Dave Brubeck's classic, Take 5 uses only two chords throughout, for both the main melody and
the subsequent improvisations. It's in a minor key (we've chosen F here, but the original the more challenging Eb) and
the whole piece rocks back and forth between chords I and V of the scale - F and C, only
instead of the traditional major chord on the fifth, we have instead a minor 7th.
The next step of course is to add the famous five-in-a-bar pattern, giving three beats to F minor and two to C minor.
Melody and improvisation
The main tune (and most of the improvisation that follows) uses a traditional blues scale - here it is in F.
And the same transposed for the alto saxophone, in the key of D :
The key to making a convincing Take 5 sound is to move around the notes of the blues scale using the
dotted rhythm found in the accompaniment. I've notated a short extract, the midi file has a longer example.
And the same again, with the transposition for alto saxophone
Obviously that's only a start on the kind of improvisations you can get up to, but it's probably enough to get you hooked on that Take 5 vibe!
Take Five - Piano Solo
By Dave Brubeck Quartet. By Paul Desmond. For solo piano. This edition: Piano/Vocal/Chords. Artist/Personality; Piano/Vocal/Chords; Sheet; Solo. Jazz. SMP Level 8 (Early Advanced). Single. Chord names (does not include words to the songs). 4 pages. Published by Alfred Music (AP.0158TSMX).
The Dave Brubeck Anthology
(Piano Solos). By Dave Brubeck. For Piano. Artist/Personality; Piano - Personality Book; Piano Supplemental. Jazz. Advanced; Early Advanced; Intermediate; Late Intermediate. Book. 304 pages. Published by Alfred Music (AP.PFM0218).
Seriously Brubeck (Original Music by Dave Brubeck)
(Original Music by Dave Brubeck). By Dave Brubeck. By Dave Brubeck. Edited by Gail Lew and John Salmon. For solo piano. Artist/Personality; Piano - Personality Book; Piano Supplemental. Piano - Personality Book. Jazz and 20th Century. Advanced; Early Advanced. Collection. Standard notation, fingerings and introductory text (does not include words to the songs). 206 pages. Published by Alfred Music (AP.ELM02027).
The Genius of Dave Brubeck - Book 1
(Piano Solos). By Dave Brubeck. For solo piano. Artist/Personality; Piano - Personality Book; Piano Supplemental. Jazz. SMP Level 9 (Advanced). Collection. Fingerings and chord names (does not include words to the songs). 78 pages. Published by Alfred Music (AP.TPF0130).
Volume 105 - Dave Brubeck "In Your Own Sweet Way"
Composed by Dave Brubeck. Edited by Jamey Aebersold. For any C, Eb, Bb, bass instrument or voice. Play-Along series with accompaniment CD. Jamey Aebersold Play-A-Long series. Intermediate, advanced. Book & CD. 72 pages. Published by Jamey Aebersold Jazz (JA.V105DS).
Selections from A Dave Brubeck Christmas
(Piano Solos). By Dave Brubeck. For solo piano. Artist/Personality; Piano - Personality Book; Piano Supplemental. Christmas and Jazz. SMP Level 8 (Early Advanced). Collection. Standard notation and chord names (does not include words to the songs). 36 pages. Published by Alfred Music (AP.0157B).
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