Standards

C-Jam Blues chords & key

Key: C major
Form: A
Bars: 12
Groove: Medium swing
Time signature: 4/4

“C-Jam Blues” is a jazz standard by Duke Ellington. It is usually played in C major as a medium swing, and the 12-bar A form repeats as one section. Its changes follow the 12-bar blues. In this atlas it appears on 24 album tracks.

Chord changes

to key

Showing in: Concert (C) — C major

C⁷

F⁷

C⁷

G⁷

C⁷

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

2Dominant chains

3Different chords

Most used chords

C⁷×8
F⁷×2
G⁷×2

Characteristics

12-bar blues

Recorded on these albums

1960	Blues in Orbit Duke Ellington · “C Jam Blues”
1961	Chicago: The Living Legends Alberta Hunter with Lovie Austins Blues Serenaders · “"C" Jam Blues”
1962	Cat Anderson & The Ellington All-Stars William "Cat" Anderson · “C Jam Blues”
1964	Free, Frantic And Funky Wild Bill Davis · “C Jam Blues”
1965	Grand Reunion: Recorded Live at the Village Vanguard Earl Hines · “C. Jam Blues”
1965	Got My Mojo Working Jimmy Smith · “C Jam Blues”
1965	Soul People Sonny Stitt With Booker Ervin & Don Patterson · “"C" Jam Blues”
1966	Serenade to Sweden Alice Babs & Duke Ellington · “"C" Jam Blues”
1966	Stride Right Johnny Hodges, Earl "Fatha" Hines · “C Jam Blues”
1971	Summit Sessions Dave Brubeck · “"C" Jam Blues”
1971	Slam Stewart featuring Milt Buckner and Jo Jones Slam Stewart · “C.Jam Blues”
1971	Genius at Work! Illinois Jacquet · “C Jam Blues”
1971	The Great Traditionalists in Europe Albert Nicholas, Herb Flemming, Nelson Williams, Benny Waters, Joe Turner
1972	Gene Harris of the Three Sounds Gene Harris · “C Jam Blues”
1973	Chicago Concert Ammons & Moody
1974	Mingus at Carnegie Hall Charles Mingus · “C Jam Blues”
1974	1 X 1 Roland Hanna, George Mraz · “C Jam Blues”
1975	Ellington Is Forever Kenny Burrell · “"C" Jam Blues”
1977	Buddy Tate & His Buddies, Vol.2 Buddy Tate · “C Jam Blues”
1978	Blues For Duke Sonny Stitt · “C.Jam Blues”
1982	Vol. 2 Opus Funk Harry Edison & Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis · “C Jam Blues”
1983	The Duke Ellington Songbook Monty Alexander · “"C" Jam Blues”
1983	No Count Eiji Kitamura · “C Jam Blues”
1986	1+1+1 Kenny Barron · “C Jam Blues”

Standards with similar changes

Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.

Title	Composer	Key	Form	Groove
Blue Monk 75%	Thelonious Monk	B♭ major	A · 12	Medium swing
Blue Sphere 75%	Thelonious Monk	B♭ major	A · 12	Medium swing
Bluehawk 75%	Thelonious Monk	B♭ major	A · 12	Medium swing
Straight No Chaser 60%	Thelonious Monk	B♭ major	A · 12	Medium-up swing
Jumpin With Symphony Sid 40%	Lester Young	B♭ major	A · 12	Medium swing
All Blues 33%	Miles Davis	G major	A · 24	Jazz waltz
Bessie's Blues 33%	John Coltrane	E♭ major	A · 12	Up-tempo swing
Eighty One 33%	Ron Carter	F major	A · 12	Even eighths

Frequently asked questions

What key is C-Jam Blues in?

C-Jam Blues is usually played in C major. For B♭ instruments that is D major, for E♭ instruments A major.

Who wrote C-Jam Blues?

C-Jam Blues was written by Duke Ellington.

What is the form of C-Jam Blues?

C-Jam Blues has 1 sections (A) with 12 bars in total.

How fast is C-Jam Blues played?

The usual groove is Medium swing.

What are the chord changes to C-Jam Blues?

The opening bars are C7 | C7 | C7 | C7. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.