Standards

Alfie's Theme chords & key

Key: B♭ minor
Form: AABA
Bars: 32
Groove: Medium swing
Time signature: 4/4

“Alfie's Theme” is a jazz standard by Sonny Rollins. It is usually played in B♭ minor as a medium swing, and the 32-bar AABA form has 4 sections. Harmonically it contains no major ii–V–I cadences and 6 minor ii–V–i, uses 11 different chords.

Chord changes

to key

Showing in: Concert (C) — B♭ minor

×2

B♭^m7B♭^m7_/A♭

G^m7♭5G♭^maj7

B♭^m7_/FG^m7♭5

C^m7♭5F^7♭9

B♭^m7B♭^m7_/A♭

G^m7♭5E^dim7

B♭^m7_/FG^m7♭5

C^m7♭5F⁷B♭^m7

B♭^m7A♭⁷

G♭⁷F^7♭9

B♭^m7A♭⁷

G♭⁷F^7♭9

B♭^m7A♭⁷

G♭⁷F^7♭9

B♭^m7A♭⁷

G♭⁷F^7♭9

B♭^m7B♭^m7_/A♭

G^m7♭5G♭^maj7

B♭^m7_/FG^m7♭5

C^m7♭5F^7♭9

B♭^m7B♭^m7_/A♭

G^m7♭5E^dim7

B♭^m7_/FG^m7♭5

C^m7♭5F⁷B♭^m7

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

Harmonic analysis

0Major ii–V–I

6Minor ii–V–i

6ii–V moves

0Tritone substitutions

0Dominant chains

11Different chords

Most used chords

B♭^m7×13
G^m7♭5×12
F^7♭9×7
B♭^m7_/A♭×6
B♭^m7_/F×6
C^m7♭5×6

Characteristics

AABA song form

Standards with similar changes

Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.

Title	Composer	Key	Form	Groove
Song For My Father 25%	Horace Silver	F minor	AAB · 24	Latin

Frequently asked questions

What key is Alfie's Theme in?

Alfie's Theme is usually played in B♭ minor. For B♭ instruments that is C minor, for E♭ instruments G minor.

Who wrote Alfie's Theme?

Alfie's Theme was written by Sonny Rollins.

What is the form of Alfie's Theme?

Alfie's Theme has 4 sections (AABA) with 32 bars in total.

How fast is Alfie's Theme played?

The usual groove is Medium swing.

What are the chord changes to Alfie's Theme?

The opening bars are Bbm7 Bbm7/Ab | Gm7b5 Gbmaj7 | Bbm7/F Gm7b5 | Cm7b5 F7b9. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.