Bye Bye Blackbird

Harmonic Analysis (RMA) Worksheet for the song: Bye Bye Blackbird.

Harmonic Analysis Worksheet
Below

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.

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

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.

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

Fmaj7

Gm7

D7

Fmaj7

Gm7

D7

F6

F

Bb

F

Am

C7

Gm7

F

I

IV

I

III

V

II

I

F:

Fmaj7

Am7

D7b9/F#*

Gm7

D7b9

F

Bdim*

Gm7

C7

C7

I

VI7
(V of II)

II

V

V

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

Gm/F#

Gm/F

Gm/E

Gm

Gb+

Gm7

C7

I/II*

I

I

I

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.

Gm7

C7

F6

Gm7

C7

C7

C7

F

F

V

V

I

I

D Mix-2-6

F9

E9

Eb9

D7b9

F7

Cm

F#dim

V

IVm

#IVdim

Gm7

Gm7b5

C7

Gm

Bbm

F

G7

Bbm

C7

II

IVm

I

II7

IVm

V

Fmaj7

Gm7

C7

Fmaj7

Am7b5

D7b9

F

Bb

F

Am

C7

Cm

D7

I

IV

I

III

V

IV

V

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.

Gm

C7

F

F

II

V

I

I

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

Links & Resources

• Miles Davis - Bye Bye Blackbird
• Bye, Bye, Blackbird - Backing track / Play-along
• Jazz Backing Track - Bye Bye Blackbird
• Bye Bye Blackbird Play along - Backing track • Simple changes.