Brazilian Rhythms

Music Lesson: Fly Me to the Moon

Now, our next tune is based on the chords of "Fly Me to the Moon," a really well-known jazz standard. You've probably heard it sung by Frank Sinatra, and there are many versions you could check out.

Chord Structure

This tune uses the chords we've just been playing. It's based on the diatonic cycle in C, but it doesn't start on C. It basically starts on the VI chord:

• A minor
• D minor
• G7
• C major
• F major
• B half diminished
• E7
• A minor

Secondary Dominant

Now, you may have noticed that E7 has a G sharp in it. That's not in the key of C, is it? So, this is what we call a secondary dominant. Normally, the three chord in the key of C would be E minor 7. You already know this, but because it's going to A minor, which is going to be the last chord of the sequence, putting the G sharp in turns it into a dominant chord.

• The E7 chord wants to resolve to A minor.

This is a natural progression. By simply changing that G natural to a G sharp, we've created a nuance in our chord sequence.

Chord Sequence Analysis

If you look at the chord sequence, we've got:

• 2, 2, 5, 1s.
• A 2, 5, 1 in C.
• A II, V, I in A minor.

As you probably know, A minor is the relative minor key to C major. So, this is a very clever little device because we're implying both keys at once.

• To start with, it feels like we're in C.
• For the second half of those eight bars, it feels like we're going to the key of A minor.

We've modulated to the relative minor.

Playing the Chords

We're going to play these chords in the right hand in the next tune: Bossa Nova Comping Number One.

In the left hand, we'll play a simple bass line based on the root and fifth. I'll play the fifth alternately above and below the root.

Let's practice this with the metronome before we do the full tune:

Count: 1, 2, 1, 2, 3, 4.

That's what you're going to be doing in the left hand.

Right Hand Rhythm

In the right hand, we're going to play those same chords without jumping, maintaining the same rhythm in every bar.

This is one of the simplest bossa or Latin rhythms:

• Play the first two chords on the beat.
• Play the second one on the count of three.

And so, that's going to sound like this.

All right, let's have a go!