I Want to be Happy Homer and Jethro

[scapier]

So I asked noted musician John Eubanks to chart out the mandolin part for "I Want to be Happy" from the Homer and Jethro Catalog. He did an amazing job and charged a very reasonable price. He's allowed me to post it here too which is awesome of him. I hope to ask him to do a couple more charts for me as lately I just don't have the time to parse stuff out but I do have time to learn the thing if someone can chart it for me. Here's the tune, and it's a gold mine of musical ideas, ain't it?

Spencer Capier

[johnparrott]

Fun to look at, impossible to play...for me, anyway. Adding the basic chords would be helpful to anyone working on this. .

It makes you realize why mandolin players don't try and play like Jethro even if they'd love to. It's just too hard!

[Michael Weaver]

I love playing Jethro tunes. Challenge is the fun part! Try the tune "Flickin' My Pick". Jethro has it listed as advanced in his book, but I don't think it's that difficult. It will stretch your hand for sure. If you need a copy of a few I would be willing to snap some pics and email them to you, just let me know.

[mandroid]

The comp chords ,Ie, including Homer's part would be nice.

[John Eubanks]

spencer thanks for posting this. I will add chord changes and get you the updated copy. I have a lead sheet to the tune containing the basic chords and melody if anyone is interested. I enjoyed working on this transcription.

[swampstomper]

!! I've been working on FmP for a few years now. To me it's fun but hard: (1) anything in Ab 1st position is the maximum stretch, (2) the A part requires a quick shift from the Bbm to the Bdim scales, (3) the B part is mind-boggling -- yes I have learned to play it and also worked out a backup chord but I still can't figure out where it changes key from Eb to end up in Ab (where the Eb7 is the final chord)! What kind of musical mind could think that one up?

[Michael Weaver]

He was definitely a genius. Match these up with what you have so far and let me know if everything is good. This is straight from his transcription.

A part is two chords per measure and they go quick as usual.

Ab, Bdim7, Bbdim7, Bdim7, Cm7,Bm7, Bbm7, Eb7, Ab, Bdim7, Bbm7, Bdim7 this next chord lasts the entire measure Bbm then ends with these two chords on the last measure Eb7, Ab


The B part is two chords per measure


Eb, F#dim7, G7, Edim7, Fm7, Ddim7, Eb, C#dim7, Fm, Bdim7, Cm, Cdim7, Bb, G#dim7, Eb7

[swampstomper]

Michael, yes I have those chords except I am not sure of the proper naming of the the various dim7 in the B part; I call the F#dim7 an Ebdim7 (same notes of course); interestingly the G7 3-note chord is the same shape as, and 1/2 step higher than, the following Edim7. But my confusion remains -- where in the B part do we change keys? I have the feeling it is at the 2nd Fm.

[Michael Weaver]

I think you may be making this a little more complicated than it is. You don't have to change keys because he is just ascending and descending with the melody. His chord structure is just following that. There is "technically" no key change.

[AlanN]

He was definitely a genius. Match these up with what you have so far and let me know if everything is good. This is straight from his transcription.

A part is two chords per measure and they go quick as usual.

Ab, Bdim7, Bbdim7, Bdim7, Cm7,Bm7, Bbm7, Eb7, Ab, Bdim7, Bbm7, Bdim7 this next chord lasts the entire measure Bbm then ends with these two chords on the last measure Eb7, Ab


The B part is two chords per measure


Eb, F#dim7, G7, Edim7, Fm7, Ddim7, Eb, C#dim7, Fm, Bdim7, Cm, Cdim7, Bb, G#dim7, Eb7

Ah yes, FmP. So much fun. But, the book is wrong in the bolded chord - should be a Bbm7, I think.