Video Thursday: It Don't Mean A Thing

 It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)
Words & Music by Duke Ellington, 1932
Recorded by Ella Fitzgerald, 1966

I absolutely love music from the swing era. You might be interested in an article 
by Lee Evans that I shared with readers on my other blog. I've been asked to do a 
tutorial on this song and even though I've slowed the speed down in my video, 
I'll post another video showing all these fancy chords at a later date. For now, 
here are the chord progressions to this lively song.
 

You'll find an easy version to the song here. I've posted the chord chart below.

Em           D        C           C7   B7
What good is melody, what good is mu - sic

Em           D         C           C7   B7
If it ain't possessin' something sweet?

Em           D       C            C7   B7
It ain't the melody, it ain't the mu - sic --

        Em                   D        C        C7   B7
There's something else that makes the tune complete.


   Em            B+          Em7            Em6
It don't mean a thing, if it ain't got that swing --

A7               D7               G6               C7  B7
Doo-wat doo-wat, doo-wat doo-wat, doo-wat doo-wat.

   Em            B+            Em7          Em6
It don't mean a thing, all you got to do is sing --

A7               D7               G6
Doo-wat doo-wat, doo-wat doo-wat, doo-wat doo-wat, doo-wat doo-wat.


Dm7          G7                CM7/6             CM7
It makes no diff'rence if that rhythm's sweet or hot,

Em7            A7     D7             C7   B7
Just give that rhythm ev'rything you got.


   Em            B+   Cdim   Em7   Cdim      Em6
It don't mean a thing, if it ain't got that swing --

A7               D7               G6               Gdim
Doo-wat doo-wat, doo-wat doo-wat, doo-wat doo-wat, doo-wat doo-wat,

A7               Cdim                  G6
Doo-wat doo-wat, doo-wat doo-wat, doo-waaaa.

+++++++++++++++++

Now, in the Hal Leonard Jazz Book that I recommended yesterday, 

here are the piano chords. 

Gm    Gm/F   Eb7  D7  Gm  Gm/F    Em7b5 Eb7
What good is melody, what good is mu - sic

Gm    Gm/F   Em7b5      Eb7   D7#5  Gm
If it ain't possessin' something sweet?

Gm/F         Eb7 D7  Gm Gm/F      Em7b5 Eb7
It ain't the melody, it ain't the mu - sic --

Gm      Gm/F      Em7b5     Eb7       A7/E Eb7  D7
There's something else that makes the tune complete.


   Gm                  Gm/F  Eb7    D7      Gm
It don't mean a thing, if it ain't got that swing --

C7/G               Gb7b5           Cm7/F        Bb6
Doo-wat doo-wat, doo-wat doo-wat, doo-wat doo-wat.

D7#5  Gm  Gm/F  Em7b5   Eb7    D7#5   Db7   C7
It don't mean a thing, all you got to do is sing --

C7/G             Gb7b5              Cm7/F                      Bb6
Doo-wat doo-wat, doo-wat doo-wat, doo-wat doo-wat, doo-wat doo-wat.


F#dim7   Bb7                                     Eb
It makes no diff'rence if that rhythm's sweet or hot,

F#dim7 C7      F#dim7  C7             F7   G7
Just give that rhythm ev'rything you got.


D7#5 Gm              Gm/F   Eb7    D7        Gm
It don't mean a thing, if it ain't got that swing --

C7/G             Gb7b5               Cm7/F6                Bb6 D7#5
Doo-wat doo-wat, doo-wat doo-wat, doo-wat doo-wat, doo-wat doo-wat,

C7/G               Gb7b5                Bb6
Doo-wat doo-wat, doo-wat doo-wat, doo-waaaa.


If you love jazz and have always wanted to learn this style of playing, 

you may be interested in Jazz101 and Jazz201

Warmly,

"The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you." B.B.King