Mailbox Monday: Mandolin Rain Intro

photo credit: Portrait via photopin (license)

Awhile back I wrote a post on the chords to Mandolin Rain by Bruce and John Hornsby. Mencho Calloway has asked for the intro chords. So, here goes and thank you for asking, Mencho!

Mandolin Rain

Key: G

Time: 4/4

Moderately Slow

Intro

G / Am7, G / Em7, D, G / 

Am7, G / Cadd9, G /

Am7, G / Em7, D, G / 

Am7, G / Cadd9, G, D /

Chord Breakdown

G/DGBD = G

A/ACEA = Am7

E/EGBE = Em7

D/DF#AD = D

C/DEAG = Cadd9

First Measure:

G/DGBD, G/EGBE, GBDG

Second Measure:

A/ACEA, GCEG, GBDG, EGBE, DGBD

Third Measure:

E/EGBE, DGBD, EGBE

D/DF#AD

G/EGC, DGB, EGC, DGB

Fourth Measure

A/EGC, DGB, CDG

G/BDG, DG, EA, B/DGB, EA, DG

Fifth Measure

C/EGBE, DGBD

D/EGBE, D/DF#AD

G/EBE, DGBD

D/DGBD, EGBE, GBDG

Sixth Measure

A/ACEA, GCEGB

G/GBDG, G/BDGB, ADA, GBDG, F#DF#

Seventh Measure

E/ EGBE, DGBD

D/EGBD, DF#AD

G/EBE, DGBD

Eighth Measure

A/EACE, DGBD

G/DGBD, EGCE, DGBD, EGCE

D/GBD, AD,GD

Ninth Measure

C/AD, ED, GD

G/DGBD

D/DF#AD

Another favorite Bruce Hornsby song of mine, That's Just The Way It Is, has the chord progression to the song as well.

If you're looking for a resource that will make your fingers fly faster with more practice time, visit Hanon1 Finger Exercises.

All the best,

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

Creating An Intro by Champ Champagne

I was looking through one of my Jazz magazines and came across an interesting article on introductions by Champ Champagne.

I have written earlier posts on the subject and you can find them here:

Part One Intros with Dominant Chords
Part Two Intros with Arpeggios
Part Three Last Phrase as Intros
Part Four Chord Progression Intros

The Introduction

"A preliminary part of the proceedings, containing explanatory or other useful matter bearing on the subject. In popular music, the subject can be the rhythm, the melody, or the harmony.

For now, let's proclaim the melody. This is best done by using a small fragment of a tune. We could call our quote from the Beginning, the Middle Part (Bridge or Release) or the Closing Section of the melody. Here comes the opening statement of A Weary Traveller.

D, Eb, G, F

BbAD/F, Bb, C, Eb (Bb maj7)

Eb/D, G... GCF/A, C (Eb 6/9)

Ab9, G7+, Gb 13, F7, F7+(b9),  F 9/6

The smallest recognizable musical unit is called a Motif. A fun way to preface the song is via a capsule comment. Listen to what happens to this quaint quote:

"Quivering Quavers, Batman. He repeated the same note pattern!!!" Yes, Robin. He formed a melodic imitation within the major scale of Bb (more properly) called a Diatonic sequence). He also ended the intro with the Dominant 7th chord. This will lead him easily into the right tonality of the expected melody. The Dominant 7th chord is a fourth below the Key (or the Tonal Center), and acts as a musical steering wheel."

We can do the same thing in Waltz-Time:

D, E, G, F#

Gmaj7, C9, Eb 6/9, D7alt

You can do it! Practice simple Diatonic Sequences. The best way to introduce your mind to this form of Motivic Development is to stick with simple Chord Progressions. Take this Circular Progression in C.

Cmaj7, Am7, Dm7, G7

Here's a rather lengthy Motif:

G, A, B, C, B, C, E, F, E, D

There's More to this than meets the ear! This Motif can be segmented.

Fragment #1: G, A, B

Fragment #2: C, B, C, E

Fragment #3: F, E, D

Why should anyone do such a thing? What can be done with a three-note tune?

C, Am7
Bb9sus (Ab, C, Eb, F)
Bb7 (Ab, D, G, Ab)
A13 (C#, F#, Bb)
Ab13 (C, F, C, D)
G9sus, G13

That was fun! Want more? Just follow the bouncing notes?

C, Am7, F, Em7, Dm7, Db9, Dm7, G7

C, Bm7b5, E7, Am7, D7, G9sus, G7b9

wasn't that a super Intro? I have More for you!

