Standards · 1947
Donna Lee chords & key
- Key
- A♭ major
- Form
- AB
- Bars
- 32
- Groove
- Up-tempo swing
- Time signature
- 4/4
- Year
- 1947
“Donna Lee” is a jazz standard by Charlie Parker from 1947. Most bands play it in A♭ major, up-tempo swing; the tune runs 32 bars in AB form. Harmonically it contains 4 major ii–V–I cadences and 2 minor ii–V–i, uses 14 different chords and moves between the key centres A♭ major, D♭ major, F minor and B♭ minor. In this atlas it appears in 1 transcribed solo.
Chord changes
Showing in: Concert (C) — A♭ major
Changes as commonly played (concert pitch). Your band's version may differ.
Harmonic analysis
Most used chords
- B♭7×6
- A♭maj7×5
- F7×4
- B♭m7×4
- E♭7×4
- C7♭9×3
Key centres reached by ii–V
A♭ major, D♭ major, F minor and B♭ minor
History
"Donna Lee" is a jazz standard attributed to Charlie Parker, although Miles Davis has also claimed authorship. Written in A-flat, it is based on the chord changes of the jazz standard "(Back Home Again in) Indiana". Beginning with an unusual half-bar rest, "Donna Lee" is a very complex, fast-moving chart with a compositional style based on four-note groups over each change.
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Transcribed solos on Donna Lee
| Charlie Parker alto saxophone | 226 BPM |
Standards with similar changes
Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.
| Title | Key |
|---|---|
| Sometimes I'm Happy 43% | F major |
| Old Cape Cod 38% | E♭ major |
| Indiana (Back Home Again In) 35% | F major |
| Tadd's Delight 35% | A♭ major |
| Deed I Do 34% | C major |
| What'll I Do 33% | C major |
| Dewey Square 31% | E♭ major |
| Don't Worry 'Bout Me 30% | A♭ major |
Frequently asked questions
What key is Donna Lee in?
Donna Lee is usually played in A♭ major. For B♭ instruments that is B♭ major, for E♭ instruments F major.
Who wrote Donna Lee?
Donna Lee was written by Charlie Parker (1947).
What is the form of Donna Lee?
Donna Lee has 2 sections (AB) with 32 bars in total.
How fast is Donna Lee played?
The usual groove is Up-tempo swing. Transcribed solos in our data were played at 226 BPM.
What are the chord changes to Donna Lee?
The opening bars are Abmaj7 | F7 | Bb7 | Bb7. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.