Jovo Vlavot by Classic Bouzouki Instrumental

Difficulty: Advanced Intermediate
Tabs and lead sheet notations for a Greek bouzouki instrumental, also transcribed for guitar. Guitar and Bouzouki tutorial videos, backing track & bass guitar tabs/notations.

The package includes:

NOTATION & TABLATURES
· Bouzouki tablature (4 pages)
· Guitar tablature (5 pages)
· Lead sheet (3 pages)
· Bass guitar tabs & notation (2 pages each)
(All tabs and notations include chord names)

VIDEOS
· Solo Bouzouki tutorial
· Solo Guitar tutorial
· Rhythm guitar tutorial

AUDIO FILES
· The original recording
· Backing track

DETAILS
Tablature/notation
The guitar tabs are modified for fingering positions on a 6-string guitar.
The lead sheet is adjusted for accordion, violin etc, with the typical bouzouki/guitar ornaments removed.

The Rhythm Pattern
At the top-left of each Tablature or sheet music there's a one-bar rhythm pattern with some additional information about the accompaniment:
For guitar/piano accompaniment:
· the note below the line = the bass root note (of the current chord);
· the note above the line = a block chord
· the note on the line = bass 5th

For drums/percussion
· the note below or on the line = kick / low drum sound
· the note above the line = snare / high drum sound

Videos
The solo tutorials are a slowed-down, note-by-note rendition of the melody. It will help you gain understanding of the ornaments and fingering positions.
The rhythm guitar tutorial is a slowed-version of the chord sequence.
In all cases, these are suggestions for performance. If at all needed, use them as a starting point, and create your own performance.

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About the song
This is a tune in old rebetiko style, using multiple scales in the melody building.
It's in 4/4. time signature. In essence, it's a 12/8, but the 4/4. represents a more accurate presentation, as the emphasis is on the four main beats, especially in the rhythm guitar.

There are several D Minor scales used interchangeably:
· Natural
· Melodic
· Augmented Melodic
· Dorian

There are also a few bouzouki/guitar and other ornaments used throughout the composition:
· After-grace Hammer-on
· Classic Hammer-on
· Pull-off
· Slide
· Slide effect (no end note)
· Staccato

For an overview of the scales and ornaments used here, please see this free resource:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/balkan-blues-and-121148747

Tracklist

1.	Jovo Vlavot (full)	3:18

2.	backing track	3:21

Credits

released February 3, 2025

Song inspiration
The composition is dedicated to Jovo Veljanovski, a Vlach who lived in N. Macedonia and was a great lover of Balkan music, especially Greek.
He loved the old Rebetiko songs very much.
Jovo wrote a song for every major city in N. Macedonia. He is also the author of Kazhi Zoshto Me Ostavi (Кажи Зошто Ме Остави), the first and possibly the greatest Macedonian pop hit, using the melody of the Greek song Ποιος Σε Πήρε Και Μου `Φυγες by Nikos Gounaris.

License