“Imagine” Chord Melody

by | Chord Melody, Fingerstyle

Hope you had a chance to check my previous video lesson in which I shared a chord melody arrangement of a Beatles tune…but re-harmonized using some Coltrane Changes! This week I am happy to bring you another Beatles related solo guitar arrangement. It is a jazzy rendition of one of John Lennon’s most beautiful compositions recorded during his post Beatles career… Imagine!

This concept of taking songs from the classic rock repertoire and giving them a jazzier treatment isn’t always well received by everyone. This is the same problem the pioneering  bebop musicians had with the early standards, many of which were originally popular ballads.

Last week’s Beatles arrangement with Coltrane changes, to my surprise offended some viewers. If you check out the initial comments for it pinned at the top of the You Tube post, I was accused of creating an arrogant mockery and not having any respect for the original composition. Of course, this couldn’t be farther from reality! So I’m eager to hear your thoughts in the comments section down below. Want more?

PDF & AUDIO DOWNLOAD:

The Imagine Files can be downloaded for $7.50 (buy me a cup of coffee and a snack?). Your contribution is much appreciated, as it helps support the site and allows me to keep investing the long hours required to produce these lessons. The download includes: a PDF of the transcription with both regular notation and TAB, an MP3 of the arrangement, a Band In A Box file featuring the arrangement and rhythm section, and a MIDI file.

For those that don’t use PayPal…when you click the button below, it will give you the option to pay with any major credit card without the need to sign up for PayPal. Note that you must be logged in for the payment and download links to be visible!

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9 Comments

  1. pit jensen

    Love this arrangement.
    Please do more of this stuff.

    • Richie Zellon

      Nice…thanks for sharing.

  2. Jazzy Beatle

    Richie,

    As my handle indicates, I have no problem with your approach to classic rock songs. As a matter of fact, I have Hal Leonard publication entitled ‘The Beatles For Jazz Guitar.’ How far one takes an arrangement is an individual choice. It doesn’t matter what someone else thinks of it. Personally, I like both the sophistication and sound of your arrangements. This is why I look forward to your future course on chord melody. In the meantime, please feel free to do ‘more like this.’ How about the Beatles’ ‘In My Life’ from the Rubber Soul album?

    Regards,

    Gerard

      • Jazzy Beatle

        Thanks for the full-length samples. I saw the YouTube video about two years ago.
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTY_nmFoUe4

        As it turns out CDBaby provided the album to YouTube. I have listened to it. That is an interesting fusion of the Beatles’ music, Afro-Peruvian rhythms and jazz. Is it an example of practical application of jazzology or rather; here comes the new word; ‘zellonology’? Sorry for butchering your surname, but it seems so respectfully fitting.

        The album is fantastic. The more I listen to it, the better it gets, if you know what I mean. I wouldn’t mind adding the album to my collection, but I can’t find the actual CD or at least CD quality download. I find MP3s lacking in sound quality. I think that CD quality is the minimum for full immersion experience of the art form, but that’s only by the way.

        Last but not least, stay clear of Hurricane Dorian!

        • Richie Zellon

          Thanks Gerard…I love the new word…zellonology..good title if I ever record again 🙂

          • Larry Garnett

            Great idea.

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