To the memory of Master George Van Eps,

with the utmost gratitude, respect and admiration.

 Contents

Introduction
3

 Nice work if you can get it (George Gershwin)

Gershwin)
4

For you (Joe Burke)

8

Man I Love (George Gershwin)

10

I wrote it for Jo (George Van

Van Eps)
13

Tangerine (Johnny Mercer)

15

I hadn’t anyone ‘till you (Ray Noble)

17

Fourty-eight (George Van Eps)

20

Cheek to cheek (Irving Berlin)

22

Why was I born? (Jerome Kern/Oscar Hammerstein II)

26

Ain’t misbehavin’ (Andy Razaf/HarryBrooks/Fats Waller)

28

I could write a book (Richard Rogers)

30
 Introduction

George Van
Van Eps (1913-1998) is a constant reference in jazz guitar history, being a fundamental inuence to
many world-class musicians and guitar players.
One of his great goals (aside of the fact of adding a seventh string to the instrument or playing and recording
with artists such as Benny Goodman, Ray Noble and Frank Sinatra) is his orchestral concept of the guitar,
with an impressive control of voice leading and its perfect resolution, understanding harmony not as block
chords but simultaneous melodic lines in constant movement. This concept made him to develop an extre-
mely powerful and precise technique resumed in his astonishing last work entitled “Harmonic Mechanisms
For Guitar”.
The purpose of this work has been to adapt for six string guitar with regular tuning the transcriptions of ele-
ven tunes recorded by Van
Van Eps through his extense career, being a very interesting challenge for the student.
The book’s
book’s notation has been kept as simple as possible for the purpose of understanding, ease of analysis
and faster reading.
Anyway the cd shows my personal interpretation.

Enjoy and good luck!

Jordi Farrés
Barcelona, January 2008

5
 Nice Work If You Can Get It
=154 George Gershwin

CD track 01

D D /C C 7 11 B -7 B 7 11 A 13

rubato a tempo

A 7 11 G 13 F 13 E 13 F dim D /F E -/G G dim D/A

D/A B -7
5

E -7 A 7sus4 E Maj7 D D D /C C 7 11 B -7
 3
9

rubato a tempo

B 7 11 A 13 A 7 11 G 13 F 13 E 13 F dim D/F E -/G

 3
13

G dim D/A B -7 E- A 7sus4 E Maj7 D C7 B- B -6

 3
17 

D -7 G7 B- B -7 E 13 B -7/F E/G A - A -6
21

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 B7 E7 G -9/A D Maj7/A D dim/A A 13 D D /C
 3

25

C 7 11 B -7 B 7 11 A 13 A 7 11 G 13 F 13 E 13 F dim
 3
29

D /F E -/G G dim D /A
/A B -7 E -7 A 13 A 13/G F -7 B -7
33

poco rit.

E -7 A 9 F -7 B -7 E -9 A9 F -7 B -7
37 

E -7 A9 D B -7 B -7 E 7 D7 A 7 G Maj7 G -7 C 7 11 B -7
41

a tempo

B 7 11 A 13 A 7 11 G 13 F 13 E 13 F dim D /F E -/G
45

8 www.jordifarresmusic.com
 G dim D/A B - 7
D/A E- A 7sus4 E Maj7 1. 2. C7
 3 D D
49

B- B -6 D -7 G7 B- B -7 E 13 B -/F E/G
53

A- A -6 B7 E7 G -/A D Maj7/A D dim/A A 13

 3

57 

C 7 11 B7 B 7 11 A 13 A 7 11 G 13 F 13 E 13 F dim
61

D /F E -/G G dim D/A B -7 E -7 E -7/B A7 F -7 B -7

65

 3

E -7 A9 C 13 B7 B 7 A9 F 7b13,#9 B7
69

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 B 7 A9 D B -7 B -7 E 7 D7 A 7 G Maj7 G -7 F -7 B -7
73

E -7 A 9 C 13 B7 B 7 A9 F 7#9,b13 B7
77 

B 7 A9 D G 7b9,b13 G 7 A 13 C 7 13 D 6,9

81

"musicians have to make

musical things happen,
luck won't do it and
ignorance can't"

