Hey folks,
Here is an overview on the melody to Wildflowers by Tom Petty. We'll be comparing the second verse to a live recording by The Wailin' Jennys. If you look into the history of the women in this ensemble their education is impressive by any standard. Don't take this music lightly. There are plenty of impromptu Americana ensembles, but this group of gals create quality content with a long history of music. Before we go too deep into things, I'd like to say that this is a very simple song. It doesn't have to be shredded into pieces in order to play it. That said, I think if one is trying to grasp how art is made we should take the time to peer into it's details. This is a pop song written by a classic songwriter that has the legacy and longevity that most artists dream of. We'll be using the original recording as a reference to see what happens when you have an accomplished Americana group arranging it for themselves. As a result, there are differences in how the band plays, but we'll be paying attention to the melody in this chapter. If you'd like a look at the chorus's vocal harmonies, you can find that here in a few weeks.
Some of the more important things to notice as you look at the printed music is how much of the melody is chord tones. It spans less than an octave which is very easy to sing along to. When we listen to Tom sing it there are two pieces to each phrase. The first half is nearly identical throughout. The second portion fluctuates depending upon the lyric and placement. The first portion mimics the chorus. The second portion moves further down into the register as a variation. Along with that there are a few more ornamentations than Tom uses in the studio recording.
Oranmentations usually include non-chord tones. There are other variations that use strictly chord tones, but they tend to be more advanced not as relatable. We'll be looking at the types of uses for non chord tones in this melody. Be aware that all of these methods use notes from the key that the song is in (diatonic).
Approach Tones - Moving up to a chord tone in stepwise motion.
Anticipations - Moving to a chord tone that applies to the following chord change early.
Passing Tones - Moving from one chord tone to another by stepwise motion.
Escape Tones - Moving in the opposite direction of the melody. A deceptive motion.
Sustained Tones - Holding a chord tone over from the previous chord into the following chord change. Usually resulting in a suspension.
Encircling - Using the pitches that surround the chord tone to create a new resolution.
------
When you sing this, start slowly, maybe without rhythm. See if you can be aware of what it feels like to be singing a chord tone vs. when you're not. Try to play the chords, or at least the root motion as you sing. It will help ground you in the key.
There are a fair amount of sixteenth notes in this melody. I would practice each of them independently. Get to know how it feels to sing each figure. There are five unique rhythmic figures in this melody. Find them and practice them.
Enjoy the song. It's a wonderful piece of music that most will enjoy if not recognize. Be patient and thorough. Enjoy the process and keep playing.
You can download the sheet music here.
Christopher
Comments