Understanding "Blue in Green"

PaintedPostDave · April-16th-2008, 07:11 PM

I have been studying a fake book version of "Blue in Green" and am having a problem using it to follow the famous recording. I am also trying to put it on Finale Songwriter so I can listen to it.

My fake book version shows nine bars followed by a three bar "ending". Is it a nine bar tune or a twelve bar tune? If it is a twelve bar tune does it have any substructure like the twelve bar blues? Finally, the score is handwritten and some of the chord symbols are smudged. Can anyone point me to a web site that might provide some insight?

LennyH · April-16th-2008, 07:20 PM

It's a modal piece, so the structure is somewhat free form.

I did a search and sure enough there's a page in Wiki for Blue in Green. There's an entry about modal jazz as well.

Mike Goodbar · April-16th-2008, 10:29 PM

It's actually a 10-bar tune (at least the last time I played it). The last three bars you see are a coda, to be played the last time through only. If you're not familiar with it, it is tough to follow because of the form and the nature of the chord progression.

PaintedPostDave · April-17th-2008, 10:37 AM

Thanks for the responses.

I noticed in the Wiki citation that "The first measure is a G minor chord with an added natural 13 (Gm13), which contains an F natural but the modality of the piece is already evident as the opening note of the melody is an E natural, which is the leading tone of the F major scale."

My fake book has the opening note of E natural but the first measure chord is a BbMaj7 #11.

I think the Gm13 chord is G, Bb, D, F, E and the BbMaj7#11 chord is Bb, D, F, A, E#/F (again, I think), so apparently my fake book is a little off (or my ability to figure out 11ths and 13ths is).

Gary Sisco · April-17th-2008, 10:52 AM

'S a reason they call it the fake book. ;-)

VIBEr · April-18th-2008, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaintedPostDave

My fake book has the opening note of E natural but the first measure chord is a BbMaj7 #11.

That would be correct, and I think the better voicing would be C6 with Bb in the bass: looking at the keyboard, it would read left-to-right Bb/G-A-C-E in its simplest closed-voice form.