10 www.jordifarresmusic.com
 For You
=112 Joe Burke

CD track 02

E6 F -7 G -7 C - F -11 B A7 G -7 D7 C 7 G7
 3
 3

1.
F 13 C 9#11 B9 E6 G 13 C9 F 9,13
5

2.
E6 F -7/C C dim E B -11 A 7 11 G -7 G -/B G -/B C -  3 C -9/B
 3
9

A -7b5 D 7b9 G -7 G -/B G -/B A -7b5 D 7

13

G -7 G dim F -6 B7 E6 F -7 G -7 C -
17 

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 F -11 B A7 G -7 D7 C 7 G7 F 13 C 9#11 B9
 3
21
 3

E6 A 7#9 D9 A -11 D 7 F 13 C 9#11 B9 B 13

25

E 6,9 A 9#11 D 6,9 G 9#11 C Maj7 F Maj7  3 E

 3 3
29  3

 3

"one lifetime is not long

enough to be a musician"

12 www.jordifarresmusic.com
 Man I Love
George Gershwin
CD track 03

E E -7 A 7 D Maj7 G 9

freely

accel.

D /A G -7b5 C 7 13 B6 E9 B 13

 3
accel.

B 13 F -11 E7 E Maj7 G 7 13 A Maj7 A 13 B 13

 3
7 

E E -7 A 7 D Maj7 G -7

10

D 9/F D 7 C 7 13 G -7b5 C 7 13 B6 F 7 B6 B 13
 3
13

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 B 13 F -11 B 13 E A - E 6 A 7 G7

16 

C- C -6 A 9 F 7 G7 C -Maj7 C -7  3
F 7 G7 A 7 G7

19

C -7 D 7 13 F 7 G7 C -Maj7 C -7 D 13 C 7 13

22

F9 F -7 B 13 E 6,9
 3
25

D -7 F -7 B 7 E -7 A 7 E -7 A 7 11
28

D 6,9 D /A A /G D 9/FD 7  C 7 13 G -7b5 C 7 13 B6

31

14 www.jordifarresmusic.com
 F -7 B 13 E A -6

34

rit.

E
37 

"approach your instrument

and your craft with love and
respect. I say that because the
respect bounces back; there's
feedback"

www.jordifarresmusic.com 15
 I Wrote It For Jo
George Van Eps
=108

CD track 04

E G A 7b9 F B A 7b9 A C A 7b9 F -11 B7

E -11 A7 D7 G Maj7 G dim A- D 13,b9 E dim

 3
5

1.
G /B G Maj7 B -7 E 7 A -7 D dim A -7 D 13 G9 C Maj7 C7 B7 E -7

2.
G 13 G 9/B A -7 D7 B7 E -7 A 7b9 D 7#9

13

G Maj7 B 7#9 E- E -6 E -/D A 13/C B 9/D A 7/C E 7#9

 3
17 

 3

16 www.jordifarresmusic.com
 D7 A 7 G Maj7 C 7 C -7 F 13 C -7 F9 B 13 E 9

21  3

D7 A -7 D 7b9 G Maj7 G dim A- D 13,b9 E dim G /B G Maj7 B -7 E 7

 3
25

A -7 D dim A -7 D 13 C 13 C Maj7 C7 B7 E -7 A 7b9 D 7#9

29

G Maj7 F 7 F7 E7 A 7b9 D 7#9 G Maj7 F 7 F7 E7 A 7b9 D 7#9

33  3  3

G Maj7 G 6 A 6,9 A 6 B 6,9 C6 C 6,9 G Maj7

37 

rit.

