Standards
Big Nick chords & key
- Key
- G major
- Form
- A
- Bars
- 8
- Groove
- Medium slow
- Time signature
- 4/4
“Big Nick” is a jazz standard by John Coltrane. It is usually played in G major as a medium slow, and the 8-bar A form repeats as one section. Harmonically it contains 2 major ii–V–I cadences, uses 10 different chords. In this atlas it appears on 1 album track.
Chord changes
Showing in: Concert (C) — G major
Changes as commonly played (concert pitch). Your band's version may differ.
Harmonic analysis
Most used chords
- Am7×3
- D7×3
- Gmaj7×2
- Em7×2
- G×1
- G7/B×1
Recorded on these albums
Standards with similar changes
Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.
| Title | Key |
|---|---|
| Flat Foot Floogee 44% | F major |
| Airmail Special 43% | C major |
| Cotton Tail 41% | B♭ major |
| 52nd Street Theme 38% | C major |
| The Preacher 37% | F major |
| Mack The Knife 33% | B♭ major |
| Solitude 33% | E♭ major |
| Stormy Weather 33% | G major |
Frequently asked questions
What key is Big Nick in?
Big Nick is usually played in G major. For B♭ instruments that is A major, for E♭ instruments E major.
Who wrote Big Nick?
Big Nick was written by John Coltrane.
What is the form of Big Nick?
Big Nick has 1 sections (A) with 8 bars in total.
How fast is Big Nick played?
The usual groove is Medium slow.
What are the chord changes to Big Nick?
The opening bars are Gmaj7 Em7 | Am7 D7 | Gmaj7 Em7 | Am7 D7. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.