Hidden Pockets – Peter Bernstein

This song has no unifying key center, but each section suggests a tonality, mostly through cleverly placed melody notes. The changes contain a lot of chromatic root motion as well as minor third key relations; the chromatic parts of the A and C sections focus on a single melody note to tie the chord qualities together.

There is an eight-measure intro with a mostly ascending melody; the changes also generally ascend, starting with G♭ major and then resolving to D, F, A♭, B, and again D major. The A section changes rise and then fall chromatically; the B section mostly continues the downward motion, introducing the first major chords of the head. E♭ major at the start of the B section leads to D♭ major, then however to B7 and E major—an interesting allusion to the minor third modulations in the intro. The C section is the same as A, and D is similar to B modulating downwards to an E section that starts in F and, like the intro, climbs both harmonically and melodically to D major.

Each section is eight measures long, and the intro reappears as an interlude before each solo. D♭7 at the end of the form leads both to G♭ major for the interlude and to C7 for the start of the next chorus.

The melody is really what holds the song together, highlighting a lot of common tones between the chords. The A and C sections have stop-time hits on the head, but this rhythm section activity is not vital to the song. It would be equally valid as a ballad; on the recording, Peter first plays the entire head rubato with piano accompaniment before launching into the intro and in head.

The liner notes mention that this song's title comes from a poem by 13th century Persian poet Rumi. It could also refer to the song's many briefly-touched-on key centers.

Both the live and studio versions of Hidden Pockets feature the same instrumentation of guitar, piano, bass and drums. Though Peter Bernstein often adds ornamentations, specific slurs and rhythmic devices to his melodic interpretations, as you'll hear on these records, our lead sheet provides the basic melody, chord changes, hits and structure so you can approach this composition either faithfully or more personally. With a fast tempo and difficult harmonies, this tune is best suited for advanced guitarists.