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 10 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”
1971	Summit Sessions Dave Brubeck · “"C" Jam Blues”
2012	Blue Note Jazz Inspiration Duke Ellington · “C Jam Blues”
2013	Battle Of Swing, Vol. 3 Duke Ellington · “C Jam Blues”
2017	Blues In Orbit + The Cosmic Scene Duke Ellington– · “C Jam Blues”
2018	Piano Duets: Great Times! Duke Ellington & Billy Strayhorn · “C Jam Blues”
2018	Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn Duke Ellington & Billy Strayhorn · “C Jam Blues”
2018	Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn Duke Ellington & Billy Strayhorn · “C Jam Blues”
2018	Piano Duets: Great Times! Duke Ellington & Billy Strayhorn · “C Jam Blues”
2026	World Tour Oscar Peterson · “Medley”

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.