Georgia On My Mind Hugh Laurie Sheet | Music
Standard sheet music often puts the melody in the right hand and chords in the left. In Laurie’s version, the hands are often intertwined. He uses tight jazz voicings, often adding 7ths, 9ths, and 13ths to standard major chords. If your sheet music looks "too simple" (just straight Major and Minor chords), you will need to spice it up yourself to match his sound.
There is no officially licensed “Hugh Laurie arrangement” separate from the standard Georgia on My Mind (Hoagy Carmichael & Stuart Gorrell).
However, you can achieve his style by starting with the standard lead sheet and modifying:
The most important instruction on any sheet music for this song isn't a note—it's the tempo marking. Hugh Laurie plays this with a mix of reverence and mischief.
If you sit down to play this, don’t play it stiffly. The sheet music is just a map; the territory is the blues. Let the melody lag slightly behind the beat, emphasize the blue notes, and don't be afraid to play a little loudly.
Whether you are a House M.D. fan or a dedicated pianist, learning Hugh Laurie’s take on "Georgia on My Mind" is a fantastic exercise in blending traditional jazz structure with the soul of the Delta blues. So, find that sheet music, sit down at the 88 keys, and let the sunshine in. georgia on my mind hugh laurie sheet music
Are you working on this piece? Let us know in the comments what your biggest challenge is with the left-hand stride pattern!
You're looking for the sheet music of "Georgia on My Mind" by Hugh Laurie!
"Georgia on My Mind" is a classic song written by Hoagy Carmichael and Frank Eyton, and made famous by Ray Charles in 1960. However, Hugh Laurie did record a beautiful piano version of the song for his 1995 album "The Late Show".
If you're interested in getting the sheet music, here are a few options: Standard sheet music often puts the melody in
Before making a purchase, please ensure that the sheet music is at the correct level for your skill and that the arrangement is to your liking.
Would you like more information on Hugh Laurie's version of the song or help with finding another arrangement?
Laurie isn’t just a classically trained pianist who “dabbles” in blues. He’s a bona fide blues obsessive. Before he ever limped into Princeton-Plainsboro Hospital, he was performing in a comedy duo with Stephen Fry… and secretly woodshedding New Orleans piano licks. His version of Georgia on My Mind isn’t a Ray Charles clone. Instead, Laurie channels Hoagy Carmichael (who wrote the song in 1930) and pours in a gravelly, late-night, whiskey-and-regret vocal that sounds like Tom Waits’ polite English cousin.
This is the biggest difference. Ray Charles uses a smooth, gospel-influenced left hand (block chords). Hugh Laurie, a devoted fan of Professor Longhair and Dr. John, uses Stride Piano and New Orleans roll techniques. His left hand jumps: The most important instruction on any sheet music
From the sheet music to the piano bench, pianists face specific hurdles:
| Challenge | Description | Solution from Sheet Music | |-----------|-------------|----------------------------| | Left-hand stamina | Boogie-woogie octaves and tenths at 120+ BPM | Simplify to walking fifths or use chord shells until speed builds | | Syncopated melody | Rhythms are often behind the beat | Listen to the track repeatedly; sheet music provides only a skeletal rhythm | | Improvised fills | Laurie fills every gap with blues licks | The official songbook includes written-out fills, but memorizing patterns is better | | Ensemble coordination | If playing with a band, the piano acts as both rhythm and lead | Use a conductor score or create a lead sheet for horns |
Look at the bass clef. If the arranger has done their job, you will see large intervals—often a 10th (e.g., C to E).
As of this report’s publication, no official, licensed sheet music transcription of Hugh Laurie’s specific arrangement has been published by a major music publisher (e.g., Hal Leonard, Alfred Music). However, several reliable sources exist: