Jump to content

Changes to Miles Davis - Four?


Recommended Posts

  • Members

Alright Jazzers - what are the chord changes to Four? Specifically, I've been working on this tune in the Real Book. I noticed that the real book had a correction in the front for this tune, but the new chords don't sound right.

 

Original Version (In the Real Book - First 4 bars):

 

/EbMaj7 /EbMaj7 /Bbmin7 /Eb7 /

/AbMaj7 /

 

 

 

Corrected Version:

 

/EbMaj7 /EbMaj7 /Ebmin7 /Ab7

 

/AbMaj7 /

 

 

Now, the melody seems to work well with either version, but the transition on the "corrected" version from the Ab7 to AbMaj7 seems a little weird to my ear - even though it mirrors the chord progression for the 2nd part of the melody more closely.

 

Opinions?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

what a coinkidink- i been looking at this tune myself.

 

"standard" real book version

 

/Ebmaj7/ebmaj7/Bb-7/Eb7/

 

/Abmaj7/ Abmaj7/ Ab-7/ Db7/

 

/Ebmaj7/ F#-7 B7/ F-7/ Bb7/

 

1st repeat

/Ebmaj7/ F#-7 B7/ F-7 / Bb7/

 

2nd repeat

/G-7 Gb-7/ F-7 Bb7/ Ebmaj7/ Ebmaj7//

 

 

alternate real book ver

 

/Ebmaj7/ebmaj7/Eb-7 Ab7/Eb-7 Ab7/

 

/Abmaj7/ Abmaj7/ Ab-7/ Db7/

 

/Ebmaj7/ F#-7 B7/ F-7/ Bb7/

 

1st repeat

/Ebmaj7/ F#-7 B7/ F-7 / Bb7/

 

2nd repeat

/G-7 Gb-7/ F-7 Bb7/ Ebmaj7/ Ebmaj7//

 

another alt version

 

/Ebmaj7/ Ebmaj7/ Eb-7/ Ab7/

 

/F-7/ F-7/ Ab-7/ Db7/

 

/G-7/ Gb-7/ F-7/ Bb7/

 

1st rpt

 

/G-7/ Gb-7/ F-7/ Bb7/

 

2nd rpt

 

/G-7 Gb-7/ F-7 Bb7/ Ebma7/ end or turnaround//

 

also the 1st 2 measures are sometimes played

 

/Ebmaj7 F-7/ G-7 Abdim7/

 

 

 

personally, i prefer (at this moment) the standard real book versin with the alt 1st 2 measures posted above.

 

if the Ab7 to Abmaj7 sounds abrupt to you try the second set of changes i posted.

 

not a song i play alot, but have been revisiting.

 

peace

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 14 years later...
  • Members

re: Changes to Four by Miles Davis

 

Hi. Thanks to those who posted here in past years above.

 

I've been trying to settle on the changes to Four myself recently.

 

A few comments -

 

First, there are multiple recorded versions by Miles Davis groups doing Four.

Below are 3 links (there are others).

 

From the very first recording, Miles Davis Quartet (1953) 4:03:

 

 

From Workin' with the Miles Davis Quintet (1956) 7:15:

 

 

From Miles Davis and John Coltrade Live In New York (1958) 4:50:

 

 

As we all know, any set of offered jazz changes can only refer to what was played (recorded) by a given group on a given day (or what you want to play/record yourself today/tomorrow).

 

IOW, "the changes" always needs an operational definition!

 

Whenever I can, I like to be able to say: "These are the changes that sound spot-on in-harmony with this-specific-record when played exactly as written." Thusly can you play your instrument (guitar for me) along with the masters to absorb some of their brilliance as to rhythm, harmony, timing, feel, etc.

 

The spot-on part is always "as best as I can determine with my ear by repeated listing/playing/comparing" at my current point of ability. As such, it's always subject to revision/correction as I improve!

 

With all that in mind, of the 3 recordings above, I find the second superior as a reference because it is in tune, very clearly recorded, at a moderate tempo, offers extended time, and is super-fun to play along with.

 

I tried all the changes given in posts above repeatedly, and did not find any of them to be my "exact match" when I played along with the recording.

 

Instead, here is what I have settled on personally as of this writing:

 

 

/Ebmaj7/ Ebmaj7/ Eb-7/ Ab7/

 

/F-7/ F-7/ Ab-7/ Db7/

 

/G-7/ Gb-7/ F-7/ Bb7/

 

1st rpt

 

/G-7/ Gb-7/ F-7/ Bb7/

 

2nd rpt

 

/G-7 C7/ F-7 Bb7/ Ebmaj7/ (F-7 Bb7)/

 

end song on Eb7#9

 

 

Try 'em, especially over the 4 choruses of piano solo starting near the 4:30 mark, where Red Garland's piano solo begins, and see if you agree.

 

Cheers! (and if your ear comes up with different, please post your own "take" on it here)

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...