Beginner (playing) What would you do with G7sus4 G9?

[mizmar]

Tom Waits' song "I hope that i don't fall in love with you" has a simple harmony, mostly, (if in C) of: C F G7sus4 G9 with no singing over the Gs.
If you where invited to noodle along, my guess would be that that would be the place for a bit if a fill?

Any thoughts?

- the web says it's in C and I got the notes in C... But
- as far as I can work out the recording below is in D (concert)
- I've got as far as playing the melody (Tenor, E) along with the soundtrack below, which is nice but, I'd guess, not the things to do with people - although one repeat (in the middle) maybe, where Mr Waits just first la la la.

View: https://youtu.be/EtLVXBqfqBY

You can see the harmony structure on any online music store. Eg.

Tom Waits "I Hope That I Don't Fall In Love With You" Sheet Music in C Major (transposable) - Download & Print

I Hope That I Don't Fall In Love With You sheet music by Tom Waits. Sheet music arranged for Piano/Vocal/Guitar in C Major (transposable).

www.musicnotes.com

 

[Pete Thomas]

To keep it simple I would just use the notes of the C scale if in the key of C.

If you want to think chords, it can be useful for beginners optionally to think of the Gsus as a Dm7 if you want, partly because it’s a G9sus anyway.

Otherwise just think G7 (or G9) but with a C instead of a B.

 

[skeller047]

G7sus4 is just another way of saying Dm7/G. Especially since it goes to G9, so the A in the Dm7 won't clash. So it's really just a ii-V over a V pedal.

Think of this like a harmonic decoration, rather than a significant chord change. ii-V can almost always be treated as just the V, or just the ii, or you can play the changes as is.. Your fill should lead naturally to the next entry of the vocal. If you are soloing over the whole progression then you have even more freedom. Don't overthink it.

 

[PiccoloPirate]

This site is handy if there is no keyboard, guitar or melodica.
GBDFC
GDFAC
Not necessarily in that order.

G7sus4 Piano Chord

www.scales-chords.com

Dm7\G Piano Chord

www.scales-chords.com

 

[eb424]

Are you playing to the original. Karaoke version is in C so D would be right..I like it because I can play to the lyrics then remove them..Sorry not much help with chords..I use the app on my phone to isolate the part i need put it on loop use the notes from the key, and noodle away..

 

[Nick Wyver]

I would ignore it and use my ears.

 

[Pete Thomas]

I would ignore it and use my ears.

That makes perfect sense to me. Although in this case you don't need your ears to work too hard. If you just use notes from the C (major) scale, none of them will actually be "wrong"

 

[mizmar]

I would ignore it and use my ears.

Yeah, but I can't use your ears

Obviously I use my own ears, but they're no were as experienced as the many people to whom I've directed the question.

I can, however hear, the geeetar picking out chord tones to set up the next sung line, and that's fine. And I was wondering if anyone - with more experience and better ears - could suggest interesting phrase and tones to pick up.

 

[mizmar]

Are you playing to the original. Karaoke version is in C so D would be right

I think the performance version, linked, is in D concert. I actually first played it on penny whistle - in C and that sounded wrong and D right (all concert); and then an app said D... But, like I said above, I've got poor musical ears (improving, though).

There's a back story of a mate from the singing group - base and geetar - who asked if I wanted to play along; I said no, but he sent his Spotify list so I'm having a look. But I don't just want to play the lyrics... There'll be singing... Maybe one verse.

Mind you, the song is quite nice on low D whistle

 

[lydian]

Not sure which chord you're after since A7sus is in the title, then you switched to G7sus in the thread. But assuming you mean G7sus, there's a great Brecker lick I learned as a kid that sounds amazing on sus chords. Uses G bebop scale and D dorian in your case. This was mostly 32nd notes in the original, but you can slow it down mix it up:
GF#FEDEFGABCDEEbDEFGACBAGF#F(up to)C(down to)AFEDC#EC#DCBA...

Original in measures 93-94 below, starting around 4:35

View: https://youtu.be/eiOGuLSkpJk

 

[Pete Thomas]

This was mostly 32nd notes in the original, but you can slow it down mix it up:
GF#FEDEFGABCDEEbDEFGACBAGF#F(up to)C(down to)AFEDC#EC#DCBA...

For beginners???

 

[mizmar]

Not sure which chord you're after since A7sus is in the title, then you switched to G7sus in the thread.

Yes. Because there's some fluidity between the original being in (concert) C or D... I'm currently practicing (Tenor/ Bb) E... It's the fifth of the key, maybe asking "V7sus4 V9 too I" would have been more neutral ?
Anyway, your suggestion is brilliant but beyond my fingers ... But I'll see if it suggests anything

 

[lydian]

Yes. Because there's some fluidity between the original being in (concert) C or D... I'm currently practicing (Tenor/ Bb) E... It's the fifth of the key, maybe asking "V7sus4 V9 too I" would have been more neutral ?
Anyway, your suggestion is brilliant but beyond my fingers ... But I'll see if it suggests anything

Like I said, you can take it as slow as you need and only do small snippets. It lays really easily under the fingers. The few chromatic passing notes get you smoothly onto the chord tones at the right times. I learned it back in the early 80s, before youtube and digital recordings. Took me a while to figure out and learn. But it sounded so good, I couldn't resist.

For beginners???

For any level. You don't have to play it ver batim at speed or even the whole thing. It's a great source for ideas even if you can't pull off the whole thing, with the bebop scale and D dorian approach. If you convert to 8th notes, it's 8 bars worth of material, each 8 note phrase a little self contained lick which could easily stand alone. I learned it as an intermediate player (3rd year of band), same as the OP, according to his info box.

Going further, there are double-time Bird licks I play at half speed all the time. Still sounds great and doesn't require Bird's virtuosity. Brecker's material is no different. It usually lays pretty easily taken at slower speeds.

 

[thomsax]

Just learn the lyrics and play your fillings with your own words. answer the singer or just just play a comment. Don't make easy songs too complicated. And if you are going to play in the background just follow the singer and hold back your sax. When I write easy I don't think that it's easy to play on the sax. If I was going to do this, I guess I have to practice a lot.

"Well, I hope that I don't fall in love with you"
Answer or comment with your sax. If it's an ugly old man (like me) or a good looking woman .... are you playing the same?

"And it being late, you'd like some company"
No, no, no .. how to get out this.

We need more saxophone education in "brukssax" so we can sing with our saxes. I would use the singing scale and add some tones from the major scale , or even wilder, borrow from other scales.

I'm sure you can do it. Good luck.

 

[Pete Thomas]

If you where invited to noodle along, my guess would be that that would be the place for a bit if a fill?

Yes, the two bar of G9sus to G9 is the perfect place to play. Noodle doesn’t sound like the right word though as it implies you aren’t really thinking about what you play

Just learn the lyrics and play your fillings with your own words. answer the singer or just just play a comment. Don't make easy songs too complicated.

Exactly. Learn the words and melody so what you play complements the singer and the song.

 

[Pete Thomas]

Yes. Because there's some fluidity between the original being in (concert) C or D...

I've changed the title for less confusion. It makes sense to discuss in concert pitch of the sheet music you linked.

 

[mizmar]

I've changed the title for less confusion. It makes sense to discuss in concert pitch of the sheet music you linked.

Yeah. As I said "V7sus4 V9" just felt too weird as a thread title to so I wasn't sure wait what was best.