Standards · 1967
Isfahan chords & key
- Key
- D♭ major
- Form
- ABAC
- Bars
- 32
- Groove
- Medium swing
- Time signature
- 4/4
- Year
- 1967
“Isfahan” is a jazz standard by Strayhorn-Ellington from 1967. It is usually played in D♭ major as a medium swing, and the 32-bar ABAC form has 4 sections. Harmonically it contains no major ii–V–I cadences and 3 minor ii–V–i, uses 26 different chords and moves between the key centres F minor and G minor. In this atlas it appears on 4 album tracks.
Chord changes
Showing in: Concert (C) — D♭ major
Changes as commonly played (concert pitch). Your band's version may differ.
Harmonic analysis
Most used chords
- D♭maj7×4
- E♭9×4
- A♭13♭9×3
- B♭maj7×2
- B♭7♯5×2
- Amaj7×2
Key centres reached by ii–V
F minor and G minor
Characteristics
- ABAC song form
History
"Isfahan" is a jazz piece credited to Billy Strayhorn and Duke Ellington and released on Ellington's 1967 album The Far East Suite; Isfahan is a city in Iran. It features long-time Ellington soloist Johnny Hodges on alto saxophone. It was originally called "Elf" when Strayhorn composed it, months before the 1963 Ellington orchestra world tour during which the group traveled to Iran.
Read the full article on Wikipedia ↗ · From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Recorded on these albums
Frequently asked questions
What key is Isfahan in?
Isfahan is usually played in D♭ major. For B♭ instruments that is E♭ major, for E♭ instruments B♭ major.
Who wrote Isfahan?
Isfahan was written by Strayhorn-Ellington (1967).
What is the form of Isfahan?
Isfahan has 4 sections (ABAC) with 32 bars in total.
How fast is Isfahan played?
The usual groove is Medium swing.
What are the chord changes to Isfahan?
The opening bars are Dbmaj7 | Bbmaj7 Bb7#5 | Eb9 | Eb9. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.