“Love for Sale” was written by Cole Porter for the 1930 musical The New Yorkers. Its lyric was controversial at the time, and jazz musicians love it for its shifting minor and major harmony. Cannonball Adderley’s version on Somethin’ Else is a classic.
The tune is usually played in Bb minor/major, in a long form that moves from minor to major sections. Many bands play a Latin feel in some sections and swing in others.
For improvisation, practice switching between Bb minor and Bb major sounds. Outline ii-Vs clearly.
Practice the form with a play-along, marking sections.
Section by section: the A sections are in Bb minor, so use Bb Dorian or melodic minor and highlight the minor third (Db). When the tune shifts to Bb major, make the change obvious by landing on D, the major third. Many bands play the minor sections with a Latin feel and the major sections in swing, so practice transitioning between those grooves without dropping the tempo. The bridge moves through ii-V progressions; outline each one with guide tones. Cannonball Adderley’s version builds intensity with long, bluesy lines.
Practice tip: write “minor” and “major” above each section of your lead sheet in pencil, then improvise only on the sections that switch. Training your ear to hear that shift instantly is the key to sounding confident on this tune.
Ear training with the Love for Sale Lead Sheet PDF: before reading along, listen to two different recordings and try to hear where each section starts. Then follow the lead sheet while listening. Connecting what you see to what you hear is how lead sheets turn into tunes you truly know.
Is it hard to play? It’s intermediate. Recordings to study: Cannonball Adderley’s Somethin’ Else and Ella Fitzgerald’s Cole Porter Songbook. Learn more about the composer on Cole Porter’s Wikipedia page, and find more Cole Porter lead sheets on Minedit.