Tune Tuesday: All By Myself

 

All By Myself – A Classic from Irving Berlin

Some songs feel timeless, even when they’ve been around for over a century. Irving Berlin’s All By Myself, written in 1921, is one of those tunes. Though it may not be as instantly recognizable as Blue Skies or Cheek to Cheek, this early jazz-era gem has been recorded by countless artists and remains a wonderful piece to explore—especially for solo guitar.

A Song Born from The Music Box Revue

Berlin composed All By Myself for The Music Box Revue, a series of Broadway revues he created between 1921 and 1924. Unlike a traditional musical with a continuous story, revues were collections of songs, sketches, and dance numbers designed for entertainment. Berlin didn’t just contribute a few songs—he wrote the entire score, from music to lyrics, which speaks to his genius as a songwriter.

After its debut, All By Myself quickly became a hit. It found a new audience in 1946 when Bing Crosby and Joan Caulfield performed it in the film Blue Skies (a movie that, fittingly, also featured Berlin’s classic Blue Skies). Over the years, the tune has been covered by countless artists, each putting their own spin on it.

Why This Tune Stands Out

Berlin had a gift for writing deceptively simple melodies that stuck with you. All By Myself has a warm, lyrical quality that makes it a joy to play—whether as a vocal feature or a solo guitar arrangement. The harmony moves in a way that invites jazz-style reharmonization, and the melody leaves plenty of space for expression.

For guitarists, this tune offers a great opportunity to explore early jazz phrasing and chord-melody techniques. The structure is straightforward, but the beauty is in the interpretation—how you bring out the melody, the subtle variations in timing, and the way you shape the harmony.

Watch the Performance

I’ve recently been exploring All By Myself as a solo guitar piece, and it’s quickly becoming one of my favorites. If you enjoy classic jazz standards, I think you’ll love this one too. Check out my performance, and let me know what you think! CLICK HERE.

And as always, if there’s a tune you’d love to hear, drop a suggestion in the comments. Thanks for being part of this musical journey—see you next time!

JS
 jonshields.org
 guitarbook.org


*note - part or all of this article may have been written with AI.

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