However, in a performance setting, jazz musicians typically create their own personalized intros and endings, just like John Proulx demonstrates in today’s lesson. The formal structure of “Georgia On My Mind” follows the standard 32-bar AABA song form in which each section of the song is 8 measures long. 🔎 If you are a beginner pianist, you can explore playing in different major and minor keys in our dedicated “Key Courses” inside our Beginner Foundations Learning Tracks (Levels 1–3). Like most jazz standards, the B section of “Georgia On My Mind” explores a contrasting key center-in this case D minor, the relative of F major. Consequently, jazz musicians typically play “Georgia On My Mind” in the key of F major. Song KeyĮven though Ray Charles usually performed “Georgia On My Mind” in G major, The Real Book published the tune in F major. Due to publisher’s restrictions, the lead sheet which appears in today’s featured Quick Tip video is available from our partners at. Need a different key? No problem! PWJ members can use our Smart Sheet Music to easily transpose the chord chart to any key. If you are a PWJ member, you can download the chord changes for “Georgia On My Mind” from the bottom of this page after logging in with your membership. Understanding these compositional elements enables jazz musicians to more easily memorize and personalize tunes. In this section, we’ll examine important structural and harmonic considerations for students who want to learn to play “Georgia On My Mind” on piano. Lollie Belle Wylie.³ Georgia On My Mind: Song Analysis In 1979, the state of Georgia adopted the tune as its official state song, replacing “Georgia” by Robert Loveman and Mrs. Ray Charles’ 1960 recording of “Georgia On My Mind” rose to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned him two Grammy Awards. In fact, the song had no discernable ties to the South until 1960, when it was recorded by Ray Charles, a native of Albany, Georgia.

Furthermore, the name of Carmichael’s younger sister was Georgia Elizabeth Carmichael. Both Carmichael and Gorrell were born in Indiana, and Trumbauer was born in Illinois. However, whether or not the song is actually about the Peach State is another story. The remaining lyrics were written by Gorrell, who was also Carmichael’s roommate. “Why don’t you write a song called ‘Georgia’? Nobody ever lost money writing songs about the South.”¹ Trumbauer even offered an opening phrase: “It ought to go ‘Georgia, Georgia…'” To which Carmichael sarcastically replied, “That’s a big help.”²Ĭarmichael took Trumbauer’s advice and even incorporated his suggested lyrics. According to Carmichael’s biography by Richard Sudhalter, the idea for the tune came from saxophonist Frankie Trumbauer. “Georgia On My Mind” was composed in 1930 by Hoagy Carmichael (1899–1981), with lyrics by Stuart Gorrell (1901–1963).

If you enjoy bluesy, soulful piano playing, then you’ll love this lesson! Georgia On My Mind: Song Facts Georgia On My Mind: Recommended Listening.In today’s Quick Tip, Play Georgia On My Mind on Piano, John Proulx helps you get beyond the lead sheet when performing this beloved standard. The classic tune “Georgia On My Mind” by Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell is widely associated with vocalist and pianist Ray Charles, who made the tune his signature song.

Georgia on my mind chords and lyrics