Don't Blame Me

Step 2 of 8 Now playing✓ Heard

Hear a small group sing it

The King Cole Trio · 1944

The Complete Capitol Recordings of the Nat King Cole Trio

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Listen for

The group is Cole at the piano and voice with a guitar and a bass. There are no horns and no drums, so listen for the space the three players leave.

Try this

Play the song at the piano with chords in the right hand and single bass notes in the left. Keep the touch light, as the trio does.

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Hear it as a bebop ballad

Charlie Parker (Original Charlie Parker Quintet) · 1947

Dial 1021

C major · 4/4 · swing · 64 bpm (slow)

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Listen for

The quintet has Miles Davis on trumpet with Parker on alto saxophone. The whole track runs 2:46, so it makes a compact version to follow against the chart.

Try this

Play the chart through once at a slow tempo with one chord per bar, then follow the form along with the record and count where the bridge starts.

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Hear a piano trio play it

The Oscar Peterson Trio · 1954

Oscar Peterson Plays Jimmy McHugh

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Listen for

The trio has piano, guitar and bass, with no drums. Listen to what the guitar and the bass each do under the piano.

Try this

Play the melody in the right hand and the chord from the chart on the first beat of each bar in the left hand. Keep it at a slow ballad tempo.

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Hear trombone and piano share the tune

Bud Powell · 1957 · Bebop

The Amazing Bud Powell, Vol. 3: Bud!

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Listen for

Piano and trombone share the front line over bass and drums. The track runs 7:34, so use the chart to keep your place.

Try this

Loop the eight-bar A section from the chart at a slow tempo. Play only the chord tones of each chord (for Cmaj7 that is C, E, G and B). If you can improvise over changes, try short phrases on top.

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Hear a trio with drums

The Barry Harris Trio · 1960

“Don't Blame Me (take 2, live)”, Barry Harris at the Jazz Workshop

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Listen for

This is a piano, bass and drums trio recorded live. Compare the drums here with the drummerless Peterson trio.

Try this

Play the melody and basic chords along with the first chorus. Then play it again and tap the beat with the drums.

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Hear the song played alone

Thelonious Monk · 1963 · Post-bop

“Don't Blame Me (take 1)”, Criss-Cross

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Listen for

Monk is the only player, so you hear the melody and chords from one pianist. Follow the chart to hear where the bridge begins.

Try this

Play the bridge by itself from the chart: Fmaj7, E7, Am7, D7, Dm7, A♭7, G7, one chord per bar. Then add the melody on top.

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Hear a modern solo piano version

McCoy Tyner · 1988 · Post-bop, Modal jazz

“Don't Blame Me (live at Merkin Hall)”, Revelations

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Listen for

Tyner is the only player, as Monk was. Compare the two solo versions side by side.

Try this

Play the two ii–V pairs from the first A section of the chart (Dm7♭5 to G7, then Em7♭5 to A7) slowly, then play the whole first A section.