ENDEIT

Standards · 1947

Dewey Square chords & key

Charlie Parker

Key
E♭ major
Form
AABA
Bars
32
Groove
Medium-up swing
Time signature
4/4
Year
1947

“Dewey Square” is a jazz standard by Charlie Parker from 1947. It is usually played in E♭ major as a medium-up swing, and the 32-bar AABA form has 4 sections. Harmonically it contains 6 major ii–V–I cadences, uses 10 different chords and moves between the key centres E♭ major and A♭ major.

Chord changes

Showing in: Concert (C) — E♭ major

A
E♭maj7
A♭m7
E♭7D♭7
C7
F7
Fm7B♭7
1.
E♭maj7C7
Fm7B♭7
2.
E♭maj7
B♭m7E♭7
B
A♭maj7
A♭m7D♭7
E♭maj7
C7
F7
F7
Fm7
B♭7
A
E♭maj7
A♭m7
E♭7D♭7
C7
F7
Fm7B♭7
E♭maj7C7
Fm7B♭7

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

Harmonic analysis

6Major ii–V–I
0Minor ii–V–i
8ii–V moves
0Tritone substitutions
4Dominant chains
10Different chords

Most used chords

  • E♭maj7×7
  • C7×6
  • Fm7×6
  • B♭7×6
  • F7×5
  • A♭m7×4

Key centres reached by ii–V

E♭ major and A♭ major

Characteristics

  • AABA song form

Historic 78 rpm recordings

  • Dewey Square Charlie Parker Quintet · Charlie Parker · Miles Davis · Duke Jordan… · 1947 archive.org ↗
  • DEWEY SQUARE CHARLIE PARKER QUINTET · CHARLIE PARKER · MILES DAVIS · DUKE JORDAN… · 1947 archive.org ↗

Standards with similar changes

Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.

TitleComposerKeyFormGroove
Indiana (Back Home Again In) 39% James Hanley F major BA · 32 Up-tempo swing
Crazy Rhythm 38% Wolfe-Kahn-Meyer F major AABA · 32 Up-tempo swing
Rose Room 38% Art Hickman A♭ major ABAC · 32 Medium swing
Broadway 36% William-Henri-Woode B♭ major AABA · 32 Medium-up swing
Ballade 31% Charlie Parker F major AABA · 32 Ballad
Donna Lee 31% Charlie Parker A♭ major AB · 32 Up-tempo swing
Do Nothin' Til You Hear From Me 29% Duke Ellington B♭ major AB · 32 Medium swing
Sometimes I'm Happy 29% Vincent Youmans F major ABAB · 32 Medium swing

Frequently asked questions

What key is Dewey Square in?

Dewey Square is usually played in E♭ major. For B♭ instruments that is F major, for E♭ instruments C major.

Who wrote Dewey Square?

Dewey Square was written by Charlie Parker (1947).

What is the form of Dewey Square?

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

How fast is Dewey Square played?

The usual groove is Medium-up swing.

What are the chord changes to Dewey Square?

The opening bars are Ebmaj7 | Abm7 | Eb7 Db7 | C7. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.