The Shadow Of Your Smile Tutorial
In this lesson, we’re going to look at the jazz standard ‘The Shadow Of Your Smile’.
The tune is usually played in G Major which is the version we are working from, but you will find versions of the song in other keys. The tune follows a 32 measure AB form and has quite a repetitive melody with similar melodic phrasing used throughout.
‘The Shadow Of Your Smile’ is also often played as a bossa but in this lesson, we are going to play it as a ballad to learn the chords and changes. In a future lesson, we will then revisit the tune and add a bossa nova rhythm.
We’re going to start off with some 2 handed voicings and play through the form exactly as it’s written. Then the second time through, we will add some passing chords and suspended harmony to add more interest and movement to the chord changes.
Related Lessons
In this lesson we are going to look at some alternative ways to voice minor 251s with our left hand. We introduce the -11b5 chord and its inversions.
We explore voicings for each note of the dorian mode. Watch this and never again get stuck on what to play for minor chords!
Minor harmony is much more complex than major harmony and so the minor 251 progression takes much more time and patience to master.
Practice Tips
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This tune can be played as a ballad, at a medium tempo, and also with a bossa nova feel.
- Listen to many different recordings to get a flavour for how this tune is commonly interpreted.
