SOTM July 2020 : Norwegian Wood

[randulo]

Norwegian Wood is a simple melody with two tonal centers, one major, one minor in the same key. The phrases have very few notes and a straightforward rhythm. I think this would be an ideal choice for your first post in SOTM. For advanced players, you can do what John Coltrane did with My Favorite Things, take it way out there with dizzying flights of notes.

RESOURCES mp3 backing track, Eb and Bb PDF, MuseScore and BiaB files could not exist were it not for the indefatigable @nigeld - THANKS!

I've often thought there should be some 6/8 once in a while here! I concocted two versions of backing track, one 145 bpm, one 165 bpm. There's a BiaB file in case you want to generate your own style. I found that file here at the BiaB repo.

After the original Beatles version is a YouTube playlist with 15 version of the tune. After that, some creative versions from SoundCloud. There's no lack of inspiration! One commenter in the Quincy Jones version wrote, "The Beatles should be paying you royalties!" (I can't find that now.)

Let's hear some of the fruits of your labor!

Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)

Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) · The Beatles Rubber Soul ℗ 2009 Calderstone Productions Limited (a divisio...

www.youtube.com

Norwegian Wood (Café SOTM)

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

https://soundcloud.com/jus-wilson%2Fnorwegian-wood View: https://soundcloud.com/jus-wilson/norwegian-wood

https://soundcloud.com/new-orleans-sax-quartet%2Fnorwegian-wood View: https://soundcloud.com/new-orleans-sax-quartet/norwegian-wood

https://soundcloud.com/harmonica-vietnam%2Fnorwegian-wood
View: https://soundcloud.com/harmonica-vietnam/norwegian-wood

https://soundcloud.com/kibeja%2Fnorwegian-wood View: https://soundcloud.com/kibeja/norwegian-wood

Norwegian Wood

Corría el verano en la selva tropical, donde caminaban perdidos entre lianas y arbustos seis individuos completamente desconocidos. El verano era largo, los propósitos de sus viajes y el rumbo de esto

soundcloud.com

Again,

RESOURCES mp3 backing track, Eb and Bb PDF, MuseScore and BiaB files could not exist were it not for the indefatigable @nigeld - THANKS!

 

[rhysonsax]

Nice choice @randulo .

Here is the soprano version I recorded in October 2017 when we had a month of Beatles songs here on the forum.

Norwegian Wood - Rhys sop V2.wav - Box

Rhys

 

[randulo]

Nice choice @randulo .
Here is the soprano version I recorded in October 2017 when we had a month of Beatles songs here on the forum.

Thanks! I expected you to do one with a saxophone quartet!

Not only a nice version, but I should have maybe mentioned it's a good tune for soprano. I have recorded a few as well.

 

[randulo]

Go, Victor Wooten! (Commenter: "He's like the Jackie Chan of bass!")

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VwGcE2IOMc

 

[Pete Effamy]

I love the tune. Tempted..

 

[nigeld]

I love the tune. Tempted..

Go on. Yield to the temptation!

 

[randulo]

Also, this song is perfect for those who play by ear, IMO. Find the first note, which is an A on Eb and a D on Bb instruments. Then find the following notes by ear. Excellent training. The first part is on a major scale. You should to be able to find those notes without much trouble. The second part is on a minor scale, so again, you can try to find them. The bridge also starts on the same note. It's a great lesson for the ear. Additionally, it can be played in any idiom and any time signature.

EDIT: Having said the above, I realized while out, that the end of the melody is NOT major. Still, if you find the notes, only the last four go "outside" to the Cm7.

I was tempted to play it in E like The Beatles, because on the alto, this allows you to practice hitting the low Bb. (It's the final note in the first melody.) NO! F# concert is the key to play it in on alto if you want the low Bb (C# concert).

 

[Halfers]

The descending melody is quite meditative to finger, if that makes sense..

 

[GCinCT]

We did this song in my Big Band last year and I took a solo. I may have to take a shot at this. Great tune!

 

[randulo]

I did this one three months ago. I'll have a new, very different one, soon. It's in Ab, to grab the low Eb which I wasn't doing as well as I should have.

https://soundcloud.com/randulo%2Fnorwegian-wood View: https://soundcloud.com/randulo/norwegian-wood?in=randulo/sets/alto-sax-practice

 

[Nikki]

This is a lovely song. I’ll try and download it. Good choice.

 

[randulo]

A general comment for those of you new to the idea of the songs and ballads of the month. You'll always find at least one backing track to work with, but there are usually many others in different styles available on YouTube or via searches. There are not many of this song, though.The chords of this tune in particular are easy to enter into iReal Pro or Band in a Box (aka BiaB). I will try to generate a few more.

 

[Nikki]

Also, this song is perfect for those who play by ear, IMO. Find the first note, which is an A on Eb and a D on Bb instruments. Then find the following notes by ear. Excellent training. The first part is on a major scale. You should to be able to find those notes without much trouble. The second part is on a minor scale, so again, you can try to find them. The bridge also starts on the same note. It's a great lesson for the ear. Additionally, it can be played in any idiom and any time signature.

EDIT: Having said the above, I realized while out, that the end of the melody is NOT major. Still, if you find the notes, only the last four go "outside" to the Cm7.

I was tempted to play it in E like The Beatles, because on the alto, this allows you to practice hitting the low Bb. (It's the final note in the first melody.)

I play all my songs by ear only

 

[randulo]

I've added two more styles with piano at 150bpm, one in the key of Bb which I like better on alto.

NW SOTM July2020 - Google Drive

drive.google.com

 

[Jmoen3]

Hello everyone! First timer here for Cafe Saxophone, but I'll be happy to join in for this great tune!

 

[nigeld]

Hello everyone! First timer here for Cafe Saxophone, but I'll be happy to join in for this great tune!

Go for it! Everyone is welcome.

 

[randulo]

even me.
In F# on the alto the low Bb gets some respect
https://soundcloud.com/randulo%2Fnorwegian-woody-f View: https://soundcloud.com/randulo/norwegian-woody-f

 

[Halfers]

My effort!

https://soundcloud.com/user-380338591%2Fa-norwegian-would View: https://soundcloud.com/user-380338591/a-norwegian-would

 

[randulo]

Nicely done!

 

[randulo]

A pair of soprano takes

https://soundcloud.com/randulo%2Fnorwegian-woody-blues View: https://soundcloud.com/randulo/norwegian-woody-blues


https://soundcloud.com/randulo%2Fnorwegian-woodwork-1 View: https://soundcloud.com/randulo/norwegian-woodwork-1