4 are harmonically the same as lines 1 and 2. Just different lyrics in the Daily Ukulele book.
A Mixolydian
To Coda
B Mixolydian
Lines 5 and 6 are harmonically the same as lines 1 and 2 as well as 3 and 4. Just different lyrics in the Daily Ukulele book.
As the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd endings are harmonically the same I combined them here.
Remember these Harmonic Analysis (RMA) Worksheets are not a leadsheet. Simply an analysis of the harmonic content, the chords with a bit of the roadmap as in the Daily Ukulele book.
A Mixolydian
D.S. al Coda
B Mixolydian
Coda
B Mixolydian
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.
Verse
6x
When you run the Numbers
, it actually is somewhat easy to remember a lot of songs — in any key. Bad, Bad, Leroy Brown just goes op the harmonized scale of the major key of the song. The second and third chords are Seventh chords and the
V
chord is a Seventh chord.
NOTE: This will give you an idea of just what the Nashville Number System
is — basically a Harmonic Analysis (HA/RMA) using Arabic numbers vs. traditional Roman Numerals with a specific goal of creating a shorthand roadmap of a song that can be performed in ANY key. The main reason it was created in the first place, in Nashville
studios to save time and money and not have to rewrite a chart for a singer in a different key that the original chart.
Here is a good overview of the The Nashville Number System Demystified by Dave Martin ( July 8, 2022 ) . Bottom line is you need to know your music theory and how chords work.
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
Bad, Bad Leroy Brown is harmonically lines 1 and 2 for the whole song.
Intro
Seven measures of the I chord, G with the Rockin' Fifths Strumming Pattern and then the V chord, D7
On the original recording the intro is performed on piano with a boogie-woogie, rock feel. Using the Rockin' Fifths Strumming Pattern below.
Strumming
Ukulele players always ask What strumming pattern do I do?
. For this song the Rocking Fifths strumming pattern sticks close to the original feel of the song.
Rockin' Fifths
Rocking Fifths is where you would rock
between the fifth and the sixth of the chords. The fifth on beats one and 3 and the sixth on beats two and four.
Intro
Accompaniment
Original temp approx. 148 bpm. Same changes for Verse and Chorus. High or Low G
, C Tuning.
Audio (MIDI) from MuseScore of above.
Low "G", C Tuning Alternate Version Last Two Measures
The Bass walks down, descends to scale starting on the Root of the V chord and down to the Root os the I chord. In the Yallow Book keys is is: D C B A to G .
Low G, C Tuning Alternate Version
Links & Resources
- (wikiwand) Bad, Bad Leroy Brown
- (wikiwand) · Bad, Bad Leroy Brown
- Jim Croce: Bad, Bad Leroy Brown •
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End of Lesson - Thanks, Hope You Enjoyed It!
Related Lessons, Videos, Lesson Series, Songs, Books & Reference Charts, Resources & Assets, Workshops are below.
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Harmonic Analysis Lesson Series
Updated: 06 Jan 2020
Harmonic Analysis ( HA ) is the process used to determine the harmonic function of chords within a chord progression. A chord progression is defined as a sequence of chords, each chord has a root and has a particular chord type. The relationship of a chord's root to a scale determines its function within that scale's tonality. Once a chord's function is identified, scale selections along with chord and scale substitutions can be made. This process is called Root Movement Analysis ( RMA ). This series of lessons are extracted from my book for use with individual private and on-line students. Each lesson directly corresponds the chapters in my book Harmonic Analysis for Scale Selection and Chord Substitution by Curt Sheller (me).
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Harmonic Analysis for Scale and Chord Selection
Updated: 09 Jun 2023
Harmonic Analysis (HA), also known as the study of chord relationships, is the method used to identify the harmonic role of chords within a chord progression or song. A chord progression refers to a sequence of chords, with each chord having a root note and belonging to a specific chord type. The function of a chord within a particular scale's tonality is determined by its relationship to that scale.
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Harmonic Analysis for Scale Selection and Chord Substitution
Updated: 08 Jun 2024
Harmonic Analysis is the understanding of the functional sequence of chords. It is the process used to analyze the harmonic structure of a progression, song or composition. This analysis is then used to make scale selections for improvisation and chord substitution.
The Daily Ukulele
Updated: 16 Feb 2024
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.
A Selection of Books & Reference Charts that are recommended for creating a solid foundation with your chosen instrument and music in general.
Books
Checkout the Books for additional Handy, Dandy Reference Charts.
Reference Charts
Key Signatures — Circle of Fourths and Fifths – ANSI A & A4 sizes
A handy reference chart of all 15 major and relative minor key signatures. US Letter 8.5 x 11 sized (ANSI-A) , A4
Checkout the Books for additional Handy, Dandy Reference Charts.
