La section ‘A’

Lesson: A Section in G

Introduction

So let's start with the A section. Of course, we're in the key of G. So just a simple G chord to start with.

Chord Breakdown

• Now, it's a G over B.
  • This means:
    • Right hand is G
    • Left hand is a B.
• That's it in the most simplest of forms.

First Bar

The first bar we've got:

"Let me tell you about a girl, C that I know, D7."

You'll see, like we were doing before, looking at an inversion.

• D7: We're moving the C at the top.
• We're going to move it down to the bottom just so it's a bit more comfortable for our hands to play.

First Line

So this first line is as simple as this:

"Let me tell you about a girl that I know and again, she's my baby, she lives next door."

Now there's a stab.

Creating Dramatic Effect

This stab, in my mind, is how we can use the piano to create a real dramatic effect:

• Stab on the G.
• So we're gonna hit it nice and sharp to C.

Next Chord

The next chord is this:

• We're going to have a C sharp in the left hand.
• Now, this is A again, a nice inversion:
  • G in the thumb
  • Second finger on the B flat
  • Third finger on the C sharp
  • Little finger on the E.

Back to the G.

Progression

A D over F sharp:

• Now again, that means:
  • D in the right hand
  • F sharp in the left hand.

It's E minor 7.

Turnaround

Then, "Hallelujah, I love her so" is a little trick, a little turnaround that we use, which is called a 2, 5, 1.

• Now, 2, 5, 1 is the root note.

• So we're in the key of G.

• The one is the G, which makes the two the second chord of G.

• If one is G, two is A because it's the next note in the chord.

  • So the two is always A minor seven.

• Okay? So if we think:

  • 2 minor seven, which would mean A minor seven.

Sequence

So, A minor seven to the five, which is always A major seven.

• The fifth chord in the scale of G:
  • G, A, B, C, D.

Of course, this becomes the D seventh.

• D7 back to G, which is one.

Familiarity

That V I is so familiar to the ear; it feels comfortable, it feels safe. And we know we've ended that sequence.

• So a 2, 5, 1 in this case would be A minor 7, D7 back to G.

Play Along

Okay, so play along with that.

• Have a look at the A section.

• I'll play it for you now at tempo in the most simple form and then we can look at how we can develop it.

• C back to the G 2, 5, 1.

Conclusion

So that's the A section. Now let's move on and have a look at how we can make this bluesy and make it your own!