Nature Boy was written by eden ahbez (his real name was George Alexander Aberle) in 1947 and recorded by Nat King Cole in 1948. Cole’s recording became a no 1 hit for eight weeks and sold over a million of copies. In this lesson, you will learn how to play the melody and chords of Nature Boy.
eden ahbez (he didn’t capitalize his name) was a member of the “Nature Boys”, a group of nomadic hippies that wore long hair and beards and ate only raw fruits, vegetables, and nuts. At the time of the release of Nature Boy, eden was living under the L of the Hollywood sign in LA.
Recommended listening:
- Nat King Cole – Single (1948)
- Django Reinhardt – From Paris with Love (1949)
- Miles Davis (with Charles Mingus) – Blue Moods (1955)
- John Coltrane – The John Coltrane Quartet Plays (1965)
- Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass – Fitzgerald & Pass… Again (1976)
- George Benson – In Flight (1976)
- Kurt Elling – The Messenger (1997)
- David Bowie – Moulin Rouge! soundtrack (2001)
- Jimmy Rosenberg – The One and Only (2006)
- Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga – Cheek to Cheek (2014)
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Nature Boy – Melody
The melody of Nature Boy is almost entirely in the A natural minor scale, except for bars 5-6 and 21-22 where it follows the line cliché (A-G#-G-F#).
Listen & Play-Along
Nature Boy Melody Guitar Pro 8 File
Nature Boy – Chords
Most chords in this arrangement are basic jazz guitar chords. The rhythm takes some time to get used to but is easy to play once you get it under your fingers.
Listen & Play-Along
Nature Boy Chords Guitar Pro 8 File
Very nice it made my day thanks Dirk.
Thanks. One that I can play the melody of relatively easily, if not in the same position. Feedback would be that the tracks would benefit from a clock count in for a bar to enable play along more easily.
Thanks Dirk. What a great tune to begin with. I love the chord progression.
MuchÃsimas gracias .
Bello tema .
There was a boy
A very strange enchanted boy
They say he wandered very far
Very far
Over land and sea
A little shy
And sad of eye
But very wise was he
And then one day
One magic day he passed my way
And while we spoken of many things
Fools and kings
This he said to me
The greatest thing
You’ll ever learn
Is just to love
And be loved in return
And then one day
One magic day he passed my way
And while we spoken of many things
Fools and kings
This he said to me
The greatest thing you’ll ever learn
Is just to love
And be loved
In return
a beautiful tune i never really paid much attention tune now i will learn it thank you!
A wonderful song and a great lesson. Bobby Darren also recorded it in the 60s. Always been one of my favourites! Thank you!
Thank you for this song! If you’ve never read anything about eden, he is a fascinating character. I have a Life magazine from 1948 with him in it. He looks like your typical 60’s hippie, and rides a bike with drop handlebars (but no derailleur). In NYC (or Boston?), he is standing next to an Irish cop of the era, and the contrast is amazing! He lived in the park with his girlfriend. There is also a doc about him on cable? And he somehow got the song to Nat King Cole, who recorded it.
He later got in trouble for stealing the melody? He claims he had never heard it before, but lost some of the royalties.
Thanks Dirk. I haven’t heard this tune before which is sad. Your contributions to Jazz are much appreciated.
Thank you!!
This is superb, thanks Dirk
I have De Luxe Reverb Tone MASTER. You have so beautful sound and I have tried to find it, not succeeded in it. What are your tones; treble, middle, bass.
My guitar is Ibanez GB -10.
I love to follow your teaching.
Awesome, thank you for work.
Echt mooi hoor.
Thanks! Very nice melody, I will transpose for alto flute and play it with your great guitar comp 🙂
Hey Dirk
I havent play for long time, but i will start again. What is the Fender amplifier type
you played. It sounds good
Hi Arto, it’s a Fender Tone Master Twin Reverb, great amp!
Super!!! Vielen Dank von Hans!
>Thank you very much, Dirk.
Why not a small solo of which you have the secret ?
A favourite melody, thank you Dirk
my mother use to sing this song to me when I was young.I will learn it in her memory thanks Dirk!
Much appreciated Dirk – Superb lesson and arrangement – Thankyou!
Always one of my favorites. Thanks Dirk.
Thank you Dirk, really great
I am so happy to have the notes on Nature Boy, but I need to practice all chords.
TO JEST GENIALNE!!!!!!
great tune – thanks