Around The Block

Music Lesson: "So Around the Block" in Standard Tuning

"So Around the Block" in standard tuning has a few little quirks to it. You can see that with the opening lick, as I've spread the melody out over the strings.

Opening Lick

• Rather than doing it in one position, I play a brush on the back beats on beat two.
• That's the main thing.

B Section

The second time that plays, it goes into the B section, which starts at measure 12.

It's a little tricky, so let me get it right this time.

• On the E minor, I'm sticking around that position.
• Then, in measure 24, you get that C shape with the open string on top, giving you an F sharp 7 and then an F major 7.
• Finally, it goes back to the theme.

This time it doesn't repeat; it goes to what I would call the chorus.

Chorus

Let me play that again starting from measure 37:

• It starts with a C sharp minor 7 flat 5 to a C6.
  • Be careful as you need to stretch a little bit with this one.
• Then, move to an F sharp seven over A sharp and then to a C seven.

Notice how I'm voicing that C seven, and then the B flat seven sus four is like that.

Next Section

Now, going into the next section starting at measure 45:

• I'm moving from a C minor to an E minor to an F sharp diminished.
• This bit is tricky; it includes a C over E with an added D on top.

Let me go over that section again:

• I'll do that again.

After that, it's back to the main theme and the chorus. Then, you're going to go back to the sign, which brings you back to the B section.

Coda Section

As the tune progresses with the repeats, you'll end up in the coda section:

• Starting at measure 77, coming out of that, you enter the chorus, or, not the chorus, the verse.
• This section will do its repeat into the chorus section.

Then again. After that, we have a sort of extension to finish things up.