Standards · 1924

Copenhagen chords & key

Key: B♭ major
Form: AABA
Bars: 40
Groove: Medium swing
Time signature: 4/4
Year: 1924

“Copenhagen” is a jazz standard by Davis-Melrose from 1924. It is usually played in B♭ major as a medium swing, and the 40-bar AABA form has 4 sections. In this atlas it appears on 1 album track.

Chord changes

to key

Showing in: Concert (C) — B♭ major

E♭^maj7

E♭^m6

B♭

G⁷

C⁷

F⁷

B♭

B♭B♭⁷

B♭F⁷

B♭

C^m_/B♭D^m_/B♭

B♭

G♭

B♭

F⁷

B♭

B♭F⁷

B♭

C^m_/B♭D^m_/B♭

B♭

G♭

B♭

F⁷

B♭

B♭B♭⁷

E♭^maj7

E♭^m6

B♭

G⁷

C⁷

F⁷

B♭

B♭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

6Dominant chains

10Different chords

Most used chords

B♭×19
F⁷×7
E♭^maj7×3
E♭^m6×3
G⁷×3
C⁷×3

Characteristics

AABA song form

History

"Copenhagen" is a jazz standard composed in 1924 by bandleader Charlie Davis and first recorded in that year by the Wolverine Orchestra featuring Bix Beiderbecke in a foxtrot tempo. The title refers to Copenhagen tobacco, favored by Davis's bass player. Lyrics were added by Walter Melrose to the tune, which is a blues in B-flat.

Read the full article on Wikipedia ↗ · From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Recorded on these albums

2026	Be Quiet Nils Petter Molvær

Historic 78 rpm recordings

COPENHAGEN ARTIE SHAW et son Orchestre · Melrose · Davis archive.org ↗
COPENHAGEN COMMAND PERFORMANCE · Doc Evans · Al Jenkins · Art Myers · Mel Grant… archive.org ↗
Copenhagen (Copenhague) New Orleans Jazz Band · Charlie Davis · 1924 archive.org ↗
Copenhagen Wolverine Orchestra · Davis · 1924 archive.org ↗

Standards with similar changes

Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.

Title	Composer	Key	Form	Groove
When The Saints Go Marching In 39%	Traditional	F major	A · 16	Medium swing
I Don't Want To Miss Mississippi 32%	Serger Ellis	G major	AAB · 48	Medium swing
Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive 29%	Harold Arlen	F major	AABA · 32	Medium swing
Two Not One 25%	Lennie Tristano	A♭ major	AABA · 32	Up-tempo swing
Across The Alley From The Alamo 24%	Joe Greene	F major	AABA · 32	Medium swing
Basin Street Blues 24%	Spencer Williams	B♭ major	AA · 32	Slow swing
52nd Street Theme 23%	Thelonious Monk	C major	AABA · 32	Up-tempo swing
A Tisket A Tasket 22%	Traditional	E♭ major	AABA · 32	Medium swing

Frequently asked questions

What key is Copenhagen in?

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

Who wrote Copenhagen?

Copenhagen was written by Davis-Melrose (1924).

What is the form of Copenhagen?

Copenhagen has 4 sections (AABA) with 40 bars in total.

How fast is Copenhagen played?

The usual groove is Medium swing.

What are the chord changes to Copenhagen?

The opening bars are Ebmaj7 | Ebm6 | Bb | G7. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.