East of the Sun (And West of the Moon), Part 1

from: Chord Melody Mandolin with Aaron Weinstein

This lesson is part of the course Chord Melody Mandolin with Aaron Weinstein.

Get immediate access to this lesson and all of the lessons in this course when you subscribe.

Start Course
Browse Courses

About This Course

Learn how to combine chords and melody to play jazz standards in the style pioneered by jazz mandolinist Jethro Burns and guitarists like Joe Pass and Bucky Pizzarelli.

Try a Sample Lesson

Chord Melody Basics, Part 2: Picking-Hand Technique

Your fretting hand determines the notes you’re playing but your picking hand determines how those notes (and chords) are articulated. Aaron shows you how to create different sounds with the two progressions you learned in Part 1 by separating the chord and melody notes in different rhythmic ways, for example, playing the melody note before the full chord, or the bass note before the full chord. He also demonstrates how you can combine these approaches to give your chord melody performance some rhythmic variety.

Try a sample lesson

The Chord Melody Mandolin Subscription Includes:

A step-by-step approach to mastering chord melody mandolin
New lessons and tunes added every month
Detailed tab/notation and chord charts for more than 45 jazz and swing favorites
High-quality video with multiple camera angles so you can see closeups of both hands in action
Play-Along Tracks so you can practice what you’ve learned

$20/Month For One Course

Additional courses only $10/month each! • Save 20% with an annual subscription

Start Course

Get started now!
Use promo code AaronLand at checkout

and get your first month free or $20 off an annual subscription.

East of the Sun (And West of the Moon)

East of the Sun (And West of the Moon), Part 1

East of the Sun (And West of the Moon), Part 2

“East of the Sun (and West of the Moon)” Play-Along Track

East of the Sun (And West of the Moon), Part 1

The beautiful jazz standard “East of the Sun (and West of the Moon)” was written in 1934 for a Princeton University stage production, and it became a hallmark of one of Princeton’s a cappella groups. It has been recorded numerous times, by artists including Charlie Parker, Frank Sinatra, Benny Goodman, and many others. It’s in the key of G, and Aaron approaches it in a classic chord melody style. He walks you through the first half of “East of the Sun (and West of the Moon)” in this video.

“East of the Sun (and West of the Moon)” Notation/Tab (Available to subscribers)

Previous Lesson

← “The Blue Room” Play-Along Track

Next Lesson

East of the Sun (And West of the Moon), Part 2 →

Previous Lesson

← “The Blue Room” Play-Along Track

Next Lesson

East of the Sun (And West of the Moon), Part 2 →

Previous Lesson

← “The Blue Room” Play-Along Track

Next Lesson

East of the Sun (And West of the Moon), Part 2 →

Mandolin Articles

Enter to Win a Free Annual Subscription to Weekly Mandolin Workout with Ethan Setiawan

In this upcoming course, you'll learn the fingerboard, strengthen and increase your dexterity, and expand your knowledge of chord and scale theory. Course now available!

California Banjo Extravaganza: “The Train That Carried My Girl from Town”

Bill Evans, Joe Newberry, and Danny Barnes play a three-banjo version of the popular bluegrass song.

East of the Sun (And West of the Moon), Part 1

About This Course

Mandolin Articles

Mandolin Videos