Standards · 1945

Dream chords & key

Johnny Mercer · Lyrics: Johnny Mercer

Key: B♭ major
Form: ABAC
Bars: 32
Groove: Slow swing
Time signature: 4/4
Year: 1945

“Dream” is a jazz standard by Johnny Mercer from 1945. Most bands play it in B♭ major, slow swing; the tune runs 32 bars in ABAC form. Harmonically it contains 2 major ii–V–I cadences and 2 minor ii–V–i, uses 13 different chords and moves between the key centres C minor and B♭ major. In this atlas it appears on 5 album tracks.

Chord changes

to key

Showing in: Concert (C) — B♭ major

B♭

E^m7

A⁷

B♭⁶

D^m7

G⁷

C^m7

E♭^m6

B♭^maj7

C⁷

C^m7

F⁷

B♭

E^m7

A⁷

B♭⁶

D^m7

G⁷

C^m7

E♭^m6

B♭^maj7A⁷

D⁷G^7♯9

C^m7

F⁷

B♭⁶

C^m7F⁷

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

Harmonic analysis

2Major ii–V–I

2Minor ii–V–i

7ii–V moves

0Tritone substitutions

2Dominant chains

13Different chords

Most used chords

B♭⁶×5
C^m7×5
B♭×4
A⁷×3
B♭^maj7×3
F⁷×3

Key centres reached by ii–V

C minor and B♭ major

Characteristics

ABAC song form

History

"Dream", sometimes referred to as "Dream (When You're Feeling Blue)", is a jazz and pop standard with words and music written by Johnny Mercer in 1944. He originally wrote it as a theme for his radio program. It has been and performed by many artists, with the most popular versions of this song recorded by The Pied Pipers, Frank Sinatra, and Roy Orbison.

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

Recorded on these albums

1959	Sleep Warm Dean Martin
1960	Nice ’n’ Easy Frank Sinatra
1965	Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Johnny Mercer Song Book Ella Fitzgerald
1972	With Love Tony Bennett
2015	The Complete Hits 1943-62 Frank Sinatra

Standards with similar changes

Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.

Title	Composer	Key	Form	Groove
Get Me To The Church On Time 28%	Alan Lerner	G major	AAB · 54	Up-tempo swing
Groovin' High 27%	Dizzy Gillespie	E♭ major	AA · 32	Up-tempo swing
Parisian Thoroughfare 27%	Bud Powell	F major	AABA · 32	Up-tempo swing
Meditation 26%	Antonio-Carlos Jobim	C major	AAB · 40	Bossa nova
On The Trail 24%	Ferde Grofe	F major	AB · 16	Medium-up swing
Cheers 23%	Howard McGhee	B♭ major	AABA · 32	Medium swing
You're Nobody Till Somebody Loves You 23%	Morgan-Stock-Cavanaugh	E♭ major	ABAC · 32	Medium swing
Skyliner 22%	Charlie Barnet	C major	AAB · 48	Medium-up swing

Frequently asked questions

What key is Dream in?

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

Who wrote Dream?

Dream was written by Johnny Mercer (1945).

What is the form of Dream?

Dream has 4 sections (ABAC) with 32 bars in total.

How fast is Dream played?

The usual groove is Slow swing.

What are the chord changes to Dream?

The opening bars are Bb | Bb | Em7 | A7. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.