Harmonic Analysis (RMA) Worksheet for the song: Bye Bye Blackbird.
Bye Bye Blackbird
Bye Bye Blackbird is a song published in 1926 by Jerome H. Remick and written by composer Ray Henderson and lyricist Mort Dixon. It is considered a popular standard and was first recorded by Sam Lanin's Dance Orchestra in March 1926.
In 1982, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) posthumously awarded John Coltrane a "Best Jazz Solo Performance" Grammy for the work on his album Bye Bye Blackbird.
Popular recordings in 1926 were by Nick Lucas, Gene Austin, Benny Krueger, and by Leo Reisman. It was the number 16 song of 1926 according to Pop Culture Madness. WikipediA :

Bye Bye Blackbird 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.
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 leadsheet information such repeats, fines, D.S., D.C., codas have been used in preparing the worksheets.
1st, 2nd Ending, Turnbacks …
The worksheets will show 1st, 2nd Ending, Turnbacks, etc. You should start to recognize that 1st endings typically always return to an previous or section. With a 2nd ending, a transition to different section, a
or chorus. Harmonic Principles are used for these repeats and transitions.
If these 1st, 2nd Ending, Turnbacks are not indicated then a Turnback chord(s) will be indicated in parentheses.
Reference Key
This is the key of the source leadsheet.
Bye Bye Blackbird is in 4/4, Common Time and the Key of F .
Harmonic Principles Used:
Chords
Theses and many other chords where covered in the Learn A Chord A Day series of lessons.
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) Worksheet
VI7
(V of II)
D Mix-2-6
* A dim7 chord with the same root is always a direct substitute for a dim chord. In the The Daily Ukulele books it is always a dim7 chord shape that is shown.
In this case the dim chord is actually a Disquised Secondary Dominant chord. Turns out a lot of diminished chords are mis-named.
Gm Line Cliche • See note directly below
A Minor Line Cliche . The RMA can treat this chord as a II. I feel it's more of an Internal Modulation to Gm.
D Mix-2-6
The above line's re-harmonization is a series of
II V
chords to their
I
, either major or minor depending on where is is going.
II V
is the most common move in Jazz
.
When starting the song over add a turnaround or turnback to the last two measures. A V or II V Turnback is a simple start.
Simple examples in the key of F:
| F | C7 |
| F | Gm7 C7 |
| F D7 | Gm7 C7 |
Ralph Patt Vanilla Book
Checkout the Ralph Patt Vanilla Book
Vanilla
changes for Bye Bye Blackbird • 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.
[ F | Gm7b5 F / / | F | F | | F | Abdim | Gm7 | C7 | | Gm7 | C7 | Gm7 | C7 | | Gm7 | C7 | F | F | || F7 | F7 | Am7b5 | D7 | | Bb | Bb | Gm7b5 | C7 | | F | Gm7b5 F / / | Am7b5 | D7 | | Gm7 | C7 | F | F |
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.
Checkout LESSONSeries : Harmonic Analysis for Scale and Chord Selection or download the Harmonic Analysis for Scale and Chord Selection book.

Performance Notes
Any performance notes will be shown here...Links & Resources
End of Lesson - Thanks, Hope You Enjoyed It!
Related Lessons, Videos, Lesson Series, Songs, Books & Reference Charts, Resources & Assets, Workshops are below.
Related Lessons
Related Lessons for Bye Bye Blackbird
.
Related Lesson Series
Related Lessons Series for Bye Bye Blackbird
.
Harmonic Analysis for Scale and Chord Selection
Updated: 27 Feb 2023
Harmonic Analysis is the process used to determine the harmonic function of chords within a chord progression or song. A chord progression is defined as a sequence of chords, each chord has a root and is a particular chord type. The relationship of a chord's to a scale determines its function within that scale's tonality.
Related Books & Charts
Related Books for Bye Bye Blackbird
.

Harmonic Analysis for Scale Selection and Chord Substitution
Updated: 10 Jun 2021
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: 05 May 2022
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.