By Jackie Don Loe
~ Summertime ~
One of the most recorded songs in popular music is
“Summertime” composed by George Gershwin and lyrics by Dubose Heyward in 1935
for the opera, Porgy and Bess. Artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Louis
Armstrong, Miles Davis, Sam Cooke and Janis Joplin have left us definitive versions of the
song. It is a 16 bar blues in a minor key with a poignant melody that is instantly
recognizable. This song is always a good choice to play when you need to slow it down,
turn it down or when you have a “Take your time, son” moment on the bandstand.
Check out this arrangement.
16 Bar Blues in the key of “A Minor” -
“Summertime”
Am
/ AmM7 / | Am7 / Am6 / | Am / AmM7 / | Am7 / Am6 / |
Dm
/ DmM7 / | Dm7 / Dm6 / | E9 / F9 / | E9 / / / |
Am
/ AmM7 / | Am7 / Am6 / | Am / AmM7 / | Am7 / Am6 / |
C
/ Am 7 / | F9 / E9 / | Am / Dm / | Am / Dm / ||
To play the A minor chord sequence, hold your first finger down on the
first three strings, fifth fret and walk down the bass line on the fourth string, seventh
fret down to the fourth fret. (a la “Stairway to Heaven”). For the D minor chord
sequence (bar five), simply move that same grip up to the tenth fret and walk down from
the fourth string twelfth fret to the ninth fret.
At bar nine the song repeats the first four bars, then concludes with an
uplifting ending going from a C chord to the A minor chord. The i – iv in the last
two bars can also be extended as a vamp if the band feels like it.
Just remember the words ….“So hush, little baby, don’t
you cry…”
“Dedicated to Sam Myers and Ray T. Myers”
Enjoy, and always keep your ears open.
- Jackie Don Loe -
Guitar
Workshop Archive
