Standards

I Hear A Rhapsody chords & key

Key: E♭ major
Form: AABA
Bars: 32
Groove: Medium swing
Time signature: 4/4

“I Hear A Rhapsody” is a jazz standard by Fragos-Baker-Gasparre. Most bands play it in E♭ major, medium swing; the tune runs 32 bars in AABA form. Harmonically it contains 4 major ii–V–I cadences and 6 minor ii–V–i, uses 18 different chords and moves between the key centres E♭ major, F minor, G minor, C minor and B♭ major. In this atlas it appears on 24 album tracks.

Chord changes

to key

Showing in: Concert (C) — E♭ major

C^m7G♭^7♯11

F^m7B♭⁷

E♭^maj7A♭⁷

G^m7♭5C^7♭9

F^m7A♭^m7

B^m7B♭⁷

E♭^maj7

D^m7♭5G^9♯5

E♭^maj7

A^m7♭5D^7♭9

G^m7

A^m7♭5D^7♭9

G^m7

C^m7F⁷

B♭^maj7

F^m7

D^m7♭5G^7♭9

G^9♯5

C^m7G♭^7♯11

F^m7B♭⁷

E♭^maj7A♭⁷

G^m7♭5C^7♭9

F^m7A♭^m7

B^m7B♭⁷

E♭^maj7

D^m7♭5G^9♯5

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

Harmonic analysis

4Major ii–V–I

6Minor ii–V–i

12ii–V moves

6Tritone substitutions

0Dominant chains

18Different chords

Most used chords

F^m7×7
B♭⁷×6
E♭^maj7×6
C^m7×4
G♭^7♯11×3
A♭⁷×3

Key centres reached by ii–V

E♭ major, F minor, G minor, C minor and B♭ major

Characteristics

AABA song form

Recorded on these albums

1952	Overture to Dawn (The Apartment Sessions, Volume 1) Erroll Garner · “I Hear a Rhapsody”
1955	Basses Loaded! Milt Hinton / Wendell Marshall / Bull Ruther
1957	's Marvelous Ray Conniff · “I Hear a Rhapsody”
1957	Dance Time Earl Bostic And His Alto Sax · “I Hear a Rhapsody”
1959	Come Back to Sorrento Frank Sinatra · “I Hear a Rhapsody”
1960	Once More With Feeling Billy Eckstine · “I Hear a Rhapsody”
1960	Makin' the Changes Jackie McLean · “I Hear a Rhapsody”
1960	Sunset Eyes Teddy Edwards · “I Hear a Rhapsody”
1961	Lush Life John Coltrane · “I Hear a Rhapsody”
1962	Undercurrent Bill Evans & Jim Hall · “I Hear a Rhapsody”
1963	Happy Talk Shirley Scott
1965	Rhapsody Ahmad Jamal · “I Hear a Rhapsody”
1965	Travellin' Man Charlie Byrd Trio · “I Hear a Rhapsody”
1967	Action Jackie McLean
1970	Montreux II Bill Evans · “I Hear a Rhapsody”
1972	Art Blakey & His Jazz Messengers Art Blakey · “I Hear a Rhapsody”
1977	"If I'm Lucky" Zoot Sims meets Jimmy Rowles · “I Hear a Rhapsody”
1981	Chromatic Palette Tal Farlow · “I Hear a Rhapsody”
1981	Mr. Roberts Plays Guitar Howard Roberts · “I Hear a Rhapsody”
1982	Toot Sweet Michel Petrucciani and Lee Konitz · “I Hear a Rhapsody”
1982	Paper Moon The Dave Brubeck Quartet · “I Hear a Rhapsody”
1984	Papa Lips Bob Mintzer Horn Man Band · “I Hear a Rhapsody”
1986	Trio Music, Live in Europe Chick Corea / Miroslav Vitous / Roy Haynes · “I Hear a Rhapsody”
1986	Bridgework Billy Higgins · “I Hear a Rhapsody”

Standards with similar changes

Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.

Title	Composer	Key	Form	Groove
Rosetta 21%	Earl Hines	F major	AABA · 32	Medium-up swing
Too Young To Go Steady 20%	Jimmy McHugh	F major	AABA · 32	Ballad

Frequently asked questions

What key is I Hear A Rhapsody in?

I Hear A Rhapsody is usually played in E♭ major. For B♭ instruments that is F major, for E♭ instruments C major.

Who wrote I Hear A Rhapsody?

I Hear A Rhapsody was written by Fragos-Baker-Gasparre.

What is the form of I Hear A Rhapsody?

I Hear A Rhapsody has 4 sections (AABA) with 32 bars in total.

How fast is I Hear A Rhapsody played?

The usual groove is Medium swing.

What are the chord changes to I Hear A Rhapsody?

The opening bars are Cm7 Gb7#11 | Fm7 Bb7 | Ebmaj7 Ab7 | Gm7b5 C7b9. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.