In a Mellow Tone (Kenny Burrell) - Theme Transcription For Guitar

Here is a transcription with standard notation and guitar tabs of the theme of the jazz tune"in a mellow tone" by Kenny Burrell. This jazz standard has been composed by Duke Ellington in 1939.

You can hear Burrell's version in this video on which the transcription is based on the album dedicated to Duke Ellington.

In a mellow tone has also been performed by a number of jazz artists as Ella Fitzgerald, Oscar Peterson, Joe Pass, Colman Hawkins, Tony Bennett, Count Basie.

This is a great tune with some interesting changes not too difficult to be played by a jazz beginner.

Kenny Burrell guitar lesson with tabs - In a mellow tone (theme)

However, the chords used by Kenny Burrell requires patience, precision and a certain level of dexterity.

This transcription will help you understand how Kenny Burrell has approached the main chords, either by using chromaticisms (bars 3, 5, 11, 21) or voice leading (7, 9).

You will have to use a technique called octave playing, indeed, the second part of the theme is played mostly by using octaves. 

Let's take a look at the chord progression. It's in the key of Bb with some interesting common changes as a  II7 | V7 | Imaj7 on bars 1, 2, 3, 4 and a  II | V | I on bars 5, 6, 7 and 8.

Bb7 | Eb7 | Abmaj7 | % |

Ebm7 | Ab7 | Dbmaj7 | % | 

Db | Ddim7 | Ab7 | F7 |

Bb7 | % | Eb7 | F7 ||

Bb7 | Eb7 | Abmaj7 | % |

Ebm7 | Ab7 | Dbmaj7 | % | 

Db | Ddim7 | Ab7 | F7 |

Bb7 | Eb7 | Ab7 | % ||

• 

  40 Minor II V I Licks

  This guitar method is a printable PDF with tabs, diagrams, theory and audio files providing 40 minor II V I jazz licks.
• 

  40 II V I Jazz Guitar Licks

  This pdf method for guitar contains 40 II V I jazz guitar lines with tab, standard notation, analysis, scale charts and audio files.
• 

  50 II-V-I voicings

  This guitar method is a printable PDF eBook contains 50 exercises with audio files, analysis, tab & standard notation on how to play over II-V-I chord progressions using different kind of voicings.
• 

  II V I Bundle

  This package contains 3 PDF methods for jazz guitarists with tabs, audio files, analysis about the II V I progression.
• 

  40 Mixolydian Jazz Guitar Lick

  This package contains a guitar method available as a PDF with tabs, audio files and theory providing 40 dominant jazz guitar lines for teachers and students.
• 

  40 Minor (Dorian) Jazz Guitar

  This printable guitar method in PDF format contains 40 easy minor jazz guitar lines based on the Dorian mode.
• 

  40 Major Jazz Guitar Licks

  Printable PDF eBook method containing 40 major jazz guitar licks with tab, standard notation and audio files for beginners and intermediates.
• 

  Diatonic Licks Bundle

  This package contains 120 jazz guitar lines based on diatonic modes as Mixolydian, Dorian and Ionian. PDF format with tabs, audio files and analysis.
• 

  Guitar Walking Bass Lines

  This jazz guitar method about walking bass lines and chords is available as a PDF files containing 35 exercises with tabs, analysis and audio files
• 

  101 Dominant Arpeggio Patterns

  This printable PDF method provides 101 dominant arpeggio exercises with tab, theory and standard notation for the jazz, blues and rock guitarist.
• 

  49 Essential Jazz Lines

  This printable eBook method in PDF format provides 49 jazz solo transcriptions of the greatest jazz musicians of all times with TABS, standard notation, audio files and analysis both for guitar teachers and students.
• 

  11 Jazz Blues Studies

  This PDF method contains 11 guitar lessons with chord studies, tabs, standard notation, analysis & audio files about the main blues progressions used in jazz music.
• 

  25 Altered Jazz Guitar Lines

  This PDF eBook method contains 25 altered jazz guitar licks with tabs, patterns, scale charts and audio files to master, apply and develop the altered scale.
• 

  40 Blues Dominant patterns

  This printable method is available as a PDF file containing 40 easy dominant jazz-blues guitar lines with tabs, standard notation, analysis, audio files and scale charts.
• 

  Mastering Pentatonic Scales

  This jazz guitar method is an eBook available as a PDF with standard notation, guitar tabs, diagrams, analysis, audio files and backing tracks. You will find in this booklet 25 easy jazz guitar lines with theory using common and rare pentatonic scales.
• 

  25 Soul Jazz Guitar Licks

  You will find here an eBook available in PDF containing 25 soul jazz and hard bop guitar licks in the style of Grant Green, Melvin Sparks, George Benson. These jazz lines come with tabs, standard notation, guitar neck diagrams, backing track for practice and 25 audio files for each riff.
• 

  25 Diminished Patterns

  This eBook PDF with audio files contains 25 dominant diminished jazz guitar patterns using the half-whole diminished scale and diminished 7th arpeggios.
• 

  6 Tritone substitution licks

  This Printable PDF eBook available for free download contains 6 easy jazz guitar licks with tabs/notation, youtube video link and analysis about the tritone substitution.

• 

  Guitar Scales Poster 24*36

  This guitar poster contains eighteen neck diagrams representing the most used scales in music.
• 

  Jazz Guitar Chords Poster

  This giant printed color poster contains 63 guitar chord diagrams for jazz players, students, teachers and schools.
• 

  Diatonic Modes Guitar Poster

  Guitar reference poster about Greek modes for guitar teachers, students and music schools.