It's A Fine Day

What started out as a simple song designed to feature beginning guitar students playing four notes on two strings literally bloomed into this full-length, multiple part piece complete with orchestra on the recording. It just didn't seem to want to stop developing! So we let it. The result is this very pleasant, uplifting tune that does indeed do what it set out to do – feature the guitar – but also gives you options for variations on the performance.

Though it does have three vocal parts, only part 1 is actually necessary. To help you hear how this works, there is a unison version on the recording (track 33). You'll notice that the other two vocal parts are covered by various instruments on the recording so that if you perform it in unison, you won't lack the harmonies. Additionally, we have created a two-part mix (track 37) as well so that you have it for reference or reinforcement.

As we often do with multiple part pieces, we have broken out a variety of versions for learning purposes and put them on our web site as extras. These include the parts and some a cappella performances.

As we said, the song was meant to feature guitar. It focuses on the notes B, C#, D, and E using only the top two strings (the B string and the E string). The recording has four cymbal taps prior to measure one that you can use as a count-off since guitars begin in measure one. The entire song is a repeated, very simple, four measure ostinato, indicated on the piano score as well as here in these teaching notes. For your convenience, we will also include these online so you can readily share them with your students. The notes, diagrams, and TABs for these are indicated.

Because we also dabble in beginning ukulele, we thought it would be neat to include an optional ostinato for that instrument as well. It is more limited, using only two notes and has a simpler half note/whole note pattern. The music with notes, diagrams, and TAB is indicated here as well as online, too.

Though we did not do this ourselves, it struck us that the opening strains of this song would be nice if performed as a solo. Of course, you could continue the solo longer than that, even all the way through if you wanted. You could also let parts 2 and/or 3 be solos as well if you have singers you want to feature.