Music Lesson: "Mr. Bojangles"

Introduction

"Mr. Bojangles." Great song! You know what makes a great song? It's good lyrics and a great melody. Too often, I think writers just come up with a nice idea and then stick whatever tune comes to mind. That's not how you create a great song. However, I love to play this one.

Rhythm and Melody

• It has a unique rhythm that I play between each section.
• The song features a moving bass line throughout, blending low bass with harmony simultaneously.
• There are also little slurs that give a country sound to the melody, inspired by:
  • Bob Wills on the fiddle
  • Floyd Cramer on the piano

Chord Changes

Let's break down the chord changes:

• We start with F Major 7.
• I usually slide up that E A with the G in the bass.
• A minor D leads into an A minor seven and then a diminished chord (I apologize for that confusion).
• After repeating the melody, we transition back to F Major 7 and then to E minor seven.

Adding Jazz Changes

I incorporate jazz changes to make the tune a little more interesting. Then, it transitions to the chorus, which I play back to the intro.

Improvisation

Right here, I improvise on the melody because I refuse to play the same melody again.

• You have to keep it interesting.
• Think of it as telling a story: if you tell it again, you need to add more details, much like telling a joke.

I change the melody this way, adjusting where necessary. For example, I move from a B flat down to a G.

Finger Technique

It's very important, when playing, to keep your little finger anchored. This technique makes it a lot easier to navigate the strings:

• If your fingers are flying up all the time, finding the strings again can become troublesome.
• Keeping a finger anchored is crucial.

Final Chords

I enjoy that little jazz change from B flat to D minor, then returning to the chorus of "Mr. Bojangles."

I end the song with a chromatic bass line to an A flat and then a G. The ending has a flavor similar to a Beatles tune, though I can't recall which one. But, you know what? I don't care, I use it anyway!

Conclusion

That's it! Enjoy playing "Mr. Bojangles."