Along Came Betty

[Jazz Kat]

Man, this tune is a bitch to solo over! Well, maybe it's the fact, I don't know the changes. What's the first chord?

Edited July 14, 2006 by Jazz Kat

[JSngry]

A half-step lower than the second one.

[JSngry]

Fm9

[JSngry]

Follow the bass line on the record. Merritt delineates the changes quite clearly.

It's not a hard tune to solo over in that the changes go off in some wildass direction, or that there's a lot of wierd superimpositions going on, it's just hard in that the form goes on and on and on and on.

And on. Very much a linear, "story telling" form as opposed to a cyclical one. But once you get that part down, you'll see that the changes move very logically, and you'll have a blast playing over them.

[Jazz Kat]

I would assume, that the changes are more clear on Art Blakey's version. I have been listening to and trying to play along with the Pat Martino version. It's not an easy task. Thanks for the info Jim. I'll take everything into consideration the next time i sit down to practice. After I finish mowing the lawn.

[JSngry]

When learning tunes like this, it's often best to start with the original (or a very early) version. The tune was new (maybe having been seen for the first time in the studio, or a few days before), so the players were focused on "the basics". Merritt's bass line is a good case in point - if he had been playing this tune for a while, he'd no doubt have been playing a more "open" bass line. As it is, he's dead on the changes, often outlining triads, or roots, or roots and fifts. Basic bass line stuff.

Helluva good way to learn the changes, and not just for this tune.

[sheldonm]

I would assume, that the changes are more clear on Art Blakey's version. I have been listening to and trying to play along with the Pat Martino version. It's not an easy task. Thanks for the info Jim. I'll take everything into consideration the next time i sit down to practice. After I finish mowing the lawn.

That's about the only relaxing time I have in the week....no phone calls...or other interruptions~

m~

[JSngry]

Lawn mowing is for men what bubble baths are for women.

[Nate Dorward]

I hate lawn-mowing.

BBQing on the other hand...

[Alexander Hawkins]

Fm9

FWIW, I've always played it a perfect 4th up from here...can't find the album right now to check out the original key!

[Nate Dorward]

Yes it's a B-flat m9 on the original record--I assume the difference is because Jim plays on a transposing instrument?

[JSngry]

No, it's because Jim hasn't played the tune in years, was almost ready for bed when he read the original question, half-assed remembered the tune when he went to the piano, and played the song in the wrong key.

[Alexander Hawkins]

No, it's because Jim hasn't played the tune in years, was almost ready for bed when he read the original question, half-assed remembered the tune when he went to the piano, and played the song in the wrong key.

I do whole solo gigs in this mode.

[JSngry]

Depressingly easy to do, isn't it...

[Jazz Kat]

hmm, better go try it the RIGHT way..