Best Minor Jazz Standards

[henryrobinett]

1. The key signature is 5 flats. That's Db major.

2. The first four measures are a iim7-V7-I in Db major. Then iim7-V7-III7-vim7-iim7-V7, all in Db major.

3. The only modulations are to D for first four bars in the bridge, to C for the second four bars of the bridge then back to Db for the last eight bars.

I beg to differ, though you do have. Point. Key signatures don't tell the whole story. I agree. It starts on Ebmin (i min). The it's Bb7, not Ab7. That's the next move. Though ultimately I guess you could say it's Db Major, it definitely starts as Eb minor.

[monk]

I beg to differ, though you do have. Point. Key signatures don't tell the whole story. I agree. It starts on Ebmin (i min). The it's Bb7, not Ab7. That's the next move. Though ultimately I guess you could say it's Db Major, it definitely starts as Eb minor.

Satin Doll definitely starts on Dm. Is it in the key of D minor? Honeysuckle Rose starts on Gm. Is it in the key of G minor.

[henryrobinett]

Satin Doll definitely starts on Dm. Is it in the key of D minor? Honeysuckle Rose starts on Gm. Is it in the key of G minor.

Satin Doll is a ii -V, not a i-V. Satin is definitely in C.

[MarkRhodes]

For what it's worth, I consulted the site called Learn Jazz Standards and found the following:

"Perhaps one of the most popular versions of this tune is Coleman Hawkins’ famous 1939 recording, considered to foreshadow the coming of the bebop style. This tune is most commonly called in the key of Db Major."

I think this is one way to look at it. If you were going to call the tune with a band you weren't used to playing with, would you call it in Eb minor or Db major?

[BCPete]

For what it's worth, I consulted the site called Learn Jazz Standards and found the following:

"Perhaps one of the most popular versions of this tune is Coleman Hawkins’ famous 1939 recording, considered to foreshadow the coming of the bebop style. This tune is most commonly called in the key of Db Major."

I think this is one way to look at it. If you were going to call the tune with a band you weren't used to playing with, would you call it in Eb minor or Db major?

Eb minor.

[monk]

I beg to differ, though you do have. Point. Key signatures don't tell the whole story. I agree. It starts on Ebmin (i min). The it's Bb7, not Ab7. That's the next move. Though ultimately I guess you could say it's Db Major, it definitely starts as Eb minor.

Henry,
I understand what you're saying here. But the original sheet music for Body and Soul IS a simple iim-V-I. The Bb7 that you referred to has, indeed, become common practice with some players. This may come from players who originally embellished the progression by playing Ebm-Ebm(maj7)-Em7-Ab9-Ab9#5-Db69. It's only a very short step to turn that Ebm(maj7) into a Bb7#5. So while I understand what you've said and where it comes from historically, I stand by my original statement.
Regards,
Jerome

[monk]

For what it's worth, I consulted the site called Learn Jazz Standards and found the following:

"Perhaps one of the most popular versions of this tune is Coleman Hawkins’ famous 1939 recording, considered to foreshadow the coming of the bebop style. This tune is most commonly called in the key of Db Major."

I think this is one way to look at it. If you were going to call the tune with a band you weren't used to playing with, would you call it in Eb minor or Db major?

Everyone I've ever played this tune with called it in Db. That's how I've come to think of it.

Just because a song starts with a particular chord doesn't mean that that chord determines the key. The Great American Songbook is full of songs that start on chords that are not I or i.

[henryrobinett]

You can stand by your statement and I'm not saying you're wrong. Many sheet music key signatures are wrong. That's often not an indication. For me it's either Eb minor, which because it starts out there, is where I think of it. It does quickly modulate to Db and ends in Db, which is often the indicator. But the example of Satin Doll as being similar, just because the first chord is Dminor was wrong.

[henryrobinett]

Well whenever it's called in my neck of the woods it's called Eb minor. Lol. I mean what is this? Lol.

[monk]

You can stand by your statement and I'm not saying you're wrong. Many sheet music key signatures are wrong. That's often not an indication. For me it's either Eb minor, which because it starts out there, is where I think of it. It does quickly modulate to Db and ends in Db, which is often the indicator. But the example of Satin Doll as being similar, just because the first chord is Dminor was wrong.

Henry,

I never said Satin Doll was in D minor. I know what key it's in. I was just having a bit of fun.

As I said earlier,
"Just because a song starts with a particular chord doesn't mean that chord determines the key. The Great American Songbook is full of songs that start on chords that are not I or i."
So, on this we'll just agree to disagree.Enjoy your cruise gig,
Jerome

[MarkRhodes]

While we're beating this dead horse, I decided to ask Carol Kaye what she thought. She says it is in Db major, starting n the ii chord. She's not the pope, but that's good enough for me. But I wouldn't interfere with someone else saying it's in Eb minor....

[BCPete]

While we're beating this dead horse, I decided to ask Carol Kaye what she thought. She says it is in Db major, starting n the ii chord. She's not the pope, but that's good enough for me. But I wouldn't interfere with someone else saying it's in Eb minor....

Try this: play the bare melody -- sure sounds like Eb minor to me.

[henryrobinett]

It's such an interesting song. Clearly it IS in Db but it's ALMOST just as clearly in Eb minor. The tonality SOUNDS like it's in Eb minor. When it goes to Db the first time, it doesn't sound like the tonic.

(i) My days have (V)grown so (i -ii) lonely (V or IV7)
(I - but sounds ambiguous as a tonic) For you I (IV7) cry, for (iii) you dear only (i now clearly becomes a ii)
Why haven't you seen it
I'm all for you body and soul (here Db for the first time sounds unambiguously like the tonic.)

[BCPete]

It's such an interesting song. Clearly it IS in Db but it's ALMOST just as clearly in Eb minor. The tonality SOUNDS like it's in Eb minor. When it goes to Db the first time, it doesn't sound like the tonic.

(i) My days have (V)grown so (i -ii) lonely (V or IV7)
(I - but sounds ambiguous as a tonic) For you I (IV7) cry, for (iii) you dear only (i now clearly becomes a ii)
Why haven't you seen it
I'm all for you body and soul (here Db for the first time sounds unambiguously like the tonic.)

I'm with you all the way. It is a wonderful song, great melody and harmony, one of my favorites for exploring (I've pleasurably whiled away a few hours on it). Pretty fertile ground.

I think it is very mysterious and enigmatic, and that's one of the reasons we love it.

Cheers
Pete

[henryrobinett]

Yes! It's just so strange that the tonic appears for the first time in the 3rd bar! Starts out sounding like minor, which as I've said, is still how I treat it. Actually when Eb reappears in the 5th bar it STILL sounds like it's returning to the i Tonic, although it's now functioning as a ii.

Great tune. One of my favorites.

[BCPete]

Yes! It's just so strange that the tonic appears for the first time in the 3rd bar! Starts out sounding like minor, which as I've said, is still how I treat it. Actually when Eb reappears in the 5th bar it STILL sounds like it's returning to the i Tonic, although it's now functioning as a ii.

Great tune. One of my favorites.

Eggs-zackly!

[randalljazz]

minor mishap

moanin'

mercy, mercy, mercy

joshua

[henryrobinett]

Alone together

[mercosound]

I've recently been playing Lullaby of Birdland again. Cool melody - in Fm

[JazzinNY]

Confession: I've never understood minor keys.

Is there an accepted Definition of a minor song?

Or, let's put it this way: in looking at a song in the Real Book, how would you know it's minor?

(Body and Soul excepted, because nobody can agree on that)

[hans halmackenreuter]

Nica's dream !!!!!!!