Change Partners: Ukulele

This standard has passed through the hands of some of the finest interpreters in American music, from Fred Astaire's elegant phrasing to Ella Fitzgerald's sophisticated swing. The ukulele arrangement captures the sophistication of the original while making it accessible to players still building their command of the instrument.

The melody carries a gentle sophistication, with the kind of elegant restraint that asks the player to listen more than display. There's an invitation in the phrasing to find the lyrical quality beneath the straightforward melody line.

Intermediate ukulele players with solid rhythmic foundation and basic jazz phrasing awareness will find this standard rewarding. It works equally well for ensemble settings or solo performance.

• Listen closely to the recorded version before you begin learning; the rubato and phrasing in this standard reveal as much as the written notes.
• Keep the rhythmic accompaniment light and conversational rather than metronomic, especially during the verse sections where breath becomes part of the interpretation.
• Pay attention to dynamics marked in the chart; they shape the narrative arc and prevent the piece from settling into one emotional temperature.

Pair this with other standards arranged for ukulele to build a set exploring the Great American Songbook. It also serves as a bridge piece when introducing students to jazz phrasing and interpretation within a familiar harmonic language.

• Jazz phrasing and rubato in a standard harmonic progression
• Accompaniment patterns that support vocal or lead melody interpretation
• Reading and interpreting dynamic and articulation markings within a lyrical context