Henry Mancini - Days of Wine and Roses - Guitar Tab

Our Man In Hollywood

1962 2:11

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About Days of Wine and Roses

Written by Henry Mancini for the 1962 film of the same name, "Days of Wine and Roses" is a staple of the Jazz repertoire and a rewarding piece to work through on guitar. In F major at 120 BPM, the melody moves with a gentle, flowing feel that rewards a clean single-note approach, whether fingerstyle or with a pick. The challenge here is phrasing: the melody has long, arching lines that require smooth position shifts up the neck, and any hesitation in those shifts will break the legato quality the tune depends on. Chord melody players will find the harmonic movement equally demanding, with several ii-V-I progressions and chromatic inner voice movements that need careful fingering. Identify the trickiest melodic phrase or chord substitution and use the Practice Toolbar to loop it slowed down until the shifts feel automatic. Getting the rubato right at the head is what separates a polished performance from a mechanical one.

• The melody sits comfortably in F major but involves several position shifts up the neck that can disrupt phrasing if not practiced slowly.
• Chord melody arrangers should pay close attention to the ii-V-I progressions, which invite chromatic voice leading between the inner strings.
• At 120 BPM the feel is relaxed and song-like, so focus on sustain and smooth left-hand transitions rather than speed.