Why this song
I love this song, in both Spanish and French! The rarer French version often comes as a surprise, as the Spanish version is much better known.
This song is always a welcome addition to my evening events. Intergenerational, it crosses the ages, and after all these years of playing it, I still can’t get enough of it.
Music
The verses are in the minor mode, alternating between the first minor degree and the fourth minor. At the end of the verse, we find the fifth major degree, a dominant from the harmonic minor scale.
For the choruses, we switch to the relative major before returning to the tonic minor. As always at the end of a loop, the dominant fifth degree resolves to the tonic minor.
I chose G minor, both for my range and for the simplicity of ukulele chords. The result is: G minor (tonic), C minor (fourth degree) and D7 (dominant). The refrains pass through Bb (relative major).
All chords are noted in the lead sheet at the bottom of the page.
And if you’re unclear about any harmonic notions, don’t hesitate to drop me a line!
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Recording
First, I recorded the sound and video of the ukulele and vocal parts. Then I put on the headphones to listen to the first track and add the guitar, before finishing with the celesta part.
Back then, I used a Tascam DR05 recorder. I say “back then” because it was 2021, and it’s 2025 as I write this. I recorded everything with the Tascam, then lined up the tracks in my sequencer. I can’t remember exactly whether I was using Studio One, Logic or Audition at the time, but today I work exclusively with Ableton Live.
This recorder really enabled me to progress, and I don’t regret buying it. However, it soon stopped working, and that didn’t really disappoint me, as I wasn’t totally convinced by the sound quality. I’ve since bought a Zoom H6, which offers more possibilities with its six tracks and a stereo sound that I find of better quality.
The celesta
I’d like to say a word about the celesta, which once belonged to the Orchestres Colonne. Indeed, in my youth, I worked as an orchestra boy, and this celesta was abandoned in the basement of the Théâtre du Châtelet. I asked my friend Nicolas, who worked for the Concerts Colonne, if I could recover this instrument. He spoke to the orchestra’s management, who agreed, on condition that I wouldn’t sell it or paint it blue!
Since then, this celesta has been part of my daily life, and I intend to keep it. It reminds me of my years as an orchestra boy, working in the most prestigious concert halls in Paris.
Score and tablature
If you wish, my transcription is available in pdf format just below this text.
I’ve included the ne Gm, Em, Am versions. So you can choose what suits you best!
This is a non-commercial sharing.