I used to perform this song regularly, and one night I recorded it--mainly to determine if there were ways to improve on the performance. Here's the song as I recorded several years ago. Click Here

Gary

Gary, can you post it where you don't have to be a member of boxnet to play it?
Thanks,
DonM

Yep,

I'm on my way out the door for a job, but I'll do it when I get home.

Gary

Gary,The item has been deleted on BoxNet
Look forward to a listen...

Hopefully, this one will work. Click Here

Gary

Very nice Gary. Do you do that in F#?


Ian, the style that you sent me works very well. Thnak you so much:)

I play it in F because I'm more comfortable singing the song in that key. Normally, I would play it as an instrumental in "C".

Gary

hey Gary, I asked because my voice is deep like yours. I'll try it in F when I work on the vocal. I play it as an instrumental in C.

Ian, what solo voice do you use in the RH when you play "Just the Way You Are" as an instrumental?

I play the tune in "D" which, I believe, is the original key...I use Fingered On Bass, and set the split point to Ab2 to be able to play the second chord, Bm6, in root position.

Solo voices...usually start with SA Concert Guitar, and then change to Cool! Suitcase EP...I use a strings layer for the Bridge, and, of course, Sax (in this case, SA Breathy Sax) for the solo...last verse, either SA Concert guitar or Electric piano (sometimes I layer them).

For my own take on the arrangement, I start the tune without the intro, and then play the style intro after the first verse.

It is a great restaurant tune...busy and lively, but not too aggressive.

Ian

Nice relaxed vocal, Gary...(I hear a bit of Mr. Como...)

Would you comment on your chord progressions, especially through the verses? They are quite different from the actual songs. Seems like you played closer to the original on the bridge.

This is such a iconic type pop tune. Personally, I'm usually hesitant to wander too far off the reservation from the original chords.

I'd like to hear about your approach to this song...

Thanks-