Joe P Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 Folks, I will be playing cocktail piano at my in-laws' Christmas Eve party and will be doing some standards like Misty, Unforgettable etc. with mediocre skill. My old teacher gave me a few intros way back when like ii-V-I, or I-vi-ii-V-I. These are okay but I could use a few more. So, got any tips for intros? Regards, Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iLaw Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 Tip 1: Weave the intro around a recognizable fragment of the melody. For example, if it's "Misty," you could weave an intro around iterations (maybe modulated or starting on different scale steps) of the descending 5-3-7 phrase that figures prominently in the melody. Tip 2: When lost for a better idea, make something up out of the last eight or sixteen bars of the tune. Larry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Horne Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 ... the last eight bars of the tune as an intro No guitarists were harmed during the making of this message. In general, harmonic complexity is inversely proportional to the ratio between chording and non-chording instruments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marino Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 ... the last eight bars of the tune as an intro Absolutely. Either that, or some kind of turnaround: I - VI7 - II7 - V7 I - VI7 - bVI7 - bII7 I - bII dim. - ii - V7 alt. iii - bIII dim. - ii - bIII dim. etc. etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Threadslayer Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 boom-de-yada, boom-de-yada, boom-de-yada, boom-de-yada Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect. -Mark Twain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phred Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 Last 4 - 8 of the tune is pretty standard for me. For a singalong, I'll play the melody of the last 4 - 8 as the intro, and then switch to chords and bass for the singing part. I'm just saying', everyone that confuses correlation with causation eventually ends up dead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montunoman Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 Get this book: Intros, Endings and Turnarounds for Keyboard: Essential Phrases for Swing, Latin, Jazz Waltz, and Blues Styles By John Valerio Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SK Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 The last 8 bars works fine, although I don't do it that often. The turnarounds Carlo gave are standard and will work well. The absolute simplest is just to vamp briefly on the 5th (a sus chord, whatever, or II V) in or out of tempo, play a few lines to set the mood, and just go into the song from there. Depends on the song and how you want to set it up. CD: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/stevekessler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe P Posted December 11, 2009 Author Share Posted December 11, 2009 Thanks to all! I'll try them tonight at practice. Great thing about this Forum for me is to not be afraid to ask a simple question like that and get straight forward answers from top notch pros. Thanks guys. You too Wastrel! Regards, Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Threadslayer Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 Thanks guys. You too Wastrel! Regards, Joe I'm not just sure how to take that Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect. -Mark Twain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nillerbabs Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 I don't know if I'm too late with this, but a great one (albeit it does not stand being overused) is the Ladybird turnaround: Imaj7 - bIIImaj7 - bVImaj7 - bIImaj7 i.e. Cmaj7 - Ebmaj7 - Abmaj7 - Dbmaj7. A great-sounding classic. When in doubt, superimpose pentatonics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe P Posted December 15, 2009 Author Share Posted December 15, 2009 I don't know if I'm too late with this, but a great one (albeit it does not stand being overused) is the Ladybird turnaround: Imaj7 - bIIImaj7 - bVImaj7 - bIImaj7 i.e. Cmaj7 - Ebmaj7 - Abmaj7 - Dbmaj7. A great-sounding classic. Yes Niller, I love the flat II-I. I use it at the end of White Christmas in C playing an arpeggiated 10th on the Db. Very rich tone. Regards, Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe P Posted December 15, 2009 Author Share Posted December 15, 2009 Thanks guys. You too Wastrel! Regards, Joe I'm not just sure how to take that Wastrel, I was just bustin' yer chops. No offense intended, I hope none taken! Regards, Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edgar Summers Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 I use the last 4-8 bars of "Misty" to introduce ALL my songs "Music should never be harmless." Robbie Robertson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter the swede Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 I use the first 2 bars of march millitair by schubert as introduction on All my songs I play... Gets the people going so to speak. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SK Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 I use the last 4-8 bars of "Misty" to introduce ALL my songs I use the bridge. CD: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/stevekessler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Threadslayer Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 Thanks guys. You too Wastrel! Regards, Joe I'm not just sure how to take that Wastrel, I was just bustin' yer chops. No offense intended, I hope none taken! Regards, Joe None taken. The way it was worded just reminded me of the old line: "Ladies and Gentlemen... Oh - and you too, Bubba!" Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect. -Mark Twain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe P Posted December 15, 2009 Author Share Posted December 15, 2009 I am waiting for somebody to say they use Swanee River to intro all their songs a la Ed Norton! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phred Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 When I play Christmas tunes, I _end_ every one of them with 2 bars of Jingle bells. I'm just saying', everyone that confuses correlation with causation eventually ends up dead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridog6996 Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 Depends on the situation. For a brief introduction, I usually use some type of formulaic turnaround. Sometimes using the bridge works well. "Monk's Mood" is a tune where I'll often make an introduction out of the bridge. For something extended, I either do what Ilaw said and improvise something based off a particular motive from the tune or I just make up something that may be completely unrelated, although usually the former. My YouTube Channel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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