Standards · 1947
Dexterity chords & key
- Key
- B♭ major
- Form
- AABA
- Bars
- 32
- Groove
- Medium-up swing
- Time signature
- 4/4
- Year
- 1947
“Dexterity” is a jazz standard by Charlie Parker from 1947. It is usually played in B♭ major as a medium-up swing, and the 32-bar AABA form has 4 sections. Harmonically it contains 6 major ii–V–I cadences and 4 minor ii–V–i, uses 12 different chords and moves between the key centres C minor, E♭ major and B♭ major. The bridge uses the cycle of dominants known from Gershwin’s “I Got Rhythm” — so-called rhythm changes.
Chord changes
Showing in: Concert (C) — B♭ major
Changes as commonly played (concert pitch). Your band's version may differ.
Harmonic analysis
Most used chords
- F7×11
- G7×9
- Cm7×9
- Dm7×4
- B♭maj7×3
- Fm7×3
Key centres reached by ii–V
C minor, E♭ major and B♭ major
Characteristics
- Rhythm changes
- AABA song form
History
"Dexterity" is a 1947 jazz composition by saxophonist Charlie Parker, which has become a jazz standard. It has since been covered by artists such as the Art Ensemble of Chicago for the album Message to Our Folks in 1969, Roy Hargrove for Parker's Mood) and Alex Riel for the album Riel Atin'). In B-flat major, the tune is based on the changes to Gershwin's "I Got Rhythm", composed for the Broadway musical Girl Crazy in 1930. The B section to the tune includes the whole of the ensemble.
Read the full article on Wikipedia ↗ · From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Historic 78 rpm recordings
- Dexterity Charlie Parker Quintet · Charlie Parker · Miles Davis · Duke Jordan… · 1949 archive.org ↗
Standards with similar changes
Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.
| Title | Key |
|---|---|
| Anthropology 67% | B♭ major |
| Moose The Mooche 67% | B♭ major |
| No Moe 67% | B♭ major |
| Oleo 67% | B♭ major |
| Passport 67% | B♭ major |
| Salt Peanuts 67% | B♭ major |
| Shaw 'Nuff 67% | B♭ major |
| The Theme 67% | B♭ major |
Frequently asked questions
What key is Dexterity in?
Dexterity is usually played in B♭ major. For B♭ instruments that is C major, for E♭ instruments G major.
Who wrote Dexterity?
Dexterity was written by Charlie Parker (1947).
What is the form of Dexterity?
Dexterity has 4 sections (AABA) with 32 bars in total.
How fast is Dexterity played?
The usual groove is Medium-up swing.
What are the chord changes to Dexterity?
The opening bars are Bbmaj7 G7 | Cm7 F7 | Dm7 G7 | Cm7 F7. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.