Satin Doll

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Last updated 5 years ago

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Ah, the sweet sounds of Sir Duke. The beginning of the arrangement is an exhibition in saxophone arranging -- listen to how well they blend. When the trombones enter at the end of the phrase with their counter melody and the trumpets create dynamic contrast with their stabs, the ensemble is complete. I could go on about the arranging and performance on this one, but I'll leave it to you to discover the perfect moments that only one of the greatest jazz orchestras ever could create.

The ii-V Chord Progression

A frequent chord progression in many genres, especially jazz, is a minor chord going to a dominant chord a fourth above it. It's called a ii-V (two-five) progression, and you can find them with the circle of fifths going counterclockwise from the ii chord to the V chord. Examples: $Dm7 \rightarrow G7$ , $Fm7 \rightarrow B\flat7$ , $C\sharp m7 \rightarrow F\sharp7$

Target Notes and Passing Notes

Target notes are chord tones that are played in the melody that help outline the harmony. Passing notes are the notes played in between the target notes. Here's an analysis of the first line of the piece to illustrate.

The Charts

Help Sheets

Below are some two-page help sheets for the first two lines of the piece with some ideas on how to approach the chords there. The "Play Along" tab is a MuseScore file that you can play along with background chords.