One of the tunes I’m working on with my newly-formed trio ( keyboard, bass, cajon) is satin doll. The format is AABA.
In the original version by Duke Ellington he does the following:
AABA
B
AABA
A
It seems odd, but the end result is that no A section is repeated more than twice in a row, an issue I’ve sometimes wondered about in this type of format. Is this solution common? And are there similar workarounds with other format types?
Edit later: I’ve just realized that this would have been better posted on the “jamming with other musicians” Thread. Please go ahead and move it if you agree, @Hayden.
There’s the basic form in which the song is most likely played, such as AABA, ABA etc. This form appears in most versions, lead sheets, and I can almost promise that when you play in a jam session, this is what you’re going to be playing.
Some more info on forms and standards here for you to check out:
The basic form might change a bit, for example while playing a ballad; when the tempo is slow, form might be something like this:
Let’s say the form of the ballad is AABA:
Performed form would be:
AABA (entire theme played)
AABA (solos over the form, usually divided into two solos, AA is the first, BA the second solo)
BA (after solos we play only half of the melody form)
Another situation is when there is a concrete arrangement written, like in your example Satin Doll, where B section second time starts a little piano/bass interlude, arrangement finishing with 2 A sections played by the horns.
In these situations, in jazz mostly in big band music, the form can change in many ways, different sections and interludes can be added, modulations, short solos that can last only one section etc.
keyboard, bass, cajon) is satin doll. The format is AABA.