Standards
Driftin' chords & key
- Key
- E♭ major
- Form
- AABA
- Bars
- 33
- Groove
- Medium swing
- Time signature
- 4/4
“Driftin'” is a jazz standard by Herbie Hancock. It is usually played in E♭ major as a medium swing, and the 33-bar AABA form has 4 sections. Harmonically it contains 2 major ii–V–I cadences and 3 minor ii–V–i, uses 15 different chords and moves between the key centres F minor and E♭ major. In this atlas it appears on 2 album tracks.
Chord changes
Showing in: Concert (C) — E♭ major
Changes as commonly played (concert pitch). Your band's version may differ.
Harmonic analysis
Most used chords
- A♭7×8
- E♭7×7
- G7×7
- C7×6
- Fm7×6
- B♭7×6
Key centres reached by ii–V
F minor and E♭ major
Recorded on these albums
| 1962 | Takin’ Off Herbie Hancock · “Driftin’” |
| 1994 | From the Cradle Eric Clapton |
Standards with similar changes
Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.
| Title | Key |
|---|---|
| The Lady is a Tramp 22% | C major |
| What A Difference A Day Made 22% | F major |
| C.T.A. 21% | B♭ major |
| I May Be Wrong 21% | E♭ major |
Frequently asked questions
What key is Driftin' in?
Driftin' is usually played in E♭ major. For B♭ instruments that is F major, for E♭ instruments C major.
Who wrote Driftin'?
Driftin' was written by Herbie Hancock.
What is the form of Driftin'?
Driftin' has 4 sections (AABA) with 33 bars in total.
How fast is Driftin' played?
The usual groove is Medium swing.
What are the chord changes to Driftin'?
The opening bars are Eb7 G7 | Ab7 G7 | Cm7 Bbm7 | Am7b5 Ab7. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.