Standards

Just A-Sittin' And A-Rockin chords & key

Key: A♭ major
Form: AABA
Bars: 32
Groove: Slow swing
Time signature: 4/4

“Just A-Sittin' And A-Rockin” is a jazz standard by Ellington-Strayhorn-Gaines. Most bands play it in A♭ major, slow swing; the tune runs 32 bars in AABA form. Harmonically it contains 8 major ii–V–I cadences, uses 20 different chords and moves between the key centres A♭ major and C major. In this atlas it appears on 5 album tracks.

Chord changes

to key

Showing in: Concert (C) — A♭ major

×2

A♭A♭⁷_/C

D♭A♭⁶

D♭A♭_/C

B♭^m7E♭⁷A♭⁶

D♭A♭_/C

D♭D^dim7

D♭D^dim7A♭_/E♭F^m7

B♭^m7E♭⁷A♭⁶

C^mC^maug

C^m6C^m♭6

C^mC^maug

D^m7G⁷

CC^aug

C⁶D♭^dim7

D^m7G⁷

B♭^m7E♭⁷

A♭A♭⁷_/C

D♭A♭⁶

D♭A♭_/C

B♭^m7E♭⁷A♭⁶

D♭A♭_/C

D♭D^dim7

D♭D^dim7A♭_/E♭F^m7

B♭^m7E♭⁷A♭⁶

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

Harmonic analysis

8Major ii–V–I

0Minor ii–V–i

9ii–V moves

0Tritone substitutions

0Dominant chains

20Different chords

Most used chords

D♭×15
A♭⁶×9
B♭^m7×7
E♭⁷×7
A♭_/C×6
D^dim7×6

Key centres reached by ii–V

A♭ major and C major

Characteristics

AABA song form

Recorded on these albums

1953	Oscar Peterson Plays Duke Ellington Oscar Peterson · “Sittin’ and Rockin’”
1957	Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Song Book Ella Fitzgerald · “Just A‐Sittin’ and A‐Rockin’”
1959	Oscar Peterson Plays the Duke Ellington Song Book Oscar Peterson · “Just a Sittin’ and a Rockin’”
1982	A Classy Pair Ella Fitzgerald & The Count Basie Orchestra · “Just A‐Sittin’ and A‐Rockin’”
2012	Blue Note Jazz Inspiration Duke Ellington · “Just a Sittin’ and a Rockin’”

Historic 78 rpm recordings

Just A-Sittin' And A-Rockin' Thelma Carpenter · Earl Sheldon · Ellington · Strayhorn · Gaines · 1945 archive.org ↗

Standards with similar changes

Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.

Title	Composer	Key	Form	Groove
Danny Boy 25%	Traditional	C major	ABC · 32	Medium swing
High Hopes 21%	Jimmy Van-Heusen	F major	A · 28	Medium swing
I'm Sitting On Top Of The World 21%	Louis-Henderson-Young	F major	AABA · 32	Medium swing

Frequently asked questions

What key is Just A-Sittin' And A-Rockin in?

Just A-Sittin' And A-Rockin is usually played in A♭ major. For B♭ instruments that is B♭ major, for E♭ instruments F major.

Who wrote Just A-Sittin' And A-Rockin?

Just A-Sittin' And A-Rockin was written by Ellington-Strayhorn-Gaines.

What is the form of Just A-Sittin' And A-Rockin?

Just A-Sittin' And A-Rockin has 4 sections (AABA) with 32 bars in total.

How fast is Just A-Sittin' And A-Rockin played?

The usual groove is Slow swing.

What are the chord changes to Just A-Sittin' And A-Rockin?

The opening bars are Ab Ab7/C | Db Ab6 | Db Ab/C | Bbm7 Eb7 Ab6. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.