ENDEIT

Standards

Blue Sphere chords & key

Thelonious Monk

Key
B♭ major
Form
A
Bars
12
Groove
Medium swing
Time signature
4/4

“Blue Sphere” is a jazz standard by Thelonious Monk. It is usually played in B♭ major as a medium swing, and the 12-bar A form repeats as one section. Its changes follow the 12-bar blues.

Chord changes

Showing in: Concert (C) — B♭ major

A
B♭7
E♭7
B♭7
B♭7
E♭7
E♭7
B♭7
B♭7
F7
F7
B♭7
B♭7

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

Harmonic analysis

0Major ii–V–I
0Minor ii–V–i
0ii–V moves
0Tritone substitutions
3Dominant chains
3Different chords

Most used chords

  • B♭7×7
  • E♭7×3
  • F7×2

Characteristics

  • 12-bar blues

Standards with similar changes

Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.

TitleComposerKeyFormGroove
Blue Monk 100% Thelonious Monk B♭ major A · 12 Medium swing
Bluehawk 100% Thelonious Monk B♭ major A · 12 Medium swing
Straight No Chaser 80% Thelonious Monk B♭ major A · 12 Medium-up swing
C-Jam Blues 75% Duke Ellington C major A · 12 Medium swing
Bessie's Blues 50% John Coltrane E♭ major A · 12 Up-tempo swing
Eighty One 50% Ron Carter F major A · 12 Even eighths
St. Louis Blues 50% W.C. Handy G major A · 12 Medium swing
Blues Five Spot 43% Thelonious Monk B♭ major A · 12 Medium swing

Frequently asked questions

What key is Blue Sphere in?

Blue Sphere is usually played in B♭ major. For B♭ instruments that is C major, for E♭ instruments G major.

Who wrote Blue Sphere?

Blue Sphere was written by Thelonious Monk.

What is the form of Blue Sphere?

Blue Sphere has 1 sections (A) with 12 bars in total.

How fast is Blue Sphere played?

The usual groove is Medium swing.

What are the chord changes to Blue Sphere?

The opening bars are Bb7 | Eb7 | Bb7 | Bb7. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.