If you’re looking for the Watermelon Man Lead Sheet, you’ve just found it!
I’ve played this song so many times, however it has been years since I’ve played it that when I just started writing this post I had to just completely register to it.
It’s an absolute Herbie Hancock classic and is one of the first songs I actually practiced in a band setting.
I remember being at jazz camp and not knowing exactly what jazz or funk was, because it was why I was there to learn about it.
Essentially the way we went about learning this song is exactly how I share it with everyone.
You learn the melody, then you learn the chords, then you learn the arpeggios and scales you can play over the chords as a solo, and then you just keep practicing until you feel comfortable blowing over the changes.
A song like watermelon man is absolutely perfect for this type of practice and I highly recommend you get together with a few of your jazz or funk musician friends and try to play over this.
That is the ultimate key when it comes to being able to play over a very specific jazz standard.
Enjoy!