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 Tangerine
Johnny Mercer
=132

CD track 05

B 7 13 E9 E -9 A 13 D 6,9 G 7

1.
D 9/F E dim E -7 A 7 E -7 A 7 D Maj7 B7
5

B 7 B 7 13 E9 B 7 13 E -7 E -/D
2.
B 7 11
9

C -7b5 F7 B -7 B -/D C /E E 7 D -7 E -7 B 7 13
13

 3

E -7 A7 A 7 E -7 F -7 C 7 13 F -7 B7 B 7 D -7 E -7 B 7 13
17 

18 www.jordifarresmusic.com
 E -7 A 13 A 13 D Maj7 G (#11) F -7 E dim E -7 A 7
 3
21

D
25

"similar is not identical"

www.jordifarresmusic.com 19
 I Hadn't Anyone 'till You
You
=96 Ray Noble

CD track 06

B 6 B 6/F D /B F /C A -7b5 E 13 D 13

rubato

G -7 C 9 A dim G -7 C 13 F 6,9 B 9,#11 A -7 A dim

 3
5

a tempo

G -7 C9 B -7b5 B -6 F /A C 7/C F
 3
9

A -7 D9 G dim F/A D 7/A D 7 F 9 G 9 D -7 G 13

13

 3

G -7 G -7#5 C 13 B7 C7 F 6,9 B 13 A -7 E7

17 

20 www.jordifarresmusic.com
 A Maj7 F -7 B 9,13 E9 A7 D7 G7 C7 F dim
 3
21

G -7 C 13 B -7b5 B -6 F /A F
25

A -7 D9 A -7/E F dim D /F D 7 13 G 7 A 9/E G 9/D D -7/A G7 G 7 F7

29  3

B 6 B 6/F D /B F /C E 7 D7 E 13 D 13

33

G -7 C9 F dim G -11 C 13 A -7 D -7 B -7 E 7 D7
37 

 3

G 13 G 7 13 G -11 C 13 G /B B -6 F /A D 7/A
41

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 G -7 C 7#9b13 F Maj7 E 7 D7 G -7 C 7 D 7sus4 C 7sus4 C 13

45

poco rit.   rubato

B -6 B -6 A -7 A dim G -7 C 7#9b13 F

49

"strive to please yourself; at

least you know you're pleasing
someone. And in that process,
be honest"

22 www.jordifarresmusic.com
 Fourty-Eight
=160 George Van Eps
CD track 07

G 7 13 C -Maj7(9) G 7 13 C -Maj7(9) C -7/G

C -6(9) C 7 13 F -Maj7(9) C 7 13 F -Maj7(9) F -7/C

5

F -6(9) D -7b5 G 7b9,b13 C -7 G 7/B

9

C -/B A -7b5 D E -9 A 13 G7 D -7
13

17  G7 G 7 13 C -Maj7(9) G 7 13 C -Maj7(9) C -7/G

C -6 C 7 13 F -Maj7(9) C 7 13 F -Maj7(9) F -7/C

21

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 F -6(9) D -7b5 G 7 11 C -7 B
25

 3

C -11/B E -9 A 13 G7 A 13
29

G7 D 9 C -7 C -6/G D 7b9 G 7 13 C -7 C -6/G

33

D 7b9 G 7 13 C -7 F 7#9 A 7 13 D 7b9,#11 G 7b9,#11 C -Maj7

37 

rit.

41
C -Maj7

accel.

"do it, do it and do it"

24 www.jordifarresmusic.com
 Cheek to Cheek
Irving Berlin
=168

CD track 08

F6 F -6 F6 F -6

5
F6 D -7 G -7 C 13 F6 D -7 G -7 C 13

F6 G -6 G dim F /A A7 E 7 D7 G 13 D 7

C7 G 13 D 7 C7 C7 G -7 A7 E D A 7
13

G -7 G -/F G -7 /F G -/E G -/D D C F D 7b9/C G 9/B C 7b9/B C 7b9/G

17 

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 F6 D -7 G -7 C 13 F6 D -7 G -7 C 13
21  3 3

F6 G -6 G dim F /A A7 E 7 D7 G 13 D 7
25

C7 G 13 D 7 C9 C7 G -7 A7 E D7 A 7
29

G -7 C F C 7b9 F A -7 A -7
33

G -7 C7 F A -7 A -7 G -7 C7 F A -7 A -7
37 

G -7 C7 F A 7 13 D -7 A -7 G -7 C F A -7 A -7
41

26 www.jordifarresmusic.com
 G -7 C 13 F Maj7 F dim G -9 C 13 F Maj7 A -7 A -7

 3
45

G -7 F Maj7 F /A G -7 C 13 F G 13
 3
49  3

F- F -/E F -/E F -6 D 9 A -7 D 7 G 7 13
 3
53

G -7 C7 G -7 C 7b9 F D- D -/C C 13
57   3

 D.S. al Coda
 3

A -7 A -/G A -7/G A -6/G A -/E E D B Maj7 A 7 G -7 C 13

61

F6 F 6/C G -7 C 13 F6 A -7 A -7 G -7 C 13

65

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 F6 B 7 11 A 7 13 D -11 D 13 B 13 C 13 F Maj7 F
69

73

"we haven't even begun to scratch

the surface of the surface yet"

28 www.jordifarresmusic.com
 Why Was I Born?
Jerome Kern / Oscar Hammerstein II
CD track 09

E E dim F -7 B 9/D F -7 B 7 11
rubato

E 6,9 E -7 A7 A Maj7 G -7 F -7
5

 3

a tempo E F 9 B 13 A -7b5 A 9 G -7 C 13 F9 F -7 B 13

 3
9

B -11 A 7 11 A Maj7 B /D D 9 F -11 B 13

13

E E dim F -11 C 7/E E dim D7

17 

21 E Maj7/B A7 A 6 G -7 F -7 B 7

www.jordifarresmusic.com 29
 E F9 B 13 A -7b5 A 9 G -7 C 13 F 13 A 9,13 D 9,13
 3
25

E Maj7 D 7 C 7#9,b13 F -7 B 7 E Maj7

rubato
29

rit.

33 A 6#11 B Maj7 E (#11) E

"I'm just trying to play lap piano"

30 www.jordifarresmusic.com
 Ain't Misbehavin'
=126 Andy Razaf / Harry Brooks / Fats Waller
Waller
CD track 10

F -7 B -7 E -9 A 7sus4 D Maj7 B 7b9,b13 E 9 A 7b9,b13

D F -7 B 7 E -7 A 9,13 D A -11 D 7 G 6 B 9#11

D /F E7 E -7 A 9,13 F -7 B7 B 7 E 7 A7 A 7
9

D 6 F -7 B 7 E -7 A 9,13 D A -11 D 13 G 6 B9

13

D /F E7 E -7 A 9,13 D 7 D A -7 D 7 G -7 C -6
17 

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 B - B -#5 B -6 B 7 B -6
21

A /C  3 B7 B -7  3
A 7 B dim F -7 B7 B 7 E7 E 7 A 7
E -7/B
25

D 6 F -7 B 7 E -7 A 9,13 D A -11 D 13 G 6 B9

29

D /F E7 E -7 A 9,13 G -7 D /F E7 E -7 A 9,13 G -7
33

D /F E7 E -7 A 13 D 7 D
37   3

freely

D 6,9  3 D 6,9
41

32 www.jordifarresmusic.com
 I Could Write a Book
Richard Rodgers
=100

CD track 11

C -9 F7 B Maj7 D -7 G7 C -7 F7 E -7b5 E-

freely

B /D C -7 F7 B Maj7 F 13 B Maj7 G 7b13,#9 G 7/B C -7 C -/B

5

F /A E -7b5 F /E B 9/D D dim C -7 F7 B 6 B -6

 3
9

F /A A dim G dim F 13 A 7 13 B Maj7 B 7 13 C7 F 7sus4 C -7/G

13

 3

F7 C -9 F7 B Maj7 D -7 G7 C -7 F 13 B /D F 7/C
17 

B Maj7 F 13 B Maj7 F 13 B Maj7 G 7b13,#9 C -11 C -7/G

21
 3

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 F7 E -7b5 F/E B 9/D D dim C -7 F7 F -7 E7
25

E Maj7 E -Maj7(9) B D -/A G7 C -7 F 13 F 13

29

rit.

33
B Maj7 E Maj7#11 B 6,9

34 www.jordifarresmusic.com
www.jordifarresmusic.com