Misty | TAB
A lot can be learned from adapting a piano part into a guitar part. I’ve done the intro, verse 1, and bridge for you below.
Here’s the intro, let’s start with the TAB and play along with the original recording, take your time.
We’re in the key of Bb here moving I – II – III – VI. Play some extensions over chord VI, and finish with a II – V.
The little circles over the triplets mean “play short”. I’ve not included all piano licks, just a few.
Here’s verse 1, we’re still in the key of Bb, and should you play with a band, you may not modulate as Ella does at the end of this verse, here’s the TAB.
Let’s analyze the chords, two bars each.
Bar 1 and 2 – The Bbmaj7 uses the 9 as well for a little lick answering the vocal. Fm7 – Bb7 is a II – V going to the Ebmaj7, we haven’t changed the key.
Bar 3 and 4 – The Ebmaj7 is chord IV, we just used a II – V to get to it. As it becomes Ebm7, this is a IVm. When it’s followed by an Ab7, that’s a “backdoor II – V” leading to Bbmaj7, the Ab7 is a bVIIx.
Bar 5 and 6 – This is the I – VI – II – V.
Bar 7 and 8 – This starts as the I – II, (C#7 to F#7) is a IIx – V in a new key of B. We have now changed the key as the next verse is in the key of B.
Most bands would not change the key like this, it is unique to Ella Fitzgerald’s arrangement.
Use what you’ve learned so far to work out how to play verse 2 in the new key.
Here’s the bridge TAB.
We’re not in the key of B here, we’ve gone to the key of E or key of A now, F#m with its extensions is either chord II or VI. Decide if you feel F#m sounds Aeolian or Dorian.
The B7b9 takes us to Emaj7 which is either chord I in E or IV in B. Decide if you think E sounds Ionian or Lydian.
B6 is the same thing as Emaj7 with its 5th in the bass. C#9 is the same thing as Emaj7/C#. Fdim7 is a passing chord.
A#13 is a tension chord, extreme tension. It’s a dominant chord outside both the keys of E and A. G#m7 takes us to another tension chord F#13.
At first, this feels like just more tension but when the final bar comes in with a quick Bmaj7 (I) – G#m7 (VI) – C#m7 (II) – F#7 (V), we get a harmonic release and realize that F#13 was just a V chord.
Misty’s chords are like an education in Jazz harmony. The more you play it, come up with variations, and, most importantly, play other similar jazz tunes, the more you’ll understand it.
Don’t make the mistake of focusing on the theory without playing!
Misty TAB | Related Pages
Misty | Chords + Lyrics
You can learn to play Misty by Ella Fitzgerald using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| Bbmaj7 | Fm7 Bb7 | Ebmaj7 |
Look at me, I’m as helpless as a kitten up a tree…
Five similar tunes | Chords + Lyrics
Ella Fitzgerald tunes
Ella Fitzgerald released 61 studio albums and 25 live albums between 1936 and 1989. Crowned the First Lady Of Song, she is recognized for performing and recording most of the Great American Songbook.
Before this, she pioneered scat-singing in the ’40s as a devoted Bebop singer.
Ella Fitzgerald on the web
Laufey tunes
Laufey is an emerging singer-songwriter Jazz artist who in 2023 gained widespread recognition for her tune From The Start.
She has already covered Misty and as her career as an album artist is so new, many more standards will hopefully soon see the light of day.
Laufey on the web
Sarah Vaughan tunes
Nicknamed the Divine One, Sarah Vaughan started recording singles in the mid-’40s and would end up covering most big jazz standards.
Her best tunes include Black Coffee, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Stormy Weather, and Misty. She also sang many Beatles tunes.
Sarah Vaughan on the web
About me | Dan Lundholm
This guitar lesson by Dan Lundholm featuring TAB covers Misty. 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.