Standards

A Ghost Of A Chance chords & key

Key: C major
Form: AB
Bars: 32
Groove: Ballad
Time signature: 4/4

“A Ghost Of A Chance” is a jazz standard by Victor Young. It is usually played in C major as a ballad, and the 32-bar AB form has 2 sections. Harmonically it contains 5 major ii–V–I cadences and 6 minor ii–V–i, uses 18 different chords and moves between the key centres C major, F minor, D minor and E minor. In this atlas it appears on 24 album tracks.

Chord changes

to key

Showing in: Concert (C) — C major

C^maj7

D♭^7♯11

G^m7C⁷

F^m7B♭⁷

E^m7E♭^dim7

D^m7G⁷

E⁷A⁷

D^m7G⁷

C^maj7

E^m7♭5A^7♭9

D^m7

G^7♯5

C^maj7G⁷

C^maj7A^m7

G♭^m7♭5

B^7♭9

E^m7A⁷

D^m7G^7♯5

C^maj7

D♭^7♯11

G^m7C⁷

F^m7B♭⁷

E^m7E♭^dim7

D^m7G⁷

C^maj7A^m7

D^m7G⁷

Changes as commonly played (concert pitch). Your band's version may differ.

Harmonic analysis

5Major ii–V–I

6Minor ii–V–i

16ii–V moves

0Tritone substitutions

1Dominant chains

18Different chords

Most used chords

C^maj7×7
D^m7×7
G⁷×6
E^m7×4
D♭^7♯11×3
G^m7×3

Key centres reached by ii–V

C major, F minor, D minor and E minor

Recorded on these albums

1955	Rex Stewart Plays Duke Ellington Rex Stewart / Illinois Jacquet And His All Stars · “Ghost of a Chance”
1956	Moonlight in Vermont Johnny Smith Quintet feat. Stan Getz · “A Ghost of a Chance”
1956	The Modern Art of Jazz Zoot Sims · “Ghost of a Chance”
1956	Lennie Tristano Lennie Tristano · “Ghost of a Chance”
1957	Thelonious Himself Thelonious Monk · “Ghost of a Chance”
1958	Lady in Satin Billie Holiday · “A Ghost of a Chance”
1958	Imagination Billy Eckstine · “(I Don’t Stand a) Ghost of a Chance”
1960	Movin' Right Along Arnett Cobb · “Ghost of a Chance”
1961	Movin' Along Wes Montgomery · “Ghost of a Chance”
1968	Illinois Jacquet on Prestige! Bottoms Up Illinois Jacquet · “Ghost of a Chance”
1970	The Ruby Braff Special Ruby Braff · “Ghost of a Chance”
1977	Chewin' the Fat Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis with The Georges Arvanitas Trio · “Ghost of a Chance”
1979	One to Blow On Zoot Sims · “Ghost of a Chance”
1988	The 1943 Trio Stuff Smith · “A Ghost of a Chance”
1989	Prez Conferences Lester Young
1992	Sweetie Pie Stan Getz · “Ghost of a Chance”
1994	Dexter Gordon on Dial - The Complete Sessions Dexter Gordon · “Ghost of a Chance”
1996	Say It Isn't So Herb Jeffries · “Ghost of a Chance”
1997	One Night Stand: The Town Hall Concert 1947 Sarah Vaughan & Lester Young · “A Ghost of a Chance”
1998	Trio Fascination, Edition One Joe Lovano · “Ghost of a Chance”
1999	Pennies From Heaven Stan Getz · “A Ghost of a Chance”
2000	Blue Lester Lester Young · “A Ghost of a Chance”
2001	Live at the Birdland Lester Young · “A Ghost of a Chance”
2002	It’s Easy to Remember Bing Crosby · “(I Don’t Stand A) Ghost of a Chance (With You)”

Historic 78 rpm recordings

GHOST OF A CHANCE "Red" Norvo · Remo Palmiero · Slam Stewart · "Specs" Powell · Young… archive.org ↗
Ghost of a Chance Herb Lance · H. Lance archive.org ↗
A GHOST OF A CHANCE THE BILL DAVISON SIX · Wild Bill Davison · Garvin Bushell · Jimmy… · 1947 archive.org ↗
GHOST OF A CHANCE DEXTER GORDON · JIMMY ROWELLS · RED CALLENDER · ROY PORTER · 1948 archive.org ↗
Ghost of a Chance The Charlie Venturo Sextette · Charlie Venturo · Howard McGhee ·… · 1949 archive.org ↗

Standards with similar changes

Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.

Title	Composer	Key	Form	Groove
The Folks Who Live On The Hill 28%	Jerome Kern	C major	AABA · 44	Ballad
Let's Call The Whole Thing Off 24%	George Gershwin	G major	AABA · 34	Medium swing
Down In The Depths 23%	Cole Porter	G major	AAB · 54	Medium swing
For Sentimental Reasons 23%	William Best	F major	AABA · 32	Slow swing
Haunted Heart 23%	Arthur Schwartz	E♭ major	ABAC · 36	Ballad
I'm In The Mood For Love 23%	Jimmy McHugh	C major	AABA · 32	Medium swing
Lullaby Of Birdland 23%	George Shearing	A♭ major	AABA · 32	Medium swing
Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin' 23%	Richard Rodgers	E♭ major	ABB · 52	Jazz waltz

Frequently asked questions

What key is A Ghost Of A Chance in?

A Ghost Of A Chance is usually played in C major. For B♭ instruments that is D major, for E♭ instruments A major.

Who wrote A Ghost Of A Chance?

A Ghost Of A Chance was written by Victor Young.

What is the form of A Ghost Of A Chance?

A Ghost Of A Chance has 2 sections (AB) with 32 bars in total.

How fast is A Ghost Of A Chance played?

The usual groove is Ballad.

What are the chord changes to A Ghost Of A Chance?

The opening bars are Cmaj7 | Db7#11 | Gm7 C7 | Fm7 Bb7. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.