C, Bm7, E7, Am7, D7, G9sus, G7 (b9)

What more can I say?" -- Champ Champagne

Champ Champagne has a book you can purchase through Amazon. (Fake Book). This book adds interest and excitement to Christmas classics through the use of chord substitutions, printed in red above the original chords. Playing tips, introductions, and endings are included for many of the songs. 


  The Real Chord Changes and Substitutions - Christmas Favorites (Fake Book)

Another resource:  More than 125 must-know jazz classics as arranged by Champ Champagne. Each tune is presented in melody line/lyrics/chord format, along with chord substitution above the original chord changes, plus intros and endings - making for a great way to explore these classic songs and all their possibilities!  http://www.jwpepper.com/Jazz-Lead-Sheets

In addition to these songbooks, Hear and Play offers Jazz Intensive Training Center, Jazz101 and Jazz201.

Enjoy creating an intro!

All the best,


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

Related articles

• The History of Seventh Chords (ladydpiano.blogspot.com)
• Unlocking the Power of the Triplet (Part One) (ladydpiano.blogspot.com)

Part Four: Chord Progression Intros

Image by Lomacar via Flickr

Over the past few days I've really enjoyed sharing information on piano intros. Here's my final post:


 1. The "Amen" Intro


C                 F                C               G7
C/CEG        F/FAC        C/CEG      G/GBDF

2. "Heart and Soul" Intro
These six variations are all based on the familiar "Heart and Soul" chord progression (C AM Dm G7). 
Note the following  possibilities for variations.
* The A and D chords can be either minor or seventh.
* The C chord can be played Cmaj7 to achieve a more modern sound.
* The G7 chord can be any of the variations previously discussed.
* The last example uses special jazz substitutions for these chords.


Play these octaves in your l.h. while you play the chords in your r.h.


CC/CEG    AA/CEA      DD/DFA        GG/DFGB


CC/CEG    AA/CEA       DD/DF#AD  GG/DFGB


CC/CEG    AA/C#EGA  DD/DFA        GG/DFGB


CC/CEG    AA/C#EGA  DD/DF#AC   GG/DFGB


CC/CEGB  AA/CEGA   DD/DFAC      GG/DFGB


CC/CEGB   EbEb/EbGBbDb    DD/DFAC    DbDb/DbFAbB


3. "Inkspots" Intro
A great little intro from the 30's and 40's


C/CEG    C#/C#EGA#   D/DFAC   G/GBD#F


4. Fancy Lead In


This intro starts on the F major chord, goes then to F#dim and then goes to the "Heart and Soul" progression.


F/FAC  F#/F#ACD#   C/CEG   A/AC#EG   D/ACDF#   G/GBDF


Improvising


If you are comfortable with the idea of improvising, you can play any of these chord progressions with the left hand while you improvise something with the right hand. How do you improvise? That's a complicated question. There is no easy correct answer. You can start by making up simple right hand melodies whose notes don't conflict with the chords. It may not sound like much at first if you're new to the idea of improvising, but keep at it. Experiment. It's the only way.


Turnarounds


Sometimes you can use intros in the middle of a song. They make for good material when connecting the end of one verse of a song to the beginning of the next verse, for example. When used in this fashion, these intros are referred to as "turnarounds". Practice using turnarounds in your everyday playing. Like the intros, turnarounds can add a lot of interest to your performance.


I hope you enjoyed the intro study. Let me know what you think! :)


Thanks for stopping by.
I hope you enjoy your stay at LadyD Piano.

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Part Three: Last Phrase as Intros

Image via Wikipedia

 When I'm looking for an introduction to play of a particular song, I always look at the last line of the song. Play the final phrase of your song, and then go to the V (dominant) chord or any of its variations. Try this with the endings to the following songs:


"You Are My Sunshine"


Please don't take my sunshine away (lyrics)


Melody Line (play single notes):


C, D, E/C, F, D/G7, D, E, C/C (then play G7 arpeggio here)


"Silent Night"


(lyrics) Sleep in heavenly peace


C, G, E, G, F, D, C (G7 arpeggio  here)


* Frankie and Johnnie
Melody line, play single notes,
E/C, E, E, D/G7, G, G, G,  A, G, E, C/C (G7 arpeggio here)



* Related Resources:


Sometimes you can use material that already exists for an intro... the first line of the song.
Intros, Tags, Fillers


James Stevens Intros
Previous Post


* Recommended Songs
Songs with Impressive Introductions


* Intro to Beatles Song
How To Play Let It Be Intro by The Beatles


Final part on intros with lots of info coming in the next post... stay tuned. Perhaps will do a brief study on"endings" soon. In the meantime, choose one of your favorite songs to play and start it off with the last line of the song, add your V chord and you're on your way!


Thanks for stopping by.
I hope you enjoy your stay at LadyD Piano.