ENDEIT

Standards

Blues Five Spot chords & key

Thelonious Monk

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

“Blues Five Spot” 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
A♭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
4Dominant chains
4Different chords

Most used chords

  • B♭7×7
  • E♭7×2
  • F7×2
  • A♭7×1

Characteristics

  • 12-bar blues

Standards with similar changes

Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.

TitleComposerKeyFormGroove
Blue Monk 43% Thelonious Monk B♭ major A · 12 Medium swing
Blue Sphere 43% Thelonious Monk B♭ major A · 12 Medium swing
Bluehawk 43% Thelonious Monk B♭ major A · 12 Medium swing
Straight No Chaser 38% Thelonious Monk B♭ major A · 12 Medium-up swing
C-Jam Blues 29% Duke Ellington C major A · 12 Medium swing
Ba-lue Bolivar Ba-lues-are 25% Thelonious Monk B♭ major A · 12 Medium swing
Bessie's Blues 22% John Coltrane E♭ major A · 12 Up-tempo swing
Eighty One 22% Ron Carter F major A · 12 Even eighths

Frequently asked questions

What key is Blues Five Spot in?

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

Who wrote Blues Five Spot?

Blues Five Spot was written by Thelonious Monk.

What is the form of Blues Five Spot?

Blues Five Spot has 1 sections (A) with 12 bars in total.

How fast is Blues Five Spot played?

The usual groove is Medium swing.

What are the chord changes to Blues Five Spot?

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