Published:
2023-11-14
Updated:
2024-02-15

Learning Ukulele with Curt

Sunrise, Sunset

Harmonic Analysis (RMA) Worksheet for the song: "Sunrise, Sunset".

Author(s): Curt Sheller Publisher: Curt Sheller Publications Code: ULHA-YB-224

Main Category: Harmonic-Analysis Main Instrument: Any

Subjects: Chords

2024-02-15

Sunrise, Sunset

Harmonic Analysis (RMA) Worksheet for the song: "Sunrise, Sunset".

Sunrise, Sunset

Sunrise, Sunset is a song from the musical Fiddler on the Roof written in 1964 by composer Jerry Bock and lyricist Sheldon Harnick.

This song is performed at the wedding of Tzeitel, Tevye and Golde's eldest daughter. The two parents sing about how they can't believe their daughter and her groom have grown up, while Hodel and Perchik sing about whether there may be a wedding in the nearby future for them. wikiwand

Sunrise, Sunset is in the The Daily Ukulele 365 Songs for Better Living book.

Strum a different song every day with easy arrangements of 365 of your favorite songs in one big songbook! The Daily Ukulele features ukulele arrangements with melody, lyrics and uke chord grids and are in ukulele-friendly keys that are particularly suited for groups of one to one hundred to play and sing.

Ukulele Chords

Dm A7 Gm D7 E7 A A7+5 Gm6 C7 F F6 Em7 G7

These and many other chords are covered in the Learn A Chord A Day series of lessons.

C Tuning Chords

In the Daily Ukulele series of book the chords are actually listing in their order of appearance. And, are always the basic open position chords when possible.

Starting Melody Note and 1st Interval

  • Sunrise, Sunset is in 4/4, Common Time and the Key of Dm .
  • Start on P5 ↑ P4.

Intervals Legend: Root=note that begins a scale of the starting key; C is C, D is D, Am is A, Em is E, etc… m=minor; M=Major; P=Perfect; D=Diminished; A=Augmented. • is up/ascending; is down/descending;

Harmonic Analysis (HA) Worksheet

Visit the Harmonic Analysis for Scale and Chord Selection series of lessons for information on creating your own Harmonic Analysis Worksheet

||: Dm
A7
Dm
Dm
Dm
I
V
I

Dm: D Nat. Mi.

A Mix-2-6

Unlike Major keys and tonalities which draw the their source chords (harmony) from one major scale. Minor keys draw from three minor scales for their melodies and chords. FOr chords the main scale if the Harmonic Minor scale. Melodic choices com from all three.

A7
Dm
D7
Gm
D7
Gm
V
I

I7
(V of IV)

IV

I7
(V of IV)

IV

D Mix-2-6

D Mix-2-6

Gm
E7
E7
A7
A7
Dm
A7
IV

II7
(V of V)

V
I
V

E Mix

Dm
Dm
Dm
A7
Dm
D7
I
V
I

II7
(V of V)

D Mix-2-6

Gm
D7
Gm
E7
A
IV

I7
(V of IV)

IV

II7
(V of V)

V

D Mix-2-6

E Mix

A7
A7+5
A7
V

A WT

Chorus

Dm
/
Gm6
Gm6
Dm
A7
A7
Dm
Gm6
Gm6
Dm
A7
I
IV
I
V
I
IV
I
V
Dm
/
Gm6
/
Dm
Gm6
Dm
D7
I
IV
I
IV
I

I7
(V of IV)

D Mix-2-6

Internal Modulation (IM)
Gm
C7
F
F6
Em7
A7
Dm
Dm
II
V
I
II
V
I

F: F Ionian

Dm
/
Gm6
Gm6
Dm
A7
A7
Dm
Gm6
I
IV
I
V
I
IV
Gm6
Dm
A7
A7
Dm
Gm6
Gm6
Dm
Gm6
/
I
V
/
I
IV
/
I
IV
C9
C9
Dm
D7
Gm6
A7
Dm
G7
Gm6
I

I7
(V of IV)

IV
V
I
IV7
IV

D Mix-2-6

D Dor

G Mix

D Dor

C Mix

C Mix

G Dorian and C Mixolydian are actually the same scales: G A Bb C D E F G` . Just comes down to what bass note you want the bass player to play and the lowest note of a chord for chordal instruments such as the piano and guitar that actually have a bass range.

