Sweet Lorraine

**MarkRhodes** · 10-09-2014, 05:52 PM

I like this tune and am working on it.
Tim Lerch did a video on playing it with a walking bass line, which I like. He plays it in F, though G is the more common key.

Here's a link to the page on the song at jazzstandards.com (<<<<A great site about tunes in the Great American Songbook).
Jazz Standards Songs and Instrumentals (Sweet Lorraine)

The standard changes can be found here. It's A Dance Chord Chart - Free Jazz Real Book

Finally, here's a version by Nat "King" Cole, who recorded it a few times and performed it many more.
This one has Herb Ellis on guitar.

**Rob MacKillop** · 10-09-2014, 06:32 PM

I'm not fit to be on the same page as Tim or Herb, but here I am playing the old Mel Bay arrangement from Masters of the Plectrum Guitar. I think it's a good arrangement.

**MarkRhodes** · 10-09-2014, 08:03 PM

Originally Posted by Rob MacKillop

I'm not fit to be on the same page as Tim or Herb, but here I am playing the old Mel Bay arrangement from Masters of the Plectrum Guitar. I think it's a good arrangement.

I agree, Rob. That's a nice arrangement. Nice playing too. I have a ways to go...

**MarkRhodes** · 10-10-2014, 09:27 AM

The Joe Pass version from "Virtuoso"

**MarkRhodes** · 10-10-2014, 09:28 AM

And here's the Oscar Peterson Trio with Herb Ellis on guitar.

**monk** · 10-10-2014, 10:15 AM

While G may be more common, (possibly for the benefit of singers) the original key of F is, I think, better for chord melody on guitar.

**MarkRhodes** · 10-10-2014, 10:24 AM

Originally Posted by monk

While G may be more common, (possibly for the benefit of singers) the original key of F is, I think, better for chord melody on guitar.

No argument there, though all the fakebook charts I have seen (-which are not aimed primarily at guitar players OR singers) have the tune in G.

I'm using F because I like the way it lays out on guitar. (Curiously, a lot of guitar players choose G----for other tunes---for just that reason. I bet some horn players have gone their entire careers without playing a blues in G, but most guitarists are right at home there!)

One of the handy things about the real book site is that it gives the 'default' key for each tune, but you can choose another one and it will transpose it for you. Makes for neat, quick charts....

**Eddie Lang** · 10-10-2014, 07:30 PM

Vocalist Rudy Vallee recorded it in 1928 as did Jimmy Noone who did an instrumental version. The tune was written that year, and I did read that the original key is F as mentioned by Monk. I have however the sheet music from 1928, with a picture of Rudy Vallee on it, and the key is G so it may explain why G is more common. Another singer, Johnny Johnson also recorded a version in the key of G in 1928. I can't remember for sure, but I think that Noone's instrumental version was also in G.

**Jonah** · 10-13-2014, 09:34 AM

Great song - one of my favourites

I like this version too)))

**gtrplrfla** · 10-13-2014, 10:41 AM

Nice playing all around on these versions of, "Sweet Lorraine." Joe Pass uses "G", by the way and a full transcription of his "Virtuoso" version can be found in "Virtuoso Standards" by Roland Leone who has done a masterful service in transcribing many of Joe's standards and blues numbers. At 1:18 of the recording, does anyone else feel that Joe pulled off a clever escape after painting himself into a corner ? Magic, nevertheless !

**jayv999** · 10-21-2014, 07:34 PM

For those of you who are daring and adventurous, here is a write-up of Ted Greene's arrangement of "Sweet Lorraine."
It also includes the lead sheet (melody and changes) on a parallel line with the arrangement notation.
Enjoy!
http://www.tedgreene.com/images/less...NotesGrids.pdf

**MarkRhodes** · 10-21-2014, 08:13 PM

Originally Posted by jayv999

For those of you who are daring and adventurous, here is a write-up of Ted Greene's arrangement of "Sweet Lorraine."
It also includes the lead sheet (melody and changes) on a parallel line with the arrangement notation.
Enjoy!
http://www.tedgreene.com/images/less...NotesGrids.pdf

Thanks. I downloaded it and will get to it...eventually.

I love the way this version is laid out---Ted's charts can be hard to follow. (Well, their simple as pie, but it's easy to lose one's place because there are no bar lines.)

**pcpicker47** · 05-04-2019, 05:26 PM

This is an old topic I know, but I just started working on this tune and wondered if anyone wound up with a chord melody tab of Sweet Lorraine they would be willing to share ? Thanks

**ragman1** · 05-05-2019, 06:21 AM

You could try KirkP, he played a nice CM arrangement in C.

November 2018 - Sweet Lorraine

**KirkP** · 05-05-2019, 03:18 PM

Originally Posted by ragman1

You could try KirkP, he played a nice CM arrangement in C.
November 2018 - Sweet Lorraine

Gee, shucks. :Blushing: Here’s a chord chart I made for my humble arrangement in C. I never use tabs.
Sweet Lorraine-img_1138-jpg

P.S.—Note that my chord chart leaves out some stuff that comes between the chords. Some people might have written the chart as four chords per measure, but I prefer to first learn the tune as a simple one chord per measure arrangement, then add chromatic approaches, etc. on the fly. That gives me more flexibility in varying my interpretation of the tune each time I play it.

**Jerry Tubb** · 05-11-2019, 07:13 PM

**Uncle Vinnie** · 05-13-2019, 10:56 PM

Dang text program won't let me line up the lyrics with the chords. You'll figure it out

I play it a la Nat Cole in this vid, key of G, shouldn't be too hard to follow. I don't do youtube vids but I'll do the best I can.

Intro:

F7b5 E9 | Eb 9/b13 D13 | F7b5 E9 | Eb9/b13 D13
--------------------------------------------------------Now I

|just found joy - ----| I'm as hap-py as a |baby boy -------------| with a - nother brand new |

|E9 E9 Bbm7 Eb9 | Am7 Am7 D9 D7b9 | Gmaj7 Gmaj7 E9 E9 | Am7 Am7 D9 D7b9 |
|choo - choo toy - | when I met my Sweet Lor -| raine Lorraine Lorraine |

|

**edward74** · 05-14-2019, 04:47 PM

Recently trying to learn this classic, too!

I enjoy hearing this guitar & vocal cover it...

Plus, found this early recording from Nat King Cole trio...Oscar Moore sounds like he's still developing his chops and before he plays an amped archtop, but it's still a neat audio document.