Chorus Number Two: Analysis and Variations

So let's look at chorus number two.

Main Riff

The main riff begins in the right hand, like this:

1, 2, 3.

This section is, again, something very distinctive within this piece. He uses lots of different variations of it, so I'm using those fingers which kind of makes sense.

Listening Challenge

Now, that bit I was struggling to hear on the recording. This is a kind of variation on it.

Inversions and Chords

We've got this inversion:

• The seventh in the key of C
• On the chord of C, we've got the seventh and the ninth.

So, it's kind of outlining that riff which is outlining a ninth chord.

When it goes up to the F7, he actually uses an inversion. That would be in the same inversion that he'd done on the chord of C, but he kind of does something a little bit funny.

Note Variations

• Instead of the G, he's going...
• What was thirds is now sixths.
• Although he plays the first one with an A, as far as I can tell from that kind of scratchy recording.

Then, back down again, he plays it with those sixths.

Big Chords and Alternatives

So, we've got those big chords there. If you can't quite reach that stretch, which is a ninth, you could just play it with a G.

Or there's that riff again.

Creative Exploration

This riff is something that you can do all sorts of stuff with, all kinds of variations. These kinds of things are used by Pinetop at the end of the tune when he goes up.

You can see this material, which is the high point of the song at the end, is drawn from the beginning of the song. It's all built on the same material.

So, let your creativity go wild. Just a few little ideas for you there.