This is an old standard called, “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out.”
Listen to: Nobody Knows You When you’re Down & Out
Arranged & played by Alana LaGrange
I learned this song when I just started using 10ths in the left hand.
There is an old method of playing, where we hold tones in the thumb while playing the root, of course, with the use of the pedal. If done correctly, the left hand plays an inner harmony, while moving through substitution chords, and with practice, you can move the left hand very fast.
I hear so many artist today playing very tight & close harmonies, but I love to open up the left hand in open harmonies through using 10th’s. This style used to be called a stride bass, which is moving through passing tones using 10ths.
I haven’t taught this style to my students yet, as it takes a while to master, but well worth the effort. This style gives us great harmony, and is excellent for improv plus can be combined with bass lines.
You can hear it perfectly toward the end of the song. Listen and you will hear how the thumb in the left hand is moving in an ascending pattern adding and inside pattern to the music.
What a surprise to find that Eric Claptan had recorded this song, as I haven’t ever heard a recording of this before.
You’re going to love it!!
{ Read more Eric Clapton & a Good old Blues Song }
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