Getting to KNOW a JAZZ STANDARD: "I Concentrate on You" (Cole Porter)

[@tracylaven7020]

Chordify is a wonderful resource . It gives several artist versions for each individual song your discovering

[@m.sundin7186]

What a lovely lesson! Thanks!

[@andreasfetzer7559]

When i studied jazz guitar in Switzerland 40 years ago, we had to know at least 150 standards by heart in all keys. I think people underestimate the harmonic skills, that come from it. Also for the memory, the routine, everything. I would not have been able, to survive without it.

[@AdamLevyGuitar]

That's fantastic! There was a time, years ago, when I regularly played duo gigs with jazz singers. Some brought charts, some didn't. I had to know *loads* of tunes by heart, in whatever keys. I don't know if I could play a gig like that now, but it really helped to make me the musician that I am today.

[@andreasfetzer7559]

@@AdamLevyGuitar Isnt it funny, that a lot of singers do not know their keys. Still sometimes they bring sheets to the gig in the wrong keys. Let me tell you, your videos are so great, and you are a wonderful musician.

[@ChordYogaGuitar]

One of the standards I should've picked up while in 'jazz school', or 'on the road'. This way of in-depth yet uncomplicated - actual - learning affords another chance 🙏 The approach also sheds more light on the specific qualities of songwriting / the initial arrangement ideas that make standards like this so great and how to interpret these aspects. Not to indulge too much in melodic minor math ("scale theory", simply used as a measuring device) but: while both the mentioned Eb min-maj harmony from the piano reduction vs. the now more commonly used Bb7#5 / Ab7#11 chord grips all share and are derived from the same pitch group; in theory (Eb Melodic Minor = Bb Mixo b13 = Ab Lydian Dom); the audible effect isn't the same. The choice of notes, including the Eb as 'root' note of the voicing allows for a more ambiguous 'dominant' sound towards the Ebm7, than a more blunt V chord voicing effect, e.g. when opting for a Bb as lowest note in the voicing.

[@AdamLevyGuitar]

Thanks, Jan. I'm always intrigued by your insights.

[@ChordYogaGuitar]

@@AdamLevyGuitar Thank you :) Now, I just hope that one day I also arrive at a more concise way of sharing mentioned insights - usually we don't need too many words in music, lol

[@RodWilliams-m7r]

I love you man.

[@telecasterguitarslinger]

Thanks Adam ! Of all the Jazz standards to pick from. What a nice choice. ❤️🎸 I’m getting my feet wet into Jazz Guitar and this would be a great start.

[@leoosiku]

Wonderful stuff!! Thank you.

[@tommyp2561]

Amazing playing, and great tips as always. That guitar is lovely as well, it sounds so great. Traditional OM2h?

[@AdamLevyGuitar]

It is an OM2H. I'm not sure if it's Traditional series. Not my guitar. It belongs to a friend who I shared that studio space with.

[@JonFrumTheFirst]

The people who wrote out the chords for sheet music publishers back in the day were rarely the songwriters. So even with sheet music published very shortly after the original release of the recorded version, you can't rely on them. If you can find a recording of the composer performing his own songs, you're golden. Other than that, not so much. And then, of course, the 'standard' chords that everyone plays as the 'correct' version were often taken from an early recorded version, which may have been just the choice of the arranger on the session. You really have to listen to several versions to see if everyone is playing the same chords, and then use them - even if they aren't what the composer wrote.

[@AdamLevyGuitar]

Much appreciated. True: The songwriters usually weren't the ones making the piano/vocal arrangements for publishing. But these scores are idiomatic to the time period - not forcing modern harmonic sensibilities onto pre-war songs. Best case scenario, as you say, is to find a recording by the original composer - if possible. And it's always wise to compare multiple versions.

[@geoffknot]

blues for LA ❤

[@37BopCity]

Interesting video, and I think it's great to see people like you discussing classic standards like "I Concentrate On You". I do play hundreds of tunes like this from the Real Book using IRealPro backing tracks. Some musical snobs/advanced purists think this is "vanilla" but I heartily disagree. Rather I think it's a fantastic educational learning tool for beginners/inermediate and even advanced players. This has vastly improved my sight reading skills, my rhythm and time, my harmonic knowledge, my improv skills, and my knowledge of hundreds of these great classic tunes. However i agree with you that you really need to listen to many different recordings by great artists, with the ultimate goal of interpreting these songs in your own way, including learning to sing them, which is a whole other dimension in itself. When you can play the chords to these tunes solo by yourself with no backing track, play the melodies and also sing the lyrics, and improvise as well --- you've really achieved a lot.

[@shoatiez1262]

adam i know you from the norah jones records. you have always been my fave guitar. what a luck to have your channel, i didnt know you´re posting thins alone for so long. hope you´re fine.

[@tiagofcoelho]

Nice intro! Blues For Los Angeles?

[@shoatiez1262]

thanks adam

[@mer1red]

I also always look for scores that are as close to the original as possible. Frequently they are for the piano and look like the one in this video. However I find that the guitar symbols they add are not very reliable, I only use the piano part. Maybe the editors added these chord annotations to make the sheet more accessible to amateurs with easy grips. Or to give just some upper notes of the harmony, requiring a separate bass, and gave them (wrong) names that relate to the shapes, such as the augmented that is in fact the upper part of a min maj 7 chord shown in this video. Anyway, it's confusing, but these scores are still way better than the Real book and similar resources.

[@stefanobonoli8783]

Ciao Adam, Fred Astair version has same beginning chords of Body and Soul, maybe he had this Ebm sound in his hears since then. ❤

[@iryan9]

What are your favourite or go to acoustic guitar strings?

[@AdamLevyGuitar]

D’Addario 80/20 bronze, light gauge

[@andreasfetzer7559]

Great video

[@AdamLevyGuitar]

Thanks!

[@shoatiez1262]

Adam i am gonna try to connect you to @RickBeato, .. since you´re one of the greatest guitarists of all time. i will make sure Rick ( who has a ton a followers") will make you show up on his channel. give me some time

[@AdamLevyGuitar]

That would be great! Thank you.