Blue Moon | TAB
Before you explore playing Blue Moon in different keys, make sure you can play it in C, and use the concept of “closest possible shape”.
Here’s TAB for example 1.
It’s harder than it looks! Visualize the full shape for each chord, and maybe sing the melody.
Here’s a new starting point.
Did you think of the chord progression as Roman Numerals?
Verses 1 and 2
||: Cmaj7 (I) Am7 (VI) | Dm7 (II) G7 (V) :|| x7
| Cmaj7 (I) C#dim7 (#Idim7) |
Bridge
| Dm7 (II) G7 (V) | Cmaj7 (I) Am7 (VI) |
| Dm7 (II) G7 (V) | C6 (I) |
| Fm7 (IVm) Bb7 (V) | Eb (I) Cm7 (VI) | (modulates to Eb)
| G/D (V/5) D7 (IIx) | G (V) G7 | (modulate back to C)
Without writing the chords down, can you play as the TAB said, but in the key of G?
Continue down the cycle of 4th for as long as you can cope. It’s the modulation to a different key that makes it hard. I think of it as if starting on the m3rd of the home key (Eb is m3rd of C).
To find your arpeggios and modes in any key, anywhere on the neck can only be built upon the foundation of knowing your chords well so stick with this “closest possible shape, taking it through all keys” concept for as long as possible.
It is hard work but it will be worth it. Believe it or not, eventually it gets easy!
Blue Moon TAB | Related Pages
Blue Moon | Chords + Lyrics
You can learn how to play Blue Moon by Billie Holiday using chords, lyrics, a chord chart, and the original recording. Practice in three keys!
| Abmaj7 Fm7 | Bbm7 Eb7 | Abmaj7 Fm7 |
Blue moon, you saw me standing alone…
Five similar tunes | Chords + Lyrics
- All Of Me chords by Frank Sinatra
- Autumn Leaves chords by Chet Baker
- Baby Won’t You Please Come Home chords by Billie Holiday
- Don’t Wait Too Long chords by Madeleine Peyroux
- Fly Me To The Moon chords by Fran Sinatra
Billie Holiday tunes
As the first female jazz singer to record in the ’30s, Billie Holiday is up there with the greats who defined the genre of Jazz.
Her hits include Summertime, Blue Moon, Solitude, Pennies From Heaven, and the controversial Strange Fruit.
Billie Holiday on the web
About me | Dan Lundholm
This guitar lesson by Dan Lundholm featuring TAB, covers Blue Moon. Discover more about him and how you can learn guitar with Spytunes.
Most importantly, find out why you should learn guitar through playing tunes, not practising scales, and studying theory in isolation.