Simpedia

Ian B., Pennsylvania

Subsequent to Unmani M.’s post regarding “Shoo-fly” arrangement from Arrangements 3 (originally taught in Level 5), I thought I’d take a moment to revive a discussion from more than a DECADE ago about the fact that Shoo-fly is a BLUES piece 😎. For reference you can view the previous discussion on Simpedia here (https://simpedia.info/shoo-fly-blues), or just search for Shoo-fly on Simpedia.

It’s odd to me that other than a couple very casual mentions from Neil in the TTMs, there is not a more explicit analysis or reference to the structure of Shoo-fly being “12-bar blues in the key of G”—which it IS! And I actually didn’t realize the structure for the longest time 🤦🏻‍♂️. It would have helped so much to frame it that way for students, because I think a lot of students struggle most with the order and arrangement of the song, more so than the actual execution of the notes.

Technically, it’s “14-bar blues” because there’s an extra two measures of the I chord during the “Sesame Street” lick at the end (Meas. 13-14). There also an additional 3 bars after the repeat (meas. 15-17 in the Level 5 original, meas. 29-31 in the arrangement).

So, in playing the Arr 3 version, there is a 2nd Cycle added (the Coda) with additional material (drawn from Jackson Blues Arr 1.3 and 1.4).

Unmani M., I know your post was more specific to understanding how “D.S. al Coda” works in the written arrangement of any song with repeats and a Coda. But I think if you start from an understanding of the underlying structure being “14-bar blues”, it illuminates WHY the instructions (DS al Coda) appear where they do in the piece.

Maybe this was more obvious to everyone else😜?

But, for me, recognizing that Shoo-fly is indeed a Blues piece in the key of G made the song structure suddenly make a lot more sense!