Standards

Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive chords & key

Key: F major
Form: AABA
Bars: 32
Groove: Medium swing
Time signature: 4/4

“Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive” is a jazz standard by Harold Arlen. Most bands play it in F major, medium swing; the tune runs 32 bars in AABA form. Harmonically it contains 7 major ii–V–I cadences, uses 10 different chords. In this atlas it appears on 15 album tracks.

Chord changes

to key

Showing in: Concert (C) — F major

×2

FF^aug

F⁶F^maj7

G^m7

C⁷

FF^aug

F⁶F^maj7

G^m7C⁷

F⁶C⁷

F⁶

F⁷

B♭^maj7G^m7C⁷

F⁶C⁷

F⁶

D^7♭9

G^7♯5

C⁷

FF^aug

F⁶F^maj7

G^m7

C⁷

FF^aug

F⁶F^maj7

G^m7C⁷

F⁶C⁷

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

Harmonic analysis

7Major ii–V–I

0Minor ii–V–i

7ii–V moves

0Tritone substitutions

2Dominant chains

10Different chords

Most used chords

F⁶×12
C⁷×12
G^m7×7
F×6
F^aug×6
F^maj7×6

Characteristics

AABA song form

Recorded on these albums

1956	Buddy Rich Sings Johnny Mercer Buddy Rich · “A Cent Tchu Ate The Positive”
1958	Saturday Night With Mr. C. Perry Como · “Accentuate The Positive”
1959	Oscar Peterson Plays the Harold Arlen Song Book Oscar Peterson · “Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive”
1961	Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Harold Arlen Song Book Ella Fitzgerald · “Ac‐Cent‐Tchu‐Ate the Positive”
1971	Van Ronk Dave Van Ronk · “Ac-Cent-tchu-Ate the Positive”
1989	In a Sentimental Mood Dr. John · “Accentuate the Positive”
1991	Mel & George "Do" World War II George Shearing & Mel Tormé · “Ac-cent-tchu-ate the Positive”
1996	Come Rain or Come Shine Sylvia McNair & André Previn · “Ac-cent-tchu-ate the Positive”
1998	The Playground Tony Bennett · “AC‐Cent‐Tchu‐Ate the Positive”
2002	It’s Easy to Remember Bing Crosby · “Ac‐Cent‐Tchu‐Ate the Positive”
2004	Accentuate the Positive Al Jarreau · “Accentuate the Positive”
2007	Date With Oscar Oscar Peterson
2007	The Jazz Album: Watch What Happens Thomas Quasthoff · “Ac‐Cent‐Tchu‐Ate the Positive”
2017	Ella: Accentuate the Positive Regina Carter · “AC-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive”
2026	Too Marvelous For Words Peggy Lee · “Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive”

Standards with similar changes

Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.

Title	Composer	Key	Form	Groove
I Don't Want To Miss Mississippi 33%	Serger Ellis	G major	AAB · 48	Medium swing
52nd Street Theme 30%	Thelonious Monk	C major	AABA · 32	Up-tempo swing
Don't Get Around Much Anymore 30%	Duke Ellington	C major	AABA · 32	Medium swing
Copenhagen 29%	Davis-Melrose	B♭ major	AABA · 40	Medium swing
L.O.V.E. 29%	Gabler-Kaempfert	G major	ABAC · 32	Medium swing
Just You, Just Me 26%	Jesse Greer	C major	AABA · 32	Medium swing
When The Saints Go Marching In 26%	Traditional	F major	A · 16	Medium swing
Down For Double 24%	Freddie Green	B♭ major	AABA · 32	Medium-up swing

Frequently asked questions

What key is Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive in?

Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive is usually played in F major. For B♭ instruments that is G major, for E♭ instruments D major.

Who wrote Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive?

Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive was written by Harold Arlen.

What is the form of Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive?

Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive has 4 sections (AABA) with 32 bars in total.

How fast is Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive played?

The usual groove is Medium swing.

What are the chord changes to Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive?

The opening bars are F Faug | F6 Fmaj7 | Gm7 | C7. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.