ENDEIT

Standards

Cheers chords & key

Howard McGhee

Key
B♭ major
Form
AABA
Bars
32
Groove
Medium swing
Time signature
4/4

“Cheers” is a jazz standard by Howard McGhee. It is usually played in B♭ major as a medium swing, and the 32-bar AABA form has 4 sections. Harmonically it contains 5 major ii–V–I cadences and 3 minor ii–V–i, uses 13 different chords and moves between the key centres B♭ major, C minor and E♭ major.

Chord changes

Showing in: Concert (C) — B♭ major

A
B♭6
E♭7
B♭6
G♭7
Dm7G7
Cm7F7
1.
B♭6C7♭9
Cm7F7
2.
B♭6
B♭6
B
Fm7
B♭7
E♭maj7
E♭maj7
C7
C7
F7
F7♯5
A
B♭6
E♭7
B♭6
G♭7
Dm7G7
Cm7F7
B♭6
Cm7F7

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

Harmonic analysis

5Major ii–V–I
3Minor ii–V–i
9ii–V moves
0Tritone substitutions
1Dominant chains
13Different chords

Most used chords

  • B♭6×10
  • F7×6
  • Cm7×5
  • E♭7×3
  • G♭7×3
  • Dm7×3

Key centres reached by ii–V

B♭ major, C minor and E♭ major

Characteristics

  • AABA song form

Historic 78 rpm recordings

  • Cheers Charlie Parker All Stars · Howard McGhee · Wardell Gray · Dodo… · 1947 archive.org ↗
  • CHEERS CHARLIE PARKER ALL STARS · Charlie Parker · Howard McGhee · Wardell… · 1949 archive.org ↗

Standards with similar changes

Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.

TitleComposerKeyFormGroove
Take The A Train 50% Billy Strayhorn C major AABA · 32 Medium-up swing
Move 35% Denzil Best B♭ major AABA · 32 Up-tempo swing
Rockin' Chair 35% Hoagy Carmichael E♭ major ABA · 32 Medium swing
Crazy Rhythm 33% Wolfe-Kahn-Meyer F major AABA · 32 Up-tempo swing
I Like The Likes Of You 32% Vernon Duke E♭ major AABA · 32 Medium swing
Só Danço Samba 32% Antonio-Carlos Jobim C major AABA · 32 Bossa nova
Deed I Do 30% Hirsch-Rose C major AABA · 32 Medium swing
Pennies From Heaven 30% Arthur Johnston C major AB · 32 Medium swing

Frequently asked questions

What key is Cheers in?

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

Who wrote Cheers?

Cheers was written by Howard McGhee.

What is the form of Cheers?

Cheers has 4 sections (AABA) with 32 bars in total.

How fast is Cheers played?

The usual groove is Medium swing.

What are the chord changes to Cheers?

The opening bars are Bb6 | Eb7 | Bb6 | Gb7. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.