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You are here: Home / Guitar Chord Songbook / Days of Wine and Roses Guitar Chord Lesson

Days of Wine and Roses Guitar Chord Lesson

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Song Background
The Song Days Of Wine and Roses is from the 1962 film of the same name. The music was written by Henry Mancini with lyrics penned by Johnny Mercer. Andy Williams sang the version used for the titles of the Film. Many other artists have performed it over the years and it is well established as part of the jazz repetoire. Some of my favourite versions are listed below.
Guitar Chord Progression Analysis

Distinctively the I chord in the progression moves to the bVII chord and then the VI7 chord. Mostly through the rest of the progression we have II-V turnarounds. As with many songs of this genre, the key to playing the progressions well is having the right chord shapes under your fingers to pull out when you need to. When played in a fingerpicking style, I think this song and chord progression lends itself well to playing a walking bass line along with the chords. 

Further Reading:

Go to my Days of Wine and Roses and adding a bass line blog where i look at how we can go about creating different styles of guitar chord progression arrangements

Herb Ellis Jazz Guitarist – Days of Wine and Roses blog where you’ll find a great rendition of the sing and a short biography on this great guitarist

Suggested Listening

Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass

Album -Easy Living

You can here the walking bass line movement that I talk of in Joe Pass’s playing. Joe was a master of this style.

Frank Sanatra

Album – Days of Wine and Roses

Listen to Frank Sanatra’s phrasing of the melody. Jazz musicians for decades have learned loads from Frank Sanatra’s phrasing. It’s not just the notes you play but how you phrase them

Earl Klugh

Album – The Earl Klugh Trio Volume 1

Very subtle rendition by Earl Klugh on nylon strung guitar….great fingerpicking technique

Wes Montgomery

Album – Pretty Blue

Lovely sustained jazz sound, full chords, mellow, brilliant

 

 

 

Which artist’s version of Days of Wine and Roses would you recommend? Tell me about it and I can feature it here

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