Music Lesson #1

First example of chords substitution

This page is splitted in two sections: first section shows you the chords I used for playing Stevie Wonder's song Isn't she lovely, chords that I get directly from the song by ear; second section shows how these chords can be replaced to obtain a better jazz feeling and a much richer harmony.

So let's start, assuming a key of Eb for the song.

Section 1: Simple chords

These are the four chords used for the body of the song: Cm7, F, Bb, Eb7+

 Cm7

 F

 Bb

 Eb7+

This chords sequence is repeated two times, when Stevie sings these verses:

Isn't she lovely
Isn't she wonderfull
Isn't she precious
Less than one minute old
 

Then comes a change, corresponding to this verse:

I never thought through love we'd be
 

and here are the chords:

 Ab

 Abm

Then the song repeats the four starting chords for these two verses:

Making one as lovely as she
But isn't she lovely made from love

and this part ends with that famous sequence (where 2 is C3):

Section 2: Substituted chords

Basically, all you have to do is add 6 and 9 to the chords. Chords name are often wrong (there is a ? each time I have doubts), but this is not important. The main thing is that you remember chord substitution, so that you can use this chords instead of basic chords even in other songs.

A little arrow and a green dot means that you have to move your finger following arrow direction during the play

 Cm 7/9

 F 7/9 (?)

 Bb 7/9 (?)

 Eb 6/7+/9 (?)

 B aug

You noted that four chords have been substituted by five. Actually, last chord should be played only for a moment, to introduce a suspension feeling which better leads to Cm 7/9 again. Thus, this chord should NOT be played when the song goes to these following chords:

 Ab 7+/9

 B (?)

That's all. Please experiment trying to use these chords while playing the song. I discovered a whole new harmony world, and I think that many other beginners like me will love this.

Of course, feedbacks are welcome.

Thanks a lot to Carlo Urizio for opening my musical eyes (and ears too, of course)!