ENDEIT

Standards

Bluehawk chords & key

Thelonious Monk

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

“Bluehawk” is a jazz standard by Thelonious Monk. Most bands play it in B♭ major, medium swing; the tune runs 12 bars in A form. 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
Blue Sphere 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 Bluehawk in?

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

Who wrote Bluehawk?

Bluehawk was written by Thelonious Monk.

What is the form of Bluehawk?

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

How fast is Bluehawk played?

The usual groove is Medium swing.

What are the chord changes to Bluehawk?

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