1.

A7
/
/
A7+5
Dm
Dm :||
V
I

There is a single beat A7+5 chord on beat four of measure one above. Single beat chords can be ignored for Harmonic Analysis purposes. And, in this can the harmonic function does not change. You can address the #5 in any solos or melodic embellishments you might do.

2.

Dm
Dm
Dm
I

The Harmonic Analysis (HA)

A Harmonic Analysis (RMA/HA) and its worksheet are intended to show the function of the chords, the harmonic principles used, the keys and tonalities the song explores. And, can be used for scale selections and chord and scale substitutions.

NOTE: A Harmonic Analysis Worksheet is NOT intended to be a lead leadsheet. Minimal roadmap information such as repeats, fine, D.S., D.C., and codas has been used in preparing the worksheets to somewhat mirror the leadsheet in the Daily Ukulele book.

Sections, Verse, Chorus, 1st, 2nd Ending, turnbacks …

The worksheets will show 1st, 2nd Ending, turnbacks, etc. as indicated in the Yellow Book. You should start to recognize that 1st endings typically always return to a previous verse or an section. With a 2nd ending, a transition to a different part of the song, a or chorus. Harmonic Principles are used for these repeats and transitions.

If turnback chords are not indicated for these 1st and 2nd endings in the original Yellow Book leadsheet, recommended chord(s) will be indicated in parentheses or as an alternate harmony in Red . Typically the last measures or turnbacks will be a chord that resolves to and harmonically leads you to the next section or turning you back to the same section. Typically a V or direct substitution of that next chord.

Reference Key

This is the key of the source leadsheet.

  • Sunrise, Sunset is in 4/4, Common Time and the Key of Dm .

Harmonic Principles Used:

These are the harmonic principles used in Sunrise, Sunset.

Nashville Number System (NNS)

Nashville Numbering System always uses four bars/measures per line, no bar lines, and default is each number of the number of beats per bar/measure based on the time signature. If multiple chords in same bar then they are underlined. It can be as simple as converting the Roman Numerals above to Arabic numbers.

At its simplest you simply replace the roman numbers with Arabic numbers. e.g., I becomes 1 , II becomes 2 , etc. The only exception is the bVII7 chord becomes 7 as this borrowed chord from the Mixolydian tonality is so common and the VII (half-diminished seventh) in a major chord is so rare (actually never). And, you could go as far as saying all the modes are numbered: I II III IV V VI VII — just as in the major scale. So calling it a 7 is not that far out.

Check the definitive book Nashville Number System

Scale Selection

Once a Harmonic Analysis has been completed, scale selections can be made. These scale selections can be either vertical or horizontal choices. And, really, only needed if you are going to take a solo or embellish the melody with added notes.

Scale Abbreviation Legend

Traditional Scales: Maj: Major (Ionian), Nat Min: Natural Minor, Dim: Diminished, WT: Whole Tone, Har Min: Harmonic Minor

Contemporary Scales: Minor Pent: Minor Pentatonic, Pent: Major Pentatonic, Blues

Scale/Mode Names: Ion: Ionian (Major), Dor: Dorian (Minor), Phrygian: Phrygian, Lyd: Lydian, Mix: Mixolydian (Dominant), Aeol: Aeolian (Natural Minor), Loc: Locrian

Altered Scales: Mix+4: Mixolydian Plus 4 / Lydian Dominant, Mix-2-6: Mixolydian flat 2, flat 6

Checkout the Lesson Series: Harmonic Analysis for Scale and Chord Selection or download the Harmonic Analysis for Scale and Chord Selection book. And the QuickStart Series of Scale and Arpeggio books.

RMA book cover QS1UKES book cover

Performance Notes

Any performance notes will show here.

Links & Resources