[Video] Carlos Gardel - Por una Cabeza

[jacobson]

"Por una Cabeza" by Carlos Gardel

Instrument: Yamaha Clavinova CLP-645 Polished Ebony

Any input is appreciated.

Thank you for watching / listening.

[perfect_pitch]

Your playing is pretty good... however if you arranged this, I would listen to some of the chords as they are very dull and too murky in their harmony if you go too low in the bass - spread the notes out a bit. Also, you need to explore some inversions of chords, as doing Root position all the time does unfortunately sound boring - especially in the middle 'Por Una Cabeza' section (where the lyrics are usually sung).

Last chords however should definitely be G Major if I'm not mistaken, it makes it bloom instead of ending on a rather sad, dreary harmony.

Did you arrange it yourself? If so, not bad. Some good things, and some things that do need work. I fell in love with this piece and arranged it a while ago.

Hope it gives you some ideas in terms of the harmony and chords.

[jacobson]

Thank you for your input. To be perfectly honest I'm not too familiar with the piece. The left hand was completely improvised. Parts of the right hand, too. The only sheet music I had was the melody in the right hand without any chords. For various reasons, mostly based on your comments, I've decided to remove the video. Because in the end it differs too much from the original. So I'll avoid playing improvised stuff and stick to sheet music from now on. 

[perfect_pitch]

I don't think you should have removed the video - use it as a learning experience. You think I just magically got great at arranging? I have been doing this for 25 years. I look back at some of my early improvisations and arrangements and think they're rubbish; BUT I used them as a critique in what I can do to improve.

Listen to the YouTube video (if you still have it) and use it to refine the arrangement.

[jacobson]

I don't think you should have removed the video - use it as a learning experience. You think I just magically got great at arranging? I have been doing this for 25 years. I look back at some of my early improvisations and arrangements and think they're rubbish; BUT I used them as a critique in what I can do to improve.

Listen to the YouTube video (if you still have it) and use it to refine the arrangement.

The G-minor chord at the end of that section ruined it. It absolutely needs to be G-major, there is no excuse for it. That's the only reason I've removed it, because when I look at the video now and analyze it in detail, while your points are definitely valid, I've realized there's nothing essentially "wrong" with the performance - EXCEPT - that G-major chord. But it was done in a rush, I just wanted to get it uploaded quickly, and I didn't really study the piece in depth, so I made that mistake.

To be honest I'm quite good at improvising the left hand with any piece as long as I have the music for the right hand in front of me. But, like I said, this was rushed.

I'm thinking of recording another version, almost exactly like the previous one, only with the G-major chord. It should serve as a solid recording until some day I want to create a real arrangement for it.

Your video is impressive by the way.

[perfect_pitch]

Before you record another video - play about with some chord inversions and think about the bass notes. It will give you a chance to experiment and understand the moving harmonies in this piece.

Your video is impressive by the way.

Why thank you very much.   

[jacobson]

OK so now I've recorded it again - basically the same thing with very small differences - but with the correct G-major where it belongs.

I've updated the original post with the new video.

Regardless how many flaws this recording might have, I don't intend to take it down like the last one. I'll use the video, like you said, as something I can analyze in the future and create a different version sometime, perhaps even a real personal arrangement.

Just so you don't misunderstand me, I did not ignore any of your advice, I just didn't want to change the essence of this particular recording, so there's almost no change except for the G-major. A future recording would be significantly different though.

[kalospiano]

well, I loved both of these

[jacobson]

well, I loved both of these

Thank you.