He is mine song lesson
Here is a basic song of which I will show you how to improvise. For now I will only do one verse.
The 1 and 2 in the parentheses mean the first and 2nd inversions of the chord. Where there is no LH bass keep the previous note for the LH. With the basic chord name without the number mean it is in root position
LH/RH
Basic
F/F...........He
/Bb(2)........is
/F............mine
Here is a variation on this simple line.
V1
F/F...........He
C/Bb(2).......is
F/F...........mine
In the "basic" example the progression stays on the 1 in the bass which is F. In the variation I used the 5 in the bass (C) to get back to the one for a substitution.
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Basic
Bb/Bb..........He
/Gm(1).........is
/Bb(2).........mine
Here the basic progression stays on the 4 in the bass. So in the 1st verse the song goes from the 1 to the 4 which is the second verse here.
Here are a couple of variations on the 2nd line.
v1
Bb/Bb..........He
/Gm(1).........is
G/G............mine
In this variation I am moving from the 1 (Bb) to the 2 (G) in the bass. I am also changing my last chord to a Gmaj as a substitution to the 3rd chord Bb in the basic example.
Here is another variation on this basic progression.
v2
G/Bb...........He
/Gm............is
/G.............mine
In this variation instead of going to the 4 (Bb bass) in the basic progression I go to the 2 (G bass) as a substitution to the 4 (Bb bass).
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Basic
C/C(2).........Joy in
/F(1)..........my
/C.............soul
Here the basic progression goes to the 5 (C) in the bass. So over all so far if you follow the basic progressions the song has moved from the 1 (F) to the 4(Bb) and to the 5 (C).
Here are a couple a variations on this line
v1
C/C(2).........Joy in
G/F(1).........my
C/C............soul
In this first variation I move from the 5 (C) to the 2 (G) and back to the 5 (C). The reason I have done this is that in the circle of fifths (C-G-D-A-E-B-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb-Bb-F-C repeats at this C) the chords (or bass notes if it helps you to understand) tend to move counter clock wise. So the G tends to want to move to C. (Just as A tends to move to D and so on)
v2
C/C(2).........Joy in
Bb/F...........my
A/C............soul
In this variation I move from 5 (C) to the 4 (Bb) then to the 3 (A). For now you can think of the 3 as a substitute for the 5 (C). So I move from the 5 (C) to the 3 (A) and I use the 4 (Bb) as a way of getting to the 3 (A).
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Basic
F/F(1).........Peace in
/Bb(2).........my
/F.............mind
Here in this basic progression I go back to the 1 (F). So now over all if you follow the basic progressions (not the variations) you will notice that we have played the basic 1-4-5-1 progression (F-Bb-C-F).
Here are a couple of variations on this line.
v1
D/F(1).........Peace in
G/Bb(2)........my
C/C(1).........mind
In this variation I go to the 6 (D) instead of the 1 (F) in the basic progression and then to the 2 (G) and next to the 5 (C). The 6 (D) is a substitution for the 1 (F). If you remember the circle of fifths I am basically going from D (6) which tends to move to G (2) and G tends to move to C (5).
v2
F/F(1).........Peace in
Bb/Bb(2).......my
C/C(1).........mind
In this variation I go from the 1 (F) to the 4 (Bb) and then to the 5 (C). I threw in this quick 1-4-5 progression to substitute in place of just sit on the 1 (F) as I did on this basic progression.
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Review
If you closely follow the progressions labeled "basic" you will see that the over all progression for this part of the song is 1-4-5-1. But we used variations to keep the 1-4-5-1 from sounding simple.
Other things you can add to your playing are octaves, octaves with a 5th, and 7ths there are others but we will stick with these.
LH/RH
Ex using octaves
Instead of playing
F/F
try using
F-F/F.........This is playing the F notes in the LH an octave apart.
Ex using octaves with a 5th
Instead of playing
F/F
try using
F-C-F/F.......This is playing the octave and using the 5 (C) from the 1 (F).
Ex using 7ths
Instead of playing
F/F
try using
F-Eb/F........This is playing the 1 (F) and the b7 (Eb) from the 1 (F).
or
F-C-E/F.......This is not as common but you can try it and see if you like it.
or
F-C-Eb/F......This one of the most common 1 (F) and 5 (C) and b7 (Eb).
Remember these are played as broken chords together not single notes (Although you can play them as a single note bass line).
Also instead of using the basic chords make your chords larger.
Instead of playing
F/F
try using
F/F7....or F/F9....or F/F11....or F/F13
or
F/Fmaj7...or F/Fmaj9...or F/Fmaj11....etc
or
F-C-Eb/F9.....and so on...... you get idea.
Getting back to the basic 1-4-5-1 progression in the song. You can use tritones in the RH and a walking bass in the LH to get to where you need to go.
Ex
F/F...........He
/Bb(2)........is
/F............mine
G/FB
Ab/GbC
A/GDb
Above I am using the G then Ab and A to get from the 1 (F) to the 5 (Bb).
Bb/Bb..........He
/Gm(1).........is
/Bb(2).........mine
B/AEb
Above I just use B to get from the 4 (Bb) to the 5 (C).
C/C(2).........Joy in
/F(1)..........my
/C.............soul
D/GbC
Eb/GDb
E/AbD
Above I am using the D then Eb then E in the LH to get from 5 (C) to 1 (F).
F/F(1).........Peace in
/Bb(2).........my
/F.............mind
In each example with the tritones don't forget about trying out you new substitutions and the extended LH broken chords. Also making the RH chords larger.
mysteryman
