Level: 3
Tuning: Standard

One of the most popular songs of all times, "Stardust" has been recorded by over 1500 singers and musicians. Hoagy Carmichael composed it in 1927 when he was in college studying law, and Mitchell Parrish added lyrics in 1929. The introductory verse sounds like it was inspired by Hoagy's friend and musical idol, Bix Beiderbeck, warming up on his trumpet. The song's structure is not unusual: there's a 16-bar statement; the first 8 bars are repeated, followed by a different 8-bar concluding statement. But the melody and chords seem to meander in an unusual way. There's no brief "hook" that is the trademark of so many pop songs of the 20s, 30s and 40s. In the backup part to this arrangement in the key of G, you'll find lots of circle-of fifths movement (moving up by fourths, as in Bm to Em to A7 to D to G) and several examples of a popular harmonic device: a series of chords in which stay on one chord but alter it several times by lowering one note (Am, Am,major 7, Am7, D9 or A, Amaj7, A7. A practice suggestion: become familiar with the backup arrangement first, before attempting to learn the chord-melody solo. Play the backup chords several times and the solo will come easier, as it's mostly based on the same chord